This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Military issues

  • Well, Fair IS Fair

    I wonder how this is going to play with the “Social Justice Warrior” crowd?

    Generals say women should have to register for draft

    Specifically, the two “generals” in question were the Army Chief of Staff and Commandant of the Marine Corps.

    In contrast, the SECNAV and Acting SECARMY merely stated “that the issue should be discussed.”  Yeah, that’s some really decisive leadership from the Army’s and Navy’s senior civilians, isn’t it?

    No surprise, though.  Military leaders tend to speak plainly, and want to “do”.  Politicians generally like to speak obliquely and prefer to “discuss” at length.

    The linked article has more info.  It’s worth the time to read.

  • An Update on the Latest Iranian Incident

    The Pentagon has now released its take on the cause of the incident.

    The SECDEF earlier today said that that the US craft entered entered Iranian waters “due to a navigational error”.

    I’m guessing someone’s career is toast about now.

  • Iran Seizes, Then Apparently Releases 10 US Sailors

    Yesterday evening and this morning, looks like a bit of drama played out. Iran’s state news claims the Iranian Revolutionary Guard seized 2 US riverine boats crewed by 10 US sailors while those boats were in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian medial also claims the sailors have now been released; however, US sources do not appear to have yet confirmed that. It’s unclear whether the two riverine boats were also released.

    Prior to their release, a Revolutionary Guard spokesman said the sailors would be “debriefed”. They also accused the boats of exhibiting “unprofessional acts” and of possibly having intentionally entered Iranian waters.

    The two boats apparently drifted into Iranian waters after having mechanical problems. They were enroute from Bahrain to Kuwait.

    Given the fact that the POTUS gave the State of the Union address yesterday and other recent incidents between Iranian and US naval forces, does anyone out there really think the timing here was coincidental?

  • ND:tBF Makes Boom-Boom . . . .

    . . . but not with Ms. Kim.  (smile)

    Apparently the Dork of NorK’s minions detonated another nuclear device yesterday.  Yield was apparently smaller than their previous test about 2 years ago, which was estimated at between 1 and 30 kilotons (with approx 7.9 kilotons being the most probable value).

    However, Emmentaler-Boi has claimed that this was a thermonuclear device.  While it’s possible the NORKs managed to put a bit of tritium and deuterium in a fission warhead this time, the observed yield argues strongly against this being a true (Ulam-Teller) thermonuclear device.  The primary (e.g., the fission device used to cause thermonuclear reactions) used in a true thermonuclear device is typically on the order of the magnitude seen here; the fusion reactions typically add greatly to the yield.  Even a thermonuclear “fizzle” (a device that falls far short of expected yield) typically has a much larger explosive yield than observed in this case (very likely substantially less than 8 kT).

    And if this was a test of a boosted device (a device with introduced deuterium and tritium in order to increase explosive yield), well . . . apparently it sucked.  Pretty badly.

    Assessment.  Fatboy Kim here appears to be lying through his teeth about the “thermonuclear” part.

    Anyone surprised?

  • Oopsie.

    It seems as if there was a bit of a gaffe recently at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

    The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) office there distributes occasional promotional items.  One of the items it recently distributed was lip balm.

    Unfortunately, no one checked the ingredients before ordering the lip balm.  I can’t say I blame them; unless it’s from a questionable source like a “head shop”, I probably wouldn’t think to check the ingredients on lip balm either.

    Well, in this case it turns out they should have.  The lip balm Elmendorf SAPR office purchased contained hemp seed oil – and thus trace amounts of THC.  Products containing hemp seed oil are banned on DoD installations.

    Oops.

    JBER public affairs officials have emailed base personnel asking them to trash any tubes of lip balm they received from the base’s SAPR office.

  • “Red Line”, Eh?

    Former SECDEF Hagel is in the news again.  And this time, it looks like he’s talking about his former boss.

    In a recent interview, Hagel claims that he gave the OK in 2013 to plans for a strike on Syria – on Damascus, specifically.  Hagel indicates he OKed those plans on 30 August 2013, after Assad’s forces had apparently used chemical weapons. The POTUS had very publicly previously indicated that use of chemical weapons by Assad was a “red line” that would result in US action.

    Hagel claims, point blank, that the POTUS overruled him later that day, while forces were standing by awaiting orders to execute.

    Here’s what the Administration had to say in reply:

    A senior administration official defended the decision to Foreign Policy, saying Obama was not prepared to take military action without consulting Congress first – and the diplomatic deal that had Assad relinquish his weapons resulted in a Syria “free of its chemical weapons program.”

    Pure bullsh!t. The current Occupant, 1600 Penn Ave, Wash DC, and his enablers didn’t give a hoot in hell about Congressional authorization for the use of force when we conducted military operations against the government of Libya in 2011 – nor did they comply with the War Powers Act’s requirements for Congressional notification as the operation dragged on. The Administration’s claim here nothing but a transparently obvious attempt at spin. Nor do I believe for one minute that Syria has given up 100% of their chem weapons, either.

    Fox News has a longish article about Hagel’s claims. Regardless of what you think of Hagel, this one’s probably worth reading.

  • Scratch One Career

    The armed services have been trying to discourage alcohol use for at least the past 20 years, if not longer. In truth, sometimes I think they go to far in that respect.

    Regardless, it’s policy – and excessive alcohol consumption isn’t generally a behavior that should be encouraged.  But there are still people out there who don’t seem to “get the word”.

    Unfortunately, sometimes those folks are relatively senior. Like the former 20th Air Force Commander, for example.

    And, it turns out, like the Director for Strategy, Policy, Capabilities, and Logistics at TRANSCOM – RADM David Baucom. Apparently he was removed from his position in October for what amounts to “drunk and disorderly” while TDY on the night of 7-8 April of this year.

    I’m not going to go into the details of the “drunk and disorderly” here.  This Navy Times article on the subject does so; read it if you’re interested.  Suffice it to say that the details are rather . . . unusual.

    RADM Baucom has issued a statement blaming his conduct on a medical condition occurring on “the evening of April 8th which caused lightheadedness, disorientation, dizziness and confusion.” Other indications are he may have mixed prescription medicine with drinking.

    However, a Navy investigation found that RADM Baucom had consumed all or part of at least 8 drinks that evening. It seems to me that, according to this blood alcohol concentration (BAC) chart, that would yield a BAC of 0.11 in a 180-lb man four hours after he’d begun drinking (0.17 – 6 x 0.01). If he drank more than 8 drinks, that would have yielded an even higher BAC.

    Sorry, RADM; I can’t say I have very much sympathy.  A drink or 3 at an official function or conference is one thing; eight or more seems rather excessive.  Someone of your seniority should know that.  Ditto for knowing that mixing prescription drugs and alcohol is a fool’s game.  Either way, you should damn well have known better.

    At least you’ll get to keep your retirement.  It could have been worse.

  • Rest In Peace, Soldiers

    Two Army aviators have been killed in a military training accident.

    The two lost their lives yesterday near Fort Campbell, KY.  They were killed when their AH-64D attack helicopter crashed during a training accident.

    The deceased were assigned to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.  Names have been withheld pending notification of next of kin.

    No job in the military is risk free.  Even routine peacetime training involves risk.

    Rest in peace, brothers-in-arms.  May God comfort your surviving friends and family.