open thread -17 February 2019

  pl

Comments

[Laura Wilson]

How much power should a President have? This "unitary executive" theory is certainly important right now. Open question ... especially to those of you who have served in the military and know the world broadly. (I do not and would love to hear your take on this issue.)

[Southern Cross]

All..
..from The American Conservative

A new book by West Point professor of Law, Tim Bakken, released today is highly scathing on how American Military academies, and in particular West Point, have disconnected from American society that it is 'failing in every way possible'.
The snip below is from The American Conservative review of the book by Kelly Beaucar Vlahos

Bakken’s prognosis: the military as an institution has become so separate, so insulated, so authoritarian, that it can no longer perform effectively. In fact, it’s worse: the very nature of this beast is that it has been able to grow exponentially in size and mission so that it now conducts destructive expeditionary wars overseas with little or no real cohesive strategy or oversight. Its huge budgets are a source of corporate grift, self-justification, and corruption. The military has become too big, yes, but as Bakkan puts it, it’s failing in every way possible.

In addition to losing wars, “the military’s loyalty to itself and determined separation from society have produced an authoritarian institution that is contributing to the erosion of American democracy,” writes Bakkan, who is still, we emphasize, teaching at the school. “The hubris, arrogance, and self-righteousness of officers have isolated the military from modern thinking and mores. As a result, the military operates in an intellectual fog, relying on philosophy and practices that literally originated at West Point two hundred years ago.”

My question to SST readers is: Would this view be considered realistic or truthful or a minority opinion from a (civilian) professor.

Retired WP Arabic language professors comments keenly sought..
Rob Waddell

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/west-point-prof-pens-blistering-takedown-of-u-s-military-academies/

[ann]

Colonel Lange,

"Syria - Aleppo Is Fully Liberated But The War Will Continue"

This head line in Moon Of Alabama made me think of your war games you hosted several years ago. How close to over do you think. And where will the jihadis go?

[Fred]

I hear that Barra's bailed out GM is bailing out of Australia and New Zealand. "...GM's latest announcement fits in with this transition toward a focus on electric and autonomous vehicles." They must think the left will regain the power to impose regulatory actions that drive that shift as I don't see customers willing to spend their own money on that type product.
https://www.axios.com/gm-australia-new-zealand-thailand-exit-efb36e9f-ebe8-4ee2-8a03-d024575d713c.html

On other news, the BBC license fee might be going away. I wonder how the left will get it PR published now?
https://variety.com/2020/biz/global/politicians-petition-support-bbc-license-fee-1203505701/

[turcopolier]

Ann

Lang, not Lange. Once the SAA and friends get through with Idlib they will move on to Afrin district NW of Aleppo City. After that there is the whole area east of the Euphrates River. There is no "after the war" for the SAA.

[turcopolier]

LW

IMO Trump has done nothing so far that exceeds his constitutionally given power. I like the present constitution.

[turcopolier]

SC

I was there as Professor of Arabic for 3 years (1976-79). I declined a permanent assignment there. IMO the place is far too expensive and not necessary to the creation of the officer corps of the US Army.

[Deap]

Will the Durham Spygate criminal investigation even ensnare Valerie Jarrett? Redstate article speculates with good reason this could be true: https://www.redstate.com/stu-in-sd/2020/02/17/spygate-the-criminal-investigation-shifts-focus/

[Hans]

I think many members of the Committee are interested in the doings of Elon Musk and SpaceX. But why does he do what he does? Just to become the world's first Trillionaire?

A fellow named Casey Handmer has a very good understanding of what Musk is up to with SpaceX, Musk's near-term end point. To colonize Mars. And not with a handful of people, but eventually with millions. Because it's only by settling that many that we'll be able to become citizens of Mars. [Ya, ya - Ray Bradbury was a friend of mine too]. Run Casey's name in Linkedin, read his CV. He's qualified.

Musk isn't doing this cuz he thinks the Earth is doomed. (Though it may be). Musk is doing this to extend our species into the universe. And he's figured out how to pay for it.

I hope this has been enough bait to get some of you to click the link below - it'll take you to Casey's article on SpaceX and Starlink. If you read Casey, and think on what he says, you'll become, somewhat, enlightened :-)

Starlink is a very big deal by Casey Handmer
https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/2019/11/02/starlink-is-a-very-big-deal/?fbclid=IwAR3R0zT4PlZ8Q_ZlaBnebnOy0JjxiIT03ZX0cxbKM0cdv-ra-dysxGa5QvQ&blogsub=confirming#blog_subscription-1

[different clue]

Mars may be someday colonizable by millions. I don't know enough to say it can't. But with its lesser mass than earth, hence its lesser atmosphere and lesser ability to even hold onto an "earthload" of atmosphere for the long term, and its lack of a magnetic field to deflect all kinds of solar protoids and stuff away from the surface; it will always pose survival challenges that don't come up here.

It won't be our " earth away from earth".

[Serge]

Dubai Crown Prince posts video showing first-ever 100% autonomous human flight with a vertical takeoff
https://youtube.com/watch?feature=emb_title&v=nj-Iwv5NJKg&time_continue=188

I see lots of potential for this technology in the realm of asymmetrical warfare.

[egl]

Hans:

One way to think about Elon Musk is that he is a prepper. He'll sell you solar panels and energy storage so you can disconnect from the grid. Then you can buy an electric car and be independent of the gasoline supply. Starlink will give you satellite comms, no cellular network needed. And if things really go south, he'll sell you a ticket to Mars.

[Nate Wilcox]

Any thoughts on this? Interesting that every headline calls it a crash rather than admitting it was shot down.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/16/yemen-air-strikes-kill-31-civilians-after-saudi-jet-crash

[ex PFC Chuck]

Colonel, you're not the only one advocating the abolishing of the CIA. Angelo Codevilla has a long piece up at American Mind arguing for that, as well as similar treatment for the FISA court. There are some scathing remarks about the FBI as well but no explicit calls for its defenestration.
https://americanmind.org/essays/abolish-the-cia/

[Unhinged Citizen]

Tomorrow the Syrian army will secure the town of Sarmada and with it, the principle border crossing between Turkey and Idlib.

The Zionists must be seething at the pace of the defeat of the Jihadists.

[Fred]

James,

You must be getting reruns in Trudeau land.

[Lyttenburgh]

In the previus thread about Syrian War, TTG was asking for an interactive map. Here you go:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1229423756076032003

Expect CNN, MSNBC, WaPo, NYT and HBO (via "Vice News") to start accusing Russia of unleashing its most secret and inhumane weapon against peaceful democratic jihadi sahavats:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQ_oIZNWsAEP26b?format=jpg&name=900x900

Probably all works of fareeq Moroz (nod-nod)

Oh, and Tomato Sultan? After yesterday's round of talks in Moscow, Russian and Turkish troops resumed joint patrols.

[Harry]

US healthcare.

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/americans-getting-nothing-return-us-health-spending-effectiveness-powell-fed-2020-2-1028899580

[Fred]

Harry,

The Fed chair failed to point out US obesity rates compared to other western countries and how that affects health care spending. Then he makes his data free analysis worse by failing to indicate how little health care workers earn outside the US. At least it all fits the narrative and signals his virtue. Can't wait to see see him resign and run for office to show us all his principles in action.

[oldman22]

"The Donald’s record-breaking, Pentagon-slush fund masquerading as a budget – and more importantly the way such gigantic defense industry-giveaways sail through Congress with bipartisan super-majorities – represents, instead, logical (extremist) culmination for a warfare state gone mad."

a worthy read here:

https://original.antiwar.com/Danny_Sjursen/2020/02/17/marines-not-mcdonalds-tom-friedmans-fortune-telling-folly/

[oldman22]

"The results of war may be almost as bad as the destruction of liberty and, in fact, may lead, even if the war is won, to something very close to the destruction of liberty at home. War not only produces pitiful human suffering and utter destruction of many things worthwhile, but it is almost as disastrous for the victor as for the vanquished."

Senator Robert Taft

more here:

https://original.antiwar.com/rep-john-j-duncan-jr./2020/02/17/eisenhowers-anti-interventionist-course-for-republicans/

[Deap]

More speculation about who is NOT "Anonymous": https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2020/02/uncovering_anonymousin_the_white_house.html

Suspects it is a NoTrumper neocon.

[Poul]

What will win out?

The will to free themselves of the American yoke or American economic power over Iraq.

Has Iraq’s military ‘gone Russian’?
https://www.rudaw.net/english/opinion/160220201

Iraq has a lot to lose if US cuts financial ties.
https://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/13012020

[HK Leo Strauss]

Southern Cross, it is a paragon example of where Socialist institutions lead.

[ISL]

Ann,

I believe Erdogan is creating job opportunities for Idlib Jihadi's in Libya.