Anthony’s Pizza

Anthony’s Pizza; A retired Army Colonel’s observations from the AAFES Food Court. First if you know what an AAFES Food Court is, then you will appreciate this (Army Air Force Exchange System aka PX/BX) I live in DuPont, WA, located right across I-5 from JBLM (Joint Base Lewis McChord or for the Army types Ft …

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Is the “Chinese Spy Balloon” Mission Just to Make President Biden and Our Military Look Bad? If So, Mission Accomplished!

I will admit it: I have been reluctant to comment on the purported Chinese spy balloon story, because it seemed like so much of a set-up. Really? A nation with the capacity to launch its own spy satellites, needing to send an easily-shot-down spy balloon over Montana? But, with even the Grey Lady treating it …

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After Senators Receive Alarming Warning from Air Force, North Dakota Mayor Quickly Moves to Stop Chinese Corn Mill

It was never a good idea for Chinese-owned Fufeng USA to build a corn mill in North Dakota, especially given its proximity to Grand Forks Air Force Base. Nevertheless, the city’s mayor, Brandon Bochenski, and the state’s governor, Doug Burgum, both Republicans and delighted by the prospect of economic opportunity, forged ahead with the plans. …

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Drone sales, diplomacy, deployment, and force projection

Chemical weapons are called the poor man’s atom bomb. The drone is becoming the poor man’s carrier. A three-year-old meme on Facebook discussing the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani shows how force projection has changed in the last few decades: Sucks to be him. And I don’t question there were a few more people in the loop …

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Biden Totally Wrecks Ukraine Response

President Biden, President Putin

It has been 11 months since Russia invaded Ukraine; When it became clear that Putin was contemplating an invasion of the Ukraine, Biden misplayed all of his cards.  Instead of calling Putin’s bluff and sending as much military assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible, Biden basically invited the Russian dictator to take the northeast portion …

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National Intelligence Folly: How a Tragic Unsolved Murder Led to Billions of Dollars of Program Fraud, Waste and Abuse Part 29: A Crappy People Problem

There is an Old School Economics Saying that When Unemployment Goes Below ~5%, There are a lot of People Working Who Can’t Reach the Pedals. We have Some Crappy People Working for Us

Another Leadership Story; “How Are You Doing Joe?”

There is another leadership story I would like to tell. I tell this to future officers when I get the chance. In 2011, I was the appointed leader of an organization. While I owned the responsibility given to me, I never felt I deserved the role.  One day, my boss’s boss asked me how I …

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Do we Belong to Different Classes?

I am Joe Heaton and I approve of this message… You say we belong to different classes, sir?  Truly I agree. As it was and as it were, let me tell you what that means to me.    You look down upon my friends and you look down upon me.  You think that wealth means …

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West Point’s Worldview

West Point

West Point’s Worldview; There is a moral aspect to leadership. Even in the evil business of war there is a moral aspect to every life and death decision. Formerly, the United States Army was grounded in a consensus Judeo-Christian culture. It had a moral-ethical basis which could be traced to words written in the Holy Bible. …

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Yet Another Biden Betrayal

By John R. “Buck” Surdu On 20 December 22, Congress yet again broke faith with our allies. According to the Washington Post, Congress dropped from its $1.7 billion omnibus spending bill an amendment that would have created a pathway to residency for Afghan refugees, dimming the hopes for tens of thousands of people rescued as …

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National Intelligence Folly: How a Tragic Unsolved Murder Led to Billions of Dollars of Program Fraud, Waste and Abuse Part 21 The Beat Goes On-at What Cost?

The NRO FIA program continues to struggle on the optical side, while the radar and ground deliveries hum along. However, radar is no substitute for optical and as we close on demonstrating some uses that exemplify the value of radar while acknowledging such, FIA failure to deliver has brought the community to the brink of a Gap in capability.

BG(R) Petty: An Open Letter to my Fellow Army General Officers

An Open Letter to my Fellow Army General Officers- We all commissioned into the Army with ideals and a determination to make a difference. We would lead with character, create effective teams to win on future battlefields, and advance our beloved institution, all the while, remaining loyal to our Constitution. During our service, we have …

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National Intelligence Folly: How a Tragic Unsolved Murder Led to Billions of Dollars of Program Fraud, Waste and Abuse Part 20: Good Money After Bad

Henry Ford creates the assembly line and Def Sec McNamara creates a DoD program budget methodology that works very well for many programs but is not a panacea in consideration of Moore’s law. Meanwhile the NRO FIA program keeps digging (spending) in an attempt to buy their way to completion.