astropolitics.org Blog

Navy Hits USAF On Satellite Acquisition (UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL 17 MAR 08)WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has told lawmakers it fears being short-changed when cuts are made to over-budget spy satellite programs run by the Air Force.
In unusually blunt testimony, Rear Adm. Kenneth Deutsch, director of warfare integration in the Navy’s communications networks office, raised [...]

Jeremy Hsu of Imaginova penned an article for Space News: “Space Arms Race Heats up Overnight.” A few choice bits (my emphases):
“It was an unfortunate choice by the United States that seems to have been unnecessary. The fact is that satellites fall from space all the time and the risk of it was fairly minimal,” [...]

Here’s another fantastic op-ed by the only airman willing to stick his neck out and say what needs to be said. Of course it helps if you can write like this, but still…
One of the lodestars of great writing is concentration–and Dunlap concentrated so much in these few words, especially in his last paragraph.

Folks,From an H-War posting, a review in the Weekly Standard of a recent book written by a West Point professor of English. Basically, it touts the Academy as a place where a book based intellectual journey is important and one that continues for many after they leave the institution. I would contrast this finding with [...]

Our friend in Washington is the de facto interim editor. I am publishing his quick take on the Scales article preceding as I received it–a great read:
Well, there he goes again.  Here’s another propaganda piece (attached) from Bob Scales concerning the need for the nation to concentrate on how to perform close combat better—and get [...]

AMERICAN INFANTRY AND NATIONAL PRIORITIES
Armed Forces Journal     December 2007
By Maj. Gen. Robert H. Scales (Ret.)
The progress of war, like other forms of human endeavor, is defined in terms of epochs, cycles of periodic change that sweep through and shape the course of Western civilization. Political scientists recount the advance of governance in terms of theocracy, [...]

The hideous little article and a lengthy discussion thread can be found at the American Prospect. Times are tough, and the lashing out continues… 

Our friend in Washington passed along a very interesting analysis:
 
Three reasons why USAF is under attack: 
1. The national security strategy vacuum: From 1981 through 2001, our national security strategy was deterrence and containment, with airpower playing the largest single role.  During that period, the USAF enjoyed a position of respect and support.  Since 2001, our national security strategy [...]

(Astropolitics’ good friend sent us this cartoon with additional captions)
 
 
The cartoonist missed a couple steps. After we send in even more hunters …
2.       When that doesn’t work, blame the tribal leaders for sending you.
3.       Demand never to be sent to tar pits again (Og say “no more tar pits”) unless you have way more hunters [...]

Here’s a penetrating strategic assessment on Iraq by Bartle Bull (of Prospect). Bull’s essay, “Mission Accomplished,” is long, but it’s reasoned, articulate, and extremely well-supported. I’m serving it up here on astropolitics.org blog not to open an argument about the Iraqi question, but to offer a quality litmus test to those Iraq-focused strategists [...]