Clark Griswold

More on National Guard on the border as we are discussing the pros/cons and whether there should be a US military mission on the border Operation Jump Start, largest operation running from 2006 to 2008. Operation Phalanx, the successor operation running from 2008 to 2011. Operation Nimbus, last significant operation, running from 2011 to 2013. Each one following Jump Start was a draw down with Nimbus being mainly air support. The ROE was so restrictive that it was an observe and report only mission pretty much with Jump Start and the follow on missions had few boots on the ground. No matter as it has all rolled up now and Mexico has it's own problems too on its southern border with Guatemala, but they're building a fence.

We can do both, we have the technology... seriously though we can defend our border(s) and participate OCONUS as required... the focus will be confronting and deterring our near peer enemies and competitors but not ignoring significant problems on our doorstep, border security is not only an LE mission

The classy city of San Diego has managed to take control of the anarchy and has a real barrier, some problems but a huge improvement over the non-existant physical barriers we need in urban areas... San Diego Fence Provides Lessons in Border Control Some may incorrectly infer from my earlier posts that I hate Mexico/Mexicans and other people using Mexico as an easy point to cross illegally into 'Merica. Nothing could be further from the truth, President Calderon (previous President of Mexico) is a brave man and good leader who initiated the War on the Cartels that we have seen for the past few years. He has risked his personal safety and that of his family to save Mexico from becoming a failed narco-state (List of politicians killed in the Mexican Drug War). We should commend and assist Mexico in fighting this war, they should be if not the top foreign policy concern of the United States then priority 1.1 as they live next door and are our 3rd largest trading partner. I believe ultimately the best souther border for the US is stable and prosperous Mexico to the south but in the meantime, good fences make good neighbors so build the triple layer fences with vehicle barriers in urban areas, surveil high traffic areas and patrol the rural areas with the National Guard (Army and ANG). A secure border (both North and South) with real port of entry security and visa control is just the start. If you don't arrest the employers, you'll never turn off the magnet that draws them here. You don't have to arrest all of them, just start making examples of a few. The first few agri-busiinesses that gets a 25 million dollar fine or construction company that gets shut down for 6 months and has its equipment siezed will begin to change the landscape. Drugs and the huge demand for them causing border insecurity are another problem, separate but closely related to what irks me and I hope a growing majority about our criminal border security and immigration/employment enforcement.

Cool - answer to your question, not one that has maintained its position or survived intact. Great nations or empires commit suicide, not murdered. TrainerModel - so you it's all good on the border? No need to use our considerable COIN resources we've built up over the pas 10 years to secure the southern border? What's so tin foil hat about recognizing Mexico is not a failed state but a weak state or unwilling state and it is time to change the equation? CIA And Pentagon Wonder: Could Mexico Implode?

Maybe but why is ok to have their military on the border but if the US did the same that would be "militarization" and just unfair and wrong, we're having to fight this with one hand tied behind our back with a bunch of whiny, bed-wetting lawyers at the ACLU shovel out some BS to keep America from actually defending itself.

So by your reasoning, securing and protecting our actual homeland can take a back seat to protecting South Korea? Because if there was a sudden spike in the usual carnage south of the border and suddenly a 200,000 Mexicans suddenly just pushed their way into San Diego, that would be no big deal? Hundreds of Illegals storm California Border Patrol Here's another little gem about how security on the border with Mexico should be a second thought. Transnational gangs form alliance with Mexican cartel, becoming more sophisticated in trafficking drugs, guns, people “A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.” President Ronald Reagan

The border is more out of control than the public knows (civilian or military). CBP estimates they only catch maybe a 1/3 of the illegals crossing into the US (anecodotal from a 7 year CBP agent in the busiest sector on the border). We are constantly told the lie that they are just people looking to do "work Americans can or won't do". That's bullshit and only a lie told by corporations and their political pawns who want a weak labor market and short sighted politicians who dream of getting 10+ million new voters. No other country allows itself, that is the key phrase, allows its borders to be so weak when it has the resources it to secure it. It is criminal. Here's an example of one of the fine individuals just "looking for a better life" that violate our laws and are not supposed to be here. Controversial Muslim cleric caught sneaking into U.S. Does anyone really believe that any of our OCONUS missions really take precedence over securing our actual border? Tell me you don't think this guy sneaking in is just the tip of the iceberg...

When in the hell are we going to actually protect our own country? N4T Investigators: Rogue Mexican Army troops crossing the line There are about 28,500 US military personnel in South Korea right now assisting in deterrance and defense of the 15th largest economy in the world that also has the 6th largest military (by AD personnel) with a 2.9 million reserve force and we have almost no US military actually stationed on and tasked to defend the southern border. Can we get at least half of that on our border? One can dream though...

One step forward... Australia to Buy 58 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters Maybe two steps back... F-35 Stealth Questions Bring Back B-2 Memories Boeing Builds the Navy an F-35C Exit Strategy

Art... Yes, A Woman Is 'Giving Birth' To A Painting In This Very NSFW Video

Good way to put it, the AF really is suffering from a long series of self-inflicted wounds (mostly procurement fiascos) that have been compounding over a several decades. What is the solution to our crappy acquisitions process? Just finished "Boyd" and the Bigger-Faster-Higher-Farther crowd appears to have won against the Fighter Mafia but are dragging the whole institution down the drain, to put it another way, how can you save the Air Force from itself?

Legitimate point but what bothers me is that he has some academic and professional credentials that give him access to decision makers, policy shapers, respected publications, etc... granted the probability of his ideas coming to full bore are not likely, the chance of some part of it taking root is real. I could easily see the AF strategic nuclear mission being truncated or lost to the Navy, at least the bombers and/or the ICBMs; while on the outside part of left field, CAS could be lost also. The Key West Agreement is not written in stone and while it would be a big change, sometimes earthquakes happen and the whole landscape changes. If the AF doesn't jealously defend its right to exist, the branches will constantly nip at it leaving little mission then little reason for being. Even though he may seem like just a crank with a PhD, you have to pay attention. Now that being said, as an AF guy I think actually we should listen to him not to take his ideas literally and abolish our own service but look at not the details of his argument but the greater why of his argument. That is the AF exists partially and in some cases wholly to support the other branches. There are missions that exist that are not just support to the others (the nuclear enterprise, strategic warning & ISR, air / space soverignty & access, etc..) but a large portion is to support, we probably should embrace that more and diffuse our critics. A legitimate argument could be made that we are doing that right now but just as strong an argument could be made that we only did that after being dragged to that decision eventually. Recent examples of the MC-12 and LAAR are ones where the AF only reluctantly responded and in the case of LAAR didn't happen even though a need existed. Both of those would have diffused the idea that the AF is principally interested in operating on its own. That being said, I don't believe that and I know a lot of people here don't believe that but a large portion of the other branches believe that. Perception is reality and unfortunately we seem a bit aloof.

For once I agree with Farley The Israeli B-52 Is a Terrible Idea Now giving them F-117s might actually work but put that in the never gonna happen column too.

Maybe and good examples of other members of the total team fumbling the ball also. Not sure this would help but a "forest fire" approach to the DoD at high echelons maybe needed, periodically sweeping out 10% of the staff and putting in some new blood to get rid of the deadwood entrenched with power and their own agendas. What seems to me to be the factor that corrupts other wise good officers into corrupt ones is time, time soaking in the atmosphere of deal making, schmoozing and being removed from the line and daily ops. Too much time thinking that the DoD is a jobs & contractor enrichment project and that designing, building and buying good systems that people will actually use is not what they actually do (Pentagon & Acquisition specific rant). The staff & leadership track should be shorter and the leap to multi-star GO shorter to prevent the inevitable corruption, i.e. go from Col to Gen quickly and without the usual telegraphing and be promoted to one-star with an agenda. It's the inevitable erosion of morals and character from too long a road to get to a position where you can actually get something done.

Not surprised about the cost but the idea that it will actually get funded at $550 mil a copy is surprising. Given the financial realities, that is just a bridge too far and I doubt Congress or anyone else believes that it will actually stay at $550 mil a copy, some new requirement will come up and the gold plating begins. Not opposed to us having nice things but we've got to break the habit of bending the budget around the next superstar while everything else gets screwed, the B-1 did this in the 70's and the F-22 did this in the 90's to 00's and the F-35 is currently shredding our budget and credibility to run our own affairs, hence the original theme of this thread, serious attack on the existence of the AF as an independent branch. This would either not be happening or have no credibility given to it if we had been able to get our projects on time and budget (Congressional and Contractor meddling not withstanding).

Mass only in terms of massively over-priced USAF General: 'Of Course' Bomber Will Be More Than $550M Per Copy

More reasons for the Poles to be concerned Belarus says Russia to send warplanes in response to NATO drills

Yup - but slowly and reluctantly I think they are starting to realize that they actually live in a really nice neighborhood but with some really really bad neighbors... Europe Begins to Rethink Cuts to Military Spending Rethinking German Pacifism and Poland is not going to get run over by history again, at least not without a real fight... Don't Mess with Poland

Return to course... more from Mr. Farley. https://thediplomat.com/2014/04/air-forces-and-asia-interview-with-robert-farley/

Yup, that checks...

True - but it indicates they are not going to let any naval asset operate without real threat anywhere close to the Crimea.

2 Reading "Boyd" right now and the Mad Major was fighting the good fight for this long ago, we need someone there now (HHQ levels) who believes in the quality with quantity mantra also...

Winds of War keep blowing... Russia to deploy Tu-22M3 'Backfire' bombers to Crimea

Another article from the USAF's #1 fan: No, F-22's Can't Save Ukraine 22's by themselves would not be enough, but combined with a decent Combined Arms force (Typhoons from the Euros, Patriots & Armor from US/UK/Poles, etc..) might give pause to the Ruskies...

1. SAPR 2. Disco belts 3. Professional Relations CBT 4. GTC CBT 5. LOAC CBT