July 2007 - Posts

• presenting information

  I’ve received more than a few compliments on the look and style of both sites but I’ve received a couple of questions about navigation on the blogsite and the presenting of info, primarily that to someone that’s not really blog savvy, it’s cumbersome.  I will address that in couple of days but part of this is we are using software that has certain limitations and part of it is expense.  Some of this will get better as our finances allow. But until then, please don’t be shy with either the posts or e-mails.   One of the important things to recognize in this world is that information is becoming a major weapon and how it’s presented can be both a powerful tool but may also facilitate discovery if displayed in a way allowing people to “get it.” A few years back, I attended a lecture that was the most impressive course in all my civilian and military education and training and I recommend it to anyone who works with presenting visual information.   Dr. Edward Tufte is a professor at Yale and author of 4 books (which are provided to the students) and he discusses many topics including a chart which helped mobster John Gotti first avoid prison, Galileo and his early works, but the most impressive, perhaps in the history of presenting visual information, a graphic by Frenchman Charles Minard. When I first started thinking about what has now become EXCALIBUR, I drafted many long PowerPoint briefs.  As the result of attending his course, I rolled it all into an 8 page pamphlet, which is still big but provides lots of details and images.  It’s not that I’m anti-PowerPoint it’s just that too many people “dumb down” the presentation of info when using that crutch.   The Menard graphic from 1861 presents an amazing amount of information on Napoleons march to Moscow and return.  On the top of the print you see the cardinal direction of the march as well as the (constantly) diminishing size of the army, against a timeline.  At the bottom is the temperature during their return, it’s a really spectacular display of information.  The guys over at HistoryShots.com have taken this sort of image and turned it into a business.  Their work is really good and when we finally get the facility up and running, these prints will definitely be included.  The following image shows the space race to the moon.        I made them a recommendation for a print, it’s the epic story of Dr. William Brydon the sole survivor of the disastrous British invasion during the first Anglo Afghan War from 1839 to 1842.  The British invaded and occupied what is now modern Afghanistan. After a senior officer and his aides were killed, they decided to retreat back to India.  The departing British contingent numbered around 14–16,000, of about 4,500 military personnel, and over 10,000 civilian camp followers. Between the weather, lack of supplies, and of course, constant attacks by the Afghans, the army was whittled down to one man, Dr. Brydon.  When you want to send the message, “don’t come back,” you only need one to tell the tale. The guys at Historyshots didn’t think there was a big enough market but if any enterprising folks out there want to try and draw this up, I think it would be fascinating.       Here is a wounded Dr. Brydon struggling back in this famous painting from Elizabeth Butler “Remnants of an Army”     Posted Jul 31 2007, 10:02 PM by Otto with no comments Filed under: information, Dr. Tufte, Afghanistan

• potential new project

  EXCALIBUR Research and Development LLC is in discussions with a US military organization in preparations for their deployment to Iraq.  They have requested I not identify the unit nor their intended deployment location quite yet, but in the not too distant future, they should be able to allow me to divulge more details. Some folks may try and guess as to who this unit might be and but I request no unit or individual information be posted until they have given the green light.  In fact, they may choose to opt out of this concept so until that time, we will treat this as an exercise in forward thinking.   The basic proposal is this:  Can EXCALIBUR, through collaboration and cooperation, provide innovative thinking to support a unit in their deployment overseas?  If they wanted to increase their effectiveness with supporting their local populace, what kind of things should they have access to?  The good news with regard to this scenario is it might be applied to other deployment areas to include Afghanistan and the Philippines so whether or not we do this right now, this information could be valuable in general. In a previous post, two recent observers discussed Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq and they have been very effective in Afghanistan and increasing their capability in Iraq.   With regard to helping the host nation forces and people, what we’d like you to start thinking about is the following:   --what kind of major shop type tools should they have (drills, lathes, pipefitting etc.)   --what kind of hand tools should they have that they can provide to the local populace?   --how can we legally AND logistically get this stuff sent to Iraq (they have very limited space to take extra anything)   --how can we receive donated tools and or money?   --Can we get companies back in the States that can support with a rapid response for making unusual or niche type stuff (I’m thinking rapid prototyping type machines here)   --should this become a recurring project where we support other units in Iraq or else?   OK folks, that’s to whet your appetite and get the enzymes in your head flowing.  I realize there are still a lot of questions looming but just start thinking about these questions.  This is a chance to support the guys and gals going downrange, we need your brainpower first and after that, might use some donations of money and or supplies.  I will start creating threads that you can begin discussing in general terms, this subject.  If you have any question, feel free to e-mail me.   Don't forget, sign up to help, the network continues to grow...   To comment on Shop Tools, Go here:  http://excaliburrd.com/cs/forums/16.aspx To comment on giveaway hand tools here: http://excaliburrd.com/cs/forums/17.aspx To comment on legal issues here: http://excaliburrd.com/cs/forums/19.aspx     Posted Jul 31 2007, 12:48 PM by Otto with no comments Filed under: Iraq, collaboration, tool box, deployment

• Citizen Journalism group expands at phenomenal rate

  (h/t to Drudgereport.com) to article here: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070730073936.n84arl87&show_article=1 Company site: http://www.nowpublic.com/    In a press release, Nowpublic.com boasts     "In a short period of time, NowPublic.com has become one of the fastest growing news organizations in the world with contributors in over 140 countries and 3,600 cities.  By harnessing the wisdom of crowds and tapping into the news reporting potential of the hundreds of millions of Internet users, eye witnesses, bloggers and photography enthusiasts, NowPublic is changing the way news is produced and distributed. NowPublic also reported today that it has surpassed 100,000 contributing reporters, making it by far the largest "citizen journalism" service in the world.  In addition, NowPublic announced that it's expanding its landmark partnership with the Associated Press (AP) to include AP's bureaus across the United States.  The AP is the world's largest newsgathering organization with a staff of more than 4,000 employees located in more than 240 bureaus in 97 countries.  NowPublic.com and AP agreed in March to an innovative initiative designed to expand the world's access to news as it happens" Talk about an Army of Davids!  Folks, think about the media you have, the media you carry on your body or travel with: cell phones, PDA's, laptops, a camera inside many of the above.  Now, think about instead of reporting the news like Nowpublic is doing, you help make the news.  You could….help catch a terrorist …. help seal our borders … help a city recover …. or help our troops on the front lines....It's gonna happen and you can be a part of it, sign up now!    Posted Jul 30 2007, 07:22 PM by Otto with no comments Filed under: Excalibur, media, collaboration

• Reports from Iraq

  Two reports from the Battlefield   Just today, there are two interesting reports from the battlefield from two distinct parts of the information spectrum, both worth a read (h/t to Powerlineblog.com) if you are interested in the war news.  Michael O’Hanlon and Kenneth Pollock write in today’s New York Times:   Another surprise was how well the coalition’s new Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Teams are working. Wherever we found a fully staffed team, we also found local Iraqi leaders and businessmen cooperating with it to revive the local economy and build new political structures. Although much more needs to be done to create jobs, a new emphasis on microloans and small-scale projects was having some success where the previous aid programs often built white elephants. In some places where we have failed to provide the civilian manpower to fill out the reconstruction teams, the surge has still allowed the military to fashion its own advisory groups from battalion, brigade and division staffs. We talked to dozens of military officers who before the war had known little about governance or business but were now ably immersing themselves in projects to provide the average Iraqi with a decent life.   Both are self proclaimed critics of the Administrations war conduct but in my opinion O’Hanlon deserves respect as his work at Brookings on “metrics” for the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan is probably the most serious analysis outside of the government that I’ve seen anywhere and I used to study it when I was doing metrics analysis for the Joint Staff.  Their Iraq Index here is a list of indicators they look at, no small feat because getting any numbers can be exceedingly difficult.  In another account (h/t Instapundit.com), Michael Totten, an embedded self funded writer like Michael Yon, writes from Baghdad where he’s embedded with a unit from the 82nd Airborne Division and he says:      “This is what it is like most nights during counter-insurgency warfare. “It’s like we’re Baghdad PD,” one soldier put it. It isn’t always open war and explosions and bang-bang. Much of it entails patient police work and the chasing of ghosts.”    That’s exactly right.  When I returned from Baghdad in June of 2003, I drew up a proposal to send street cops and detectives from LA, Miami and NYC to Iraq to help our troops understand how they infiltrated gangs and the Mafia and how they operate in their neighborhoods.  Our guys would tell me of going out on patrol, setting up an observation position and watch as a US Army unit would roll through town at night and you could see the tell tale sign that the locals were signaling of their approach, fires lit, flares shot in the air, guys in the shadows on cell phones. Michael Totten also needs money to enable him to keep operating, if you are interested, drop him a donation here. Lots of good photos too.     One alibi to add, the folks at Victorycaucus.com are also beginning to do “metrics” work as well here Posted Jul 30 2007, 10:30 AM by Otto with no comments Filed under: Iraq, COIN, Totten, Brookings, O'Hanlon, metrics

• Who are we?

  Who is EXCALIBUR R&D?  in the past three months (but really ramping up in the last few days now that the blog has been launched), we’ve gotten hits from lots of places.  The software we’re running allows me to see who your internet service provider is and has info like are you a .mil or .edu and often what country you are in. In many cases it’s masked, so you nefarious people are succeeding in your secrecy!    So far we’ve had hits from every military service, SOCOM, CENTCOM, SOUTHCOM, US Congress, state and local governments, NASA, Department of State, major defense companies, over 22 universities, 35 different countries including UK and Australian military, various defense companies, big and small, and many others. Personally, I know we’ve had college students, active and retired Generals and Admirals, active/former intelligence community, foreign TV producers, friends, family, troops actively serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, pilots, law enforcement personnel, and average janes and joes, in short, an Army of Davids, as the book’s sub title says: How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths    This is exactly the point; we can come together, interact, discuss, collaborate, and find solutions to problems.  Help the GI’s on the front lines and help band together for our common defense.  There is lots of political banter on the net; we’re becoming a pack, not a herd. The US Army says "every soldier is a sensor” in our case, every citizen can be a sensor and eventually we will harness the collective brainpower to help in our defense.   If you aren’t signed up, please consider doing so.  You can see from some of our network and advisors, we are diverse and there is huge goodness in that.  Two of the biggest sites on the net, and both of them I look at frequently, are the www.Dailykos.com and www.Freerepublic.com.  They are polar opposites of the political spectrum and both started out as websites but now each can put their folks “in the field.”  The Daily Kos convention this year will get every major Democratic Presidential candidate to attend and the Free Republic folks have counter-protested at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and at other protests.  They are examples of a migration from web to real life.   At the end of the movie “Twins” which has the unlikely scenario of Danny Devito and Arnold Schwarzenegger as twin brothers separated at birth, they start a consulting company and when the secretary is asked by a caller, what does the company do and she says “we are sorta like the Rand Corporation” and Devito shouts out “Only smarter!”   like us….only faster too!   Posted Jul 29 2007, 06:10 PM by Otto with no comments Filed under: Excalibur, media

• news helicopter midair in Phoenix

  http://www.wlos.com/template/inews_wire/wires.national/3866347b-www.wlos.com.shtml  From the linked AP story: DATELINE (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration says there were five news helicopters and one police chopper in the area where two news helicopters collided yesterday covering a chase in Phoenix. The two pilots and two cameramen were killed when the craft plunged into a park and burst into flames. Back during the DC snipers situation, one of the guys in our network was flying a police helicopter when one of the victims was shot and he was first helo pilot on the scene and started a search.  Within minutes multiple law enforcement and then eventually news helos showed up and our guy said he got out of there because the furball was becoming very dangerous, almost a free for all.  When he told me that story, I e-mailed into the investigators and offered to put together a template of how helos could be brought into an area, around a bullseye, as it's known in the flying game, both improving safety and their search effectiveness. Having directed airshows and helped build very complex SOF excercises, I was sure I could put something together and quickly. Of course, I was never contacted and they probably thought I was just another wacko.   EXCALIBUR is about leveraging experience and innovation, collaborating, and doing it quickly.  As we build the network and improve the process, we'll begin to get noticed and eventually, this will really takeoff.   Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the helicopter crews and the pilot that crashed today at the Dayton airshow and was killed. Posted Jul 28 2007, 07:48 PM by Otto with no comments Filed under: helos

• USAF Chief considering A-10's for AFSOC???

  h/t to reader Randy, GREAT info! here's the link, article follows: (Note, this USAF article is a reprint from a Jane's story) USAF chief considers new A-10A COIN squadronBY: Caitlin Harrington, Jane's Defence Weekly 07/24/2007 US Air Force ( USAF) Chief of Staff General Michael Moseley has told Jane’s he is considering the creation of a new counterinsurgency (COIN) squadron of A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).  Gen Moseley said he is mulling the possibility of putting a squadron of A-10A close-support aircraft inside AFSOC to serve the Special Operations Command, which has the lead engagement role in the US-declared global war on terrorism.  “There’s a variety of … counterinsurgency aircraft and other things out there that we’ve been looking at that would facilitate AFSOC’s partnership with the Special Operations Command,” Gen Moseley told Jane’s on 12 July.  “I’ve even asked: is it reasonable to put a squadron or so of A-10s into Special Operations Command?” The A-10 is widely used to provide close air support to coalition and friendly forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, it can be used against all ground targets including armoured platforms.  Gen Moseley’s interest in a new A-10 COIN squadron follows recent reports of a new AFSOC proposal for an “irregular warfare” wing. Possible aircraft being floated to fill a strike role in the wing have ranged from a modified air-to-ground Beechcraft AT-6B to an Embraer Tucano or Super Tucano.  However, Gen Moseley cautioned that he is not yet fully committed to the idea of a COIN air unit but is considering it because he believes the USAF needs to be able to meet the “full spectrum” of threats — from COIN to state-on-state conflict.  “I don’t know if I’m wedded to [the COIN unit] so much as I would like to know the pluses and minuses,” said Gen Moseley.  The A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft — known informally as the Warthog — may offer some key advantages if Gen Moseley decides to establish the COIN squadron. The A-10 was specifically designed to be highly survivable in close air support missions. It is highly maneuvrable at low air speeds and altitudes, boasts a long loiter time and also a titanium cockpit and redundant flight controls.  If established, the A-10 COIN squadron would be the first dedicated strike aircraft unit for COIN since the Douglas A-1 Skyraider: a propeller-driven ground-support aircraft used in the Vietnam War. The aircraft made a name for itself carrying large bomb loads, absorbing heavy fire and demonstrating prolonged endurance — traits similar to those possessed by the A-10.  “We fought all the way through Southeast Asia with A-1s living in the special operations world,” noted Gen Moseley.  THIS is what I'm talking about!  Folks, a transferrence of Hogs from ACC to AFSOC wouldn't instantly change much, but the reality is our SOF units, leaders, and warriors have (generally) close working relationships.  When you exercise, deploy, and go to combat with the same folks time after time, years and decades long, you build up relationships that can become huge.  You work out your TTP's (tactics, techniques, procedures) that really benefit you on the battlefield.  I hope the Chief continues down this path of "full spectrum" considerations.   BTW, reader Randy also sends a link to a company he's working with, GD Armaments and he recommends for any potential discussed light gunships, consider their .50  calibre minigun. (which I didn't know existed! learn something every day) Posted Jul 28 2007, 12:49 PM by Otto with 1 comment(s) Filed under: SOF, COIN, AFSOC, A-10, aircraft

• Previously imprisoned, an Iraqi Eagle flies again

  Good video vignette on training the Iraqi Air Force by MilitaryTimes.com folks.  From the linked site: "Maj. Mohamad Althawrah of the Iraqi Air Force's 2nd Squadron was imprisoned under Saddam Hussein's regime for refusing to fire on civilians. Now he's learning to fly Huey IIs under U.S. Air Force trainers like Capt. Corey Hunt." Reminds me a little of the Germans imprisioned by the Soviet Union after WWII, especially the world's leading "ace" Erich Hartmann  No one will ever approach the numbers of shootdowns by the leading aces of the Luftwaffe, never. If you are interested in our training of the IqAF, check this out: http://www.militarytimes.com/multimedia/video/caftt256ka/   Posted Jul 27 2007, 11:06 AM by Otto with no comments

• First project: A new aircraft for Counterinsurgency

  I have spent a long time studying the aviation counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in Southeast Asia, from Water Pump and Jungle Jim, to the Raven FAC’s and Air America, and think we need to rebuild a COIN aircraft capability. There has been a variety of commentary on the web in the past few months, much due to an Air Force generated Request for Information for a commercial off the shelf COIN aircraft for the Iraqi AF.  This concept paper was well underway when that appeared.  EXCALIBUR is not being paid for this, we are trying to show the world that the blogosphere can work together and fairly rapidly, propose, discuss, and evaluate national security concepts.  We are choosing this concept because we are hugely frustrated with the current lack of emphasis in the services on small war COIN problems and this is why we are leading with this subject.  If you are an Army troop, Marine, Frogman, Combat Controller, or whatever, throw in your comments and let's get the dialogue going.  This is your chance to take on the PowerPoint Rangers in the five sided building!  You’ll notice there are unfinished slides and we are seeking help from the net, you will be acknowledged (if you choose) and either way, we seek comments on the subject. While I think the linked concept paper on an armed AT-6 is a very viable concept, this is about creating a process and if you have alternative views or concepts, send them in!    To view the main project page go here   To see our main EXCALIBUR R&D, LLC site go here   And to sign up to help with this or future projects, go here    Please take a look.  As brother Bluto said in Animal House, “Come on in, don’t cost nothing!”   Posted Jul 23 2007, 08:43 PM by Otto with 6 comment(s) Filed under: SOF, aviation, COIN, Projects

• Are you listening? Are you ready to help?

  How many times have you heard How can I help in the war effort?  How can I support the troops?                                                                       The mission of EXCALIBUR R&D LLC is to provide innovative and rapid national security solutions collaboratively.  We have now established the page to sign up to help us, we are seeking folks to join us and begin building the network of individuals to help begin building this network.  Please take a look at our site and if you are interested in helping, sign up or send us a question.  Posted Jul 23 2007, 06:44 PM by Otto with no comments

• Welcome home Earthquake

  James McGovern photo from : http://www.air-america.org/newspaper_articles/mcgoon.shtml     The painting “Earthquake’s Final Flight” appears courtesy of artist Jeff Bass commissioned by the Fairchild Corporation.  Jeff Bass website here: http://jeffbass.com     In May of this year, a bigger than life American aviator was buried in Arlington Cemetery.  260 pound Army Air Corps fighter pilot and CIA transport pilot James McGovern, whose nickname was Earthquake McGoon, finally came to rest after his remains had been identified in Northern Laos in 2002.  McGoon and his American co-pilot Wallace Buford were shot down and killed (along with a French engineer while another Frenchman and Vietnamese survived) in their C-119 Flying Boxcar resupplying the French troops at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam and are arguably the first US deaths of the Vietnam War.  The stories about McGoon are legendary including shooting down Japanese Zero’s in WWII, being captured by the Communist Chinese during the fighting over China where he allegedly was let free because the Chinese couldn’t afford to feed him, and his airdropping cases of beer to the French troops but also dropping empty bottles on the enemy so that this whistling might make them think he was bombing them.   When I was going through initial B-52 training, I met Mr. Dave Lampard and his family and was invited to dinner one night.  Mr. Lampard had a measly 21,000 flying hours (that’s not a typo!) and as he outlined his flying experience from RAF Beaufighters in North Africa in WWII, to Civil Air Transport with Chennault, on to Air America and Flying Tigers airline, I sat in awe listening to his stories.  When I asked did he happen to know Earthquake McGoon, an early hero of mine, his wife who was cooking in the kitchen, turned casually and said she had cooked McGovern his last meal before he shipped out and was subsequently shot down. They were very close friends.   I have no personal knowledge of the alleged current “CIA airline” but have seen such descriptive commentary about where those folks may fly from and live, that someone could target their identities and homes.  With the imbroglio about CIA employee Valarie Plame I wonder, would how many would care if a modern day “Earthquake” or Mr. Lampard were outed by the media or killed in action?   An article in Time Magazine from May 1954 carries this quote from McGovern: “"Way I figure it, we either got to fight the bastards at home or fight them over here." An interesting comment from over 50 years ago…  Earthquake’s last words transmitted on the radio were: “Looks like this is it son” Welcome home James B. McGovern and thank you for your service.      Posted Jul 23 2007, 06:42 PM by Otto with no comments Filed under: aviation, CIA, SEA

• Our best and brightest

  A fantastic report by Michael Yon about a meeting between Colonel Steve Townsend and the “Baqubah Guardians” and the Stryker Brigade’s unusual approach to counterinsurgency.h/t to http://www.mudvillegazette.com/milblogs/  Steve is second from the right. Photo from DOD website by SPC Dawkins, USA   Steve Townsend has been a friend of mine since we worked together back when he was an officer with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.  He is showing how adaptable our American military leaders can be, if they are allowed.  Read the whole Michael Yon piece, Yon is one of the best war correspondents America has produced and I recommend if you are financially able, give him a donation here.   The best part of the article is at the end, where he discusses trying to understand the “God is Great” (Allah Akbar) verbiage on the Iraqi flag through our own experiences as a nation with “In God We Trust” as one of our historical references.  Yon gets it in more ways than one.  Good luck and best wishes to both of them and all the Coalition and Iraqi security forces.   Posted Jul 23 2007, 06:40 PM by Otto with no comments Filed under: Yon, Iraq

• Farewell General Downing

  Official USSOCOM portrait of General Wayne Downing   General Wayne A. Downing, US Army Retired, died on the 17th of July at the age of 67.  Nicknamed “The WAD” for his initials, General Downing’ military career culminated as Commander of the Special Operations Command.  General Downing’s godson, a Special Forces officer and friend of mine, told me his death was completely unexpected.  I was only able to have minor brushes with him during my career.   On the 6th of June 1994, I was with my parents and sister at the 50th Anniversary of D-Day and we were making our way up the steps from the beach near where my Dad had landed, up to the Cemetery area.  As I got to the top, I saw a few US military officials and there looking at the beach was General Downing.  I asked his “Loop” (his Aide) a Navy SEAL officer (who has become a close friend of mine) if I could say hello to the general and he said sure.  I was in uniform and told the WAD I was one of “his guys” and he asked where I was stationed and I said Okinawa, he laughed and said “you probably get the award for traveling the furthest to get here.”   Later that same summer, I was deployed with a joint task force on a US Navy ship off the coast of Haiti for Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY.  My job was to monitor a radio frequency for airplanes supporting our folks.  General Pete Schoomaker, later USSOCOM commander and more famously brought out of retirement as Army Chief of Staff, would occasionally listen from his office to the various radio nets and he didn’t like the lack of good communications procedures.  When aircrews were doing radio checks you heard verbal buffoonery like “have you Lima Charlie” (or just Loud and Clear), Five-by, or the dreaded, 10-4 from some wiseguy.  Well, eventually he had enough and after I got my ass chewed out royally by my boss, word went out to the force to clean up the communications and proper procedures were handed out.    One day, we got word General Downing was leaving Haiti after traveling there for coordination and I was told to raise his airplane on the secure radio once they were airborne.  Once I got them, General Schoomaker came out of his office, sat next to me with the headset on and had a conversation with the CINC, except there were really two different conversations.  General Schoomaker used very precise, proper brevity terms while the WAD was having a telephone conversation with an old friend, which they were.  After they were done, General Schoomaker took off his headset, looked at me and with a twinkle in his eye said “looks like I am going to have to give General Downing a course in proper radio telephone procedures” and suppressing a laugh, I said “you probably should General!”   Most fitting, for his last period of service to his nation, General Downing founded the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.  Here is their tribute site.  General Wayne Downing was an American patriot and warrior and a superb leader of our Special Operations Forces.  He will be sorely missed and we salute him.   Posted Jul 23 2007, 06:38 PM by Otto with no comments Filed under: SOF, SOCOM

• Well…. Here we go…..to the Internet and beyond!

  Forgive this extremely long post…it’s my first and laying out the vision here, bear with me…      This is the blog for Excalibur R&D, LLC, a company founded by me, Ed “Otto” Pernotto, you can learn a lot more about it at our site here at www.excaliburrd.com  This blog will concentrate on supporting our goal of innovative and collaborative national security solutions, with the occasionally commentary thrown in, mostly on these same issues.  A couple of things this is not about: politics, religion, and hidden or overt social agendas, there’s plenty of places on the web for that.    This is not to say we aren’t going to be controversial or don’t seek alternative opinions and views, we definitely welcome them.  But we welcome them with a purpose, not name calling, or profanity or hate filled speech, and they won’t be tolerated.  This isn’t a free wheeling say anything place, we are trying to solve problems and help defend the country and our Allies around the world.  This is a political spin free zone.  I actually do not belong to any party, years ago when on active duty, I made the decision that as a military man I should be independent and not to join a party and frankly, nothing since has changed my mind.   What I am hoping this company and concept will do is to harness the energy, knowledge, passion, patriotism of the American people and our friends around the world.  I have seen, heard, and read so much commentary bemoaning the lack of engaging the American people in this fight we find us in.  Whether you call it the Global War on Terror (GWOT), the Long War, or whatever, the fact is no one has made a play to engage the collective brainpower of this country.  While we have numerous think tanks in this country, most have a political leaning and tend to skew their ideas or they are really slow and rely on long term research.  Folks we may not have years or months when confronted with the problems we are facing   The other thing is that the internet has really opened up the ability for all of us to interact and I think that the “intelligentsia” of our country, the PhD’s, “elite journalists,” retired senior officers, retired Members of Congress and senior former governmental officials, don’t recognize that these new forces of information and collaboration need to be harnessed and used, not ignored.  I also recognize the value of youth and the value of increasing the pool from where we draw our ideas.   One last thing, if you question whether I will tackle controversial positions or take contrarian views I offer my bona fides:  in 1991 as a mid-level active duty Captain, I thought the Air Force was heading down a very bad path and I wrote an article for Armed Forces Journal in which I essentially called the policies of then Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Merrill McPeak flawed.  Ben Schemmer, then editor (now sadly deceased) called me before running the article and said you know you will get kicked out of the Air Force for this and I told him some things are worth fighting for.    Back then there were lots of anonymous rants, but I was the only active duty person that came out and wrote a commentary opposed to General McPeak’s vision. A few years later, I was passed over to the rank of Major on active duty and had to leave the service, luckily, the Air Force Reserve allowed me to continue to serve.  Do I think I was passed over for my article, no, but many of my friends do.  So all of these TV pundits that fawn over retired Generals who attack current members of the government, I laugh at both the pundits and the “truth tellers.”  When you are receiving a six figure retired paycheck and probably serve on many company boards, it doesn’t take a lot of courage to oppose unpopular military policies.  LTC Paul Yingling, who wrote the article “A failure of generalship” regarding the performance of our senior military leadership in Armed Forces Journal, well, that’s another matter entirely. I salute him for his courage to speak, if I don’t necessarily agree with all of his conclusions.   Well folks, here we go.  And I hope we can pass the audition!   Posted Jul 23 2007, 06:31 PM by Otto with no comments