Not only do we send our women into wars (not last line, we're about to be over run in the homeland wars) but we also send those that are pregnant into war.
We risk not one life but two. Think about it. If I go batshit stupid, walk down the street and shoot 6 people - one of which is pregnant - I'll be charged with taking 7 lives.
We all agree with that thinking.
But if that woman decides that the child she is carrying is a "burden", "badly timed", pick your poison, then that woman can legally (and for some in our society, cheerfully) abort the pregnancy.
Our logic is fucked up...that's a sign of a morally bankrupt society.
Regardless. Maternity Flight Suits and Utilities increase safety and meet an urgent fleet need...or so says our betters.
#Navy Maternity Flight Suits increase safety, meet urgent fleet need
Ya know I kinda get where Lockheed Martin is going. They had a winner with a flaw that turned into a huge flaw with the F-22 (stealth dogfighter but times changed when we needed a long range missile thrower) and a loser that was a loser from the outset with the F-35.
So they're trying to put lipstick on this pig (did you notice how they threw the F-35 into the mix?).
Having said that airpower theorist got it so wrong again.
They didn't take into account the advancement in detection of stealth aircraft.
They didn't take into account the advancement in missiles, the advent of electronic attack and the threat that new tech (lasers) would bring.
But mostly they ignored the threat that was China.
Many have said it before but I'll say it again (with an addition). The YF-23 and the X-32 contender would have been better options.
That YF-23 is just a big, stealthy, fast, missile truck with the bonus of long range.
The X-32 with that big ass wing would have carried fuel for days.
They tried to predict the future and failed.
I think that applies across the board for this generation of generals. Ya know what the sad reality is?
The old Skool Marine Leadership and the same applies for the other services, built the force that would win in the desert for Desert Storm, the War On Terror and the debacles in Afghanistan/Syria/N. Africa etc...
This gen won't be able to say the same.
They will be able to say that they pushed a bunch of failed concepts. Some made it to production, others didn't and great ideas that should have been pursued were shelved.
Depending on when the next war hits we could be fighting in evolved weapon systems that have their roots in the 70's and 80's.
That should be stunning.
The sad reality?
For all the money we've spent on defense it would appear that innovation has taken a hit. It's almost like movies. No new stuff just rehashing of stuff that came before.
I believe that's a result of defense consolidation but that's a different discussion.
Can we state that the best we can hope for is that no further damage is done by this generation of leadership and to pray that the next gen does better?
Is it just me or do the French seem to be pushing the Griffon as their primary combat vehicle? I'm not sure if its because of the current skirmish they're involved in or part of an evolving concept but they're really pushing the Griffon hard.
The VBCI seems to have almost disappeared cause the Griffon is definitely the new darling of the force. Wonder why we haven't seen the same with the JLTV. Maybe its just better public relations on the part of the French military but the JLTV doesn't seem to have the same shine.
Livraison du premier véhicule GRIFFON au #3RAMa. Bien plus performant et mieux protégé, cet engin de nouvelle génération issu du programme #SCORPION équipera dans quelques semaines les équipes du régiment. Une nouvelle étape de franchie dans le durcissement du régiment ! pic.twitter.com/mfKq1hj0wl
The LCS is sailing in the Pacific as part of us "competing".
Competing wasn't even a military term (at least one used when discussing strategy) and now we have Berger's Folly basically re-inventing the Marine Corps NOT TO FIGHT AND WIN but rather compete with China.
Somehow someway he believes that US forces inside the enemies engagement zone is competing with China. Somehow someway he believes that having Marines stare at Chinese Marines conducting operations in their OWN HEMISPHERE will deter them.
Reverse this thinking.
What if the Chinese stationed a Regiment of Marines in the Caribbean. What do you think our reaction would be? Suppose they put out the fig leaf that they were there to "deter aggression and reassure their allies"?
I would be pounding the table and writing my Congress Critter to get them the fuck outta there. I would be willing to go to war because they were within spitting distance of the USA.
I'm not trying to go all peace, love and marijuana on you but it is kinda easy to understand why Chinese patriots (labeled as nationalist here in the US) are going bonkers isn't it?
Oh and question.
If Berger's Folly was fully operational RIGHT NOW, would it have kept the Chinese from flying circles around Taiwan with a reinforced air wing yesterday?
I don't think so.
And that's the problem.
Berger's Folly also known as Force Design 2030 won't even accomplish its mission of competing with China.
That ship has sailed.
The only rational thing to do is to keep the Marine Corps as a force that can sail anywhere, fight anyone and maybe specialize the 3rd MEF to fight in the Pacific.
Fill that force with missiles. Make it a Littoral Force. But leave the rest of the Corps alone so that it can evolve to fight the MOST LIKELY fights...ya know those pop up conflicts that were all the rage in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's....while still being able to do the Nations (not the Navy's bidding) if needed for an unforeseen regional war (we might be done with the Middle East but the Middle East might not be done with us!).
