I just got back from trying to turn Bambi’s dad into venison (he is safe for now) and I noticed Strieff’s “intro”.

Ahh yes, The Killer Bee’s. I will just say that Charlie Company is the one that was on the cover of ARMY magazine and COL Dandridge “mike” Malone shadowed us for his report to the CSA and his very complimentary article. IIRC we also led the battalion in Ranger School grads and Correctional Custody Facility Honor Grads. Don’t make me tell the story of the “bayonet duel”.

To everyone else – Wow! thanks for all the great comments (yes, I read them all). As I mentioned I was away and so I won’t try to make a bunch of replies. It seems that most everyone agrees with the main point, which is the disconnect is not good. The folks responsible will have to sort out the exact cause and solution(s) and we can all have our own opinion on that.

See yinz again, soon.

I came to the conclusion some time ago that that the people in charge and the ones getting the most support in the media have an aversion to identifying our enemies. This is evident by avoiding words or concepts like “victory”. Talk of negotiation with the Taliban comes from this mindset. This sort of thing makes me wonder what happened to the country I thought I was a part of. Did the sheep decide they didn’t need the sheepdogs anymore? The wolves can’t believe their good fortune.

Achance’s decription of management by committee is bureaucracy personified. We need leaders rather than managers. Nessa’s Samuel Adams quote describes bureaucrats to me, their tranquil servitude does us a disservice.

I’m proud to know the ones I do.

I’ve met scumbags from every branch of the military EXCEPT the Marines. When they play, they play hard…but when it comes to doing business with the enemy, there’s nobody else I’d want between me and the bad guys.

Oorah, Marines. They can march in the shadow of my wings anytime

Seriously, there are some kids in LeJeune who would volunteer to be duct-taped and thrown off a balcony. Into a dumpster full of broken glass.

Considering the living conditions there, it’s a wonder they survive long enough to get to combat. My son returned home from his second tour in Iraq just short of two months ago. He wouldn’t let me go up to the barracks with him that night. His room had no toilet (hole in floor), no running water in the half-demolished shower, no heat (that was fixed, now it’s 90 degrees in there and it can’t be turned off), broken windows, doors, etc. All of which is seen as a minor inconvenience. I’ve never heard sounds coming from living quarters like those I’ve heard there. Other-worldly, wild animal sounds.

God help Osama if these guys catch him.

For a bunch of lefty intellectuals who don’t believe in leaders or autocratic management, who basically reject authority and who rely on consensus, a dithering head of an agency means the whole agency dithers because nobody will just assume reponsibility and run with it. These guys think talking about something doing something about it. There really isn’t anyone in Comrade Obama’s regime that has ever actually done anything except talk and be born with the right pedigree or get an affirmative action scholship to a school they wouldn’t otherwise qualify for.

When I read the story about McChrystal’s troop request in August, the WH reaction, it was clear to me that Obama had not the slightest comprehension of the policy he had approved in March, and Gen McChrystal acted on. Obama simply signed off on whatever Jones put in front of him. The consequences of this staggering ineptitude and ignorance on the part of the President are huge — leading to the disastrous months of public dithering, leaks, undermining of various principals and so on. At various times leaks portrayed McChrystal as leading a coup, Karzai entirely unreliable, and so on.

The Post story (known in the biz as a tick-tock) confirmed my view. The problem lies with the fact that Obama has no understanding of, no talent for, no experience in the duties of the executive: these are, prioritizing, delegating, and decision-making.

This failure to understand leadership, let alone any ability, has doomed Obama’s Presidency. This is obvious on a host of issues. In the area of national security, defense and war leadership, his Presidency is a disaster.

In the area of decision-making, consider the following, from a fawning New Yorker study of Obama’s economic team (another team of geniuses) and their handling of the economic crisis of 2008-9. The story (11/12/09) describes a meeting where rivals argue over whether to adopt Little Timmy’s plan to use your money to bail out the banks, and if so should the amount be changed. After hours of arguing, Obama announces his decision:

“You guys work this out, and when I come back I want you to tell me what your agreed-upon approach is.”

This is what thinks decision-making is — signing off on a consnsus. The problem, of course, is that there is no agreed-upon approach to Afghanistan. I venture to guess that Obama tried some variation of the above quote over the six-months of dithering, and someone explained to him that his job was to actually decide.

Never forget the Rule of LGOPs.

Every deploying Soldier (and Marine) complains of “not enough training” BEFORE they deploy. In rare instances it is true, in the vast majority of instances, it is the equivalent of worrying about your teenager when you allow them to borrow the family car before going out unsupervised on friday night. You gave them everything they needed, you just wish they had more.

As for the hazing, I still complain about the “blood wings” my partners gave me upon my graduation from Airborne School, but I wouldn’t trade those memories, or those friends for anything. I’m now looking forward to giving some of those same memories, and hazing, to my daughter when she graduates in July.

Thank you for supporting your son’s service, God bless you all!

His expertise is posturing so that he achieves whatever he needs for the next advancement of THE OBAMA LEGACY.

Need street cred as an authentic & angry black?– Attend The “Rev” J. Wright’s “church” for twenty years, have your daughters baptized there, etc.

Need public proof that you’re not a racist hack?– Throw the aforementioned J. Wright under the bus.

Need further proff that you’re not a racist?– Trash and then throw the grandmother who raised you under the bus.

Need cred that you’re not a commie? Throw your pal Van Jones under the bus.

Need an endorsement from the far loonie left? Castigate your predecessor and make ridiculous campaign claims.

Need to not look like a fool after realizing your campaign promises were nonesense?– Throw Gen. McCrystal and the troops to the wolves.

And so it goes…