Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

December 16, 2004

Wrong Conclusions

Filed under: Media,Military — Bunker @ 11:43 am

The Christian Science Monitor carries a story regarding “The pattern of discontent in US ranks.” Brad Knickerbocker finds all kinds of things wrong, and suggests that military personnel are disgruntled. He finds support:

But they also note a growing trend for GIs to speak out and to find leverage points to protect their interests – including personal safety. “I am amazed that it is not greater,” says retired Air Force Col. Sam Gardiner. “The war continues to go badly. Their equipment is in bad shape. Supply problems continue. Tours are extended. Many are on a second or third deployment to a combat zone. I would expect a louder voice.”

Perhaps that louder voice you expect isn’t coming because active duty personnel don’t see things through as dark a glass as you do, Colonel.

Since the fighting began in Iraq, the number of Guard and reserve troops on active duty has more than doubled. Critics say this is an indication that US forces are stretched too thin.

Perhaps they are spread too thin. Active duty force levels were reduced in favor of Guard and Reserve units during the drawdown that began in… 1992. Bush 41 and SecDef Cheney had a plan for reorganizing and a managed drawdown. That plan went out the window in January 1993. And the expanded drawdown was coupled with extensive deployments of units to other garden spots of the world in support of NATO and UN commitments. Now, the Guard and Reserve units are losing people just as they did after the Gulf War in 1991. There are some in those units who joined never expecting to ever do anything other than play soldier one weekend a month. When the bell rings, they’re not so sure it’s what they really wanted–that paycheck isn’t worth it.

Not that I can blame someone with a healthy income no longer supplemented by but replaced by GI pay. And being away from the wife and kids for a weekend or two weeks is far different from twelve to thirteen months in the desert, where people want to kill you.

“What is driving the resistance is the same thing that drove it during Vietnam – a lack of trust in the civilian leadership and a sense that the uniformed leaders are not standing up for the forces,” says retired Army Col. Dan Smith, a military analyst with the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington. Colonel Smith doesn’t expect the kind of “fragging” incidents that occurred in Vietnam where soldiers attacked their own officers. “This force is too professional,” he says. “But the lack of trust and the inequity of the tours will very likely be reflected in the numbers of Guard and reservists who vote no-confidence with their feet.”

That already appears to be happening. The Army National Guard is short 5,000 new citizen-soldiers.

From reports of people I know, there is no “lack of trust in the civilian leadership”. But perhaps I just know the wrong people. Of course, the article wouldn’t be complete without reference to Vietnam. And that war is mentioned no less than five times.

We went to a reduced military in favor of an increased Guard and Reserve so that Clinton could claim he reduced the size of government, even though every other department grew while Defense was reduced. The net was a reduction. It is time to reevaluate that mix.

**** UPDATE ****
Will has some info on desertion rates.

(Thanks, Rob!)

December 15, 2004

SPG goes back to Hollywood

Filed under: General — Bunker @ 5:51 pm

Sweetie Pie Girl spent a long weekend here at the Mulligan house, but had to go back to the land of fruits and nuts.

I miss her very much.

ACLU Bullies

Filed under: Government,Society-Culture — Bunker @ 9:34 am

There has been, for some time, a movement to infuse our government with a semi-official religion. It is most visible in our public school systems. The lead for this movement is the ACLU. And they use the power of money to drive their agenda.

The ACLU just filed suit against a school district in Pennsylvania because the schools include intelligent design as a possibility for the creation of the universe. No, the schools aren’t teaching that God created all. They simply include the possibility of “something” creating all along with other theories. The ACLU cannot stand for anything other than evolution being taught.

Their religion? Secular Humanism.

Joseph Farah devotes a column to this topic, and I will not attempt to rehash what he has already covered. But I do agree with his assessment of secular humanism as a religion. So does the Supreme Court. The definition of religion is

A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

and that fits quite nicely. Faith is the key.

Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.

Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.

Faith is also the key in Darwin’s theory of the evolution of man. I have to say I’m not cognizant of all research on this topic, but I have yet to see anything that shows evolution outside of a given species. I do believe evolution is fact, and species adapt by having progeny with characteristics which better equip them to survive. Survival of the fittest is seen any time you watch some nature show, and the weak or infirm, or those with inadequate protection/camouflage being done in. Those who survive are those who can outrun or hide better. Three men being chased by a lion don’t have to outrun the lion—they just need to outrun one of the other men.

No findings I’ve seen show any indication that human beings evolved from anything other than human beings. The same holds true for any other species.

Yet there seems to be “consensus” on this theory, as there is with many others. And that is the topic of Michael Crichton’s lecture at CalTech on January 17, 2003. Science of consensus isn’t science at all.

As an engineer, I understand this. Unfortunately, many people not involved in science, and a small number who are, use consensus as their argument or “proof.” Crichton cites such luminaries as Carl Sagan, who often stated his opinion as fact, and marketed it well.

Crichton takes on such “common knowledge” issues as second-hand smoke, extraterrestrial life, and evolution. None of these are based on solid research or evidence, but are accepted on faith—and consensus. Crichton explains, quite clearly, that consensus is actually the opposite of good science. “Everyone in Science” knew the Earth was the center of the universe, and anyone who disagreed was insane. “Everyone in Science” knew numerous diseases were contagious, even when researchers showed they weren’t, rather they were caused by diet. “Everyone in Science” knew the world was flat.

The true scientist is outside the consensus, and is belittled.

In past centuries, the greatest killer of women was fever following childbirth . One woman in six died of this fever. In 1795, Alexander Gordon of Aberdeen suggested that the fevers were infectious processes, and he was able to cure them. The consensus said no. In 1843, Oliver Wendell Holmes claimed puerperal fever was contagious, and presented compellng evidence. The consensus said no. In 1849, Semmelweiss demonstrated that sanitary techniques virtually eliminated puerperal fever in hospitals under his management. The consensus said he was a Jew, ignored him, and dismissed him from his post. There was in fact no agreement on puerperal fever until the start of the twentieth century. Thus the consensus took one hundred and twenty five years to arrive at the right conclusion despite the efforts of the prominent “skeptics” around the world, skeptics who were demeaned and ignored. And despite the constant ongoing deaths of women.

After citing example after example, Crichton offers his conclusion:

Finally, I would remind you to notice where the claim of consensus is invoked. Consensus is invoked only in situations where the science is not solid enough.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, or “Urinal-Constipation” as Boortz sometimes calls it, has coverage (registration required, more here) of the issue at the Pennsylvania school:

Eight families have filed a lawsuit against a school district that is requiring students to learn about alternatives to the theory of evolution, claiming the curriculum violates the separation of church and state.

The ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State said the lawsuit is the first to challenge whether public schools should teach “intelligent design,” which holds that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by some higher power. The two organizations are representing the parents in the federal lawsuit.

Here is where the power of money comes in. Regardless of the validity of a complaint, how many school districts in this country can afford a legal fight against the well-funded ACLU? That is why the ACLU likes to jump in on lawsuits of this type. They are easy to win by default. A school district looks at the cost, and decides they would be better off simply caving.

Of course, the issue really is whether Darwin’s theory is just that—theory—or fact. And I’ve seen no support of the particular theory, only facts and research which support the more general theory. Their faith—religion—is that it is true. Since there is no scientific proof, the school district is teaching that there are other theories. Yet the human secularists will tolerate no other god but theirs, and will impose their religion through lawsuit.

That, my friends, is what the First Amendment was written to prevent. Galileo would still be a heretic today.

Security Alert

Filed under: General — Bunker @ 5:50 am

New Color-Coded Warning System.

December 14, 2004

Homespun Symposium V

Filed under: Society-Culture — Bunker @ 11:41 am

Racial reconciliation will only be complete when Jesse Jackson and his ilk are gone from the national scene.

In the 1960s, there were many people, a majority, who wanted an end to the Jim Crow environment kept alive in such Democratic strongholds as the Deep South and the industrialized cities in the north–Boston, Chicago, Detroit. Look at old films of Dr. King’s marches and rallies and within the sea of dark faces you will see many white ones. I was too young to get involved in such things myself. And, to be honest, there was never anything like that in my neighborhood anyway. Relationships between whites and blacks in most places were probably better then than they are now.

Martin’s death–murder–was a shock. It affected me even more than the murder of either of the Kennedy boys. I couldn’t grasp how anyone could be filled with that kind of hatred.

In King’s place, we saw the rise of people without his vision, and it is a loss we still feel today. Those new “leaders” had a different agenda, and it had little to do with equality.

But who are their followers? Those are the ones restricting any kind of reconciliation. Those who believe the doom and gloom, those who see racism at every turn. Even when it isn’t there. I sincerely know nobody who is a racist. There may be someone who keeps it hidden, or it is simply latent. But nobody I know, of any skin color, views someone of any other skin color as something less.

I know many demanding people. Those who expect a certain standard can be accused of anything convenient if it suits a person found lacking in ability to meet those standards. But that isn’t racism. It involves setting a standard and living up to it—striving to exceed it. Some are simply too lazy. As a boss, I’ve been accused of racism on occasion, but I’ve always had another subordinate who knew me well and was the same race as the accuser. That accusation didn’t last long. So I understand how some feel they can turn their own failings into a perceived failing of someone else.

And that is what needs to change. That is the attitude projected by the Jesse Jacksons of the world. And it is something preached to young people. If you fail, it isn’t your fault. That isn’t simply a race issue. It is a cultural issue telling our kids they should do well, but if they fail it isn’t their fault. Must not make them feel bad about themselves. In the case of race, Jackson and others simply give one group another excuse.

Racism is not a group problem. It, like most other cultural issues, is based in individuals. There will always be individuals with a distorted sense of values. They will be racist. But that does not make the population in general racist. And it is not something that can be legislated. When all people look at others individually rather than as a member of some group, there will be no reconciliation required.

Individuals. Individuals. We are all Individuals! Quit looking at someone else as a member of some group.

December 13, 2004

Ships and Sailors

Filed under: General — Bunker @ 3:59 pm

One of the regulars on Jim’s show is Rocco Montesano, the Executive Director of the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay. I’ve spoken with him several times, and today I took the family to visit him and tour the ship.

The Lex is a great visit. I was amazed at how much of the ship is open to visit. And anyone who hasn’t spent time on a Naval vessel should see it, or a sister ship on display near you.

For me, it was a return to a former life. I spent a week on the Lex when I was active duty. We began at NAS Key West, flew out to the ship for some operational training, then cruised the Gulf before launching an operation into the ranges at Eglin. During my stay on board, I had free run of the ship during my free time, and it was interesting to go back now and see what I remembered. We found the Junior Officer Berthing (directly under the catapult system) and it was neat to show my kids one of the places I went off to during one of my many trips when they were young. “Here’s my bunk!”

Wandering around I kept trying to locate myself. “I thought the machine shop was right about here.” Then took three more steps, and there’s the machine shop. The MH-60G tail wheel has a lock pin that sometimes shears. When we landed on the Lexington, one did. So I spent a bit of time in the machine shop duplicating one with the able help of a female machinist mate–at the time, the Lex was the only ship with female crewmembers.

Mess facility, dental offices, sick bay, engine room, geedunk. Some of the original wooden flight deck is still visible. Rocco and his crew have done a great job keeping displays up to date, and have added a Pearl Harbor Tribute in the foc’s’le area. The Lex starred in the recent movie, and played “USS Hornet” for the Doolittle Raid sequence. The foc’s’le is just forward of where I bunked, and has portholes in the bow area where I sometimes stood just to look out over unobstructed sea.

Another program is the Live Aboard Program. Groups can spend the night in the crew berthing, eat meals in the mess, and get the full tour of the ship. I did this once on a submarine (Batfish) with a group of Cub Scouts, and it was a tremendous experience.

Okay, I’m not a squid, nor did I ever have any desire to be one. But I have always been fascinated by life aboard ship, and how this city on the sea operates. “The Blue Ghost” is always a great visit.

Congratulations

Filed under: General — Bunker @ 10:15 am

First of all, the latest of Best of… is up over at Homespun HQ. Find someone new to read over there. I start out that way because we have some distinguished folk in our group. Those who received nominations in the Weblogs Awards (and how they finished) are:

As a group, we finished tenth. Looking at our lineup, I wonder why so low. Cruise over and take a look at this week’s offerings (I was busy with visitors and didn’t get one in) and see if there isn’t something to interest you there.

And check out Doug’s Homespun Blogger Radio link. I will attempt to get a segment in to him for the next show, and am working on it now.

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