China Not Happy with Arms Sale

Although this topic is more under the radar for mainstream news, it doesn't escape my feed.

The United States recently is proposing another deal with Taiwan to upgrade their F16 fleet, and potentially sell more military aircraft in the future. The usual rhetoric from China is coming in: they say it will damage relations with the US. In my personal opinion, the Chinese should stop hacking US defense contractors and the Pentagon before anything is considered. Power to democracy in Taiwan- perhaps these sales have nothing to do with retaliation for back door hacking, but it sure fills the role. At least Taiwan can be innovative in their manufacturing processes when China has to steal everything from developed nations.

F-22 Raptor Burned a Hole in the Nation's Wallet

I am not here to criticize the potential use of the F22 Raptor fighting system. I think it is a great aircraft; unrivaled (allegedly) by any advanced nation today. It has spawned copy cats in China and countries such as Russia have responded with their own aircraft. For all of the gadgetry, munitions, stealth, and advanced radar systems, the F22 has one major problem.

It cost the United States $65 billion dollars. $65,000,000,000. The B2 program was even more expensive- but they have actually been used. Not one US F-22 Raptor has been used in active service. In fact, military strategists refused outright to use it. The official reason is "we don't need this technology in a conventional war". Also, a "high threat theatre" was cited, meaning that they were designed for a nuclear conflict of some sort, or are for wars with advanced countries.

I am practical here when I say this- that the F-22 Raptor is a parasite. Don't get me wrong- they are amazing. But when the Raptors are sitting on the tarmac wasting away, maintenance is required on them. I'm not here to talk about some of the technical problems with the Raptor either- no platform is perfect, and each will have its unique set of problems.

In college, I wrote a paper about the F117A-Nighthawk and the Congressional decision to axe the program due to "high maintenance costs" of the platform. Maintenance was ludicrous and parts were not easy to come by (because they were not modular). Poor planning from the design stage cost the nation more money than it needed to spend. Make no mistake- the Nighthawk platform had a HUGE impact in the military world. Unleashed in Desert Storm (1991), they began dropping bombs on high priority targets without being detected by radar. AAA fired everywhere.

The Raptor seems to be going the way the Nighthawk did. Congress seems to think that it acts like a "deterrent". Abstractly, this may be somewhat on the mark. Practically however- it is a waste of time. What's worse is that 158 of them were built at a large cost to US Taxpayers. Had I been the Secretary of Defense, I may have stopped at 50-75. But the fact that modular parts and ease of maintenance wasn't taken into account disturbs me. If they couldn't help the maintenance, than just the modularity and availability of parts. If you are going to use this weapons system, put up or shutup.

Lulzsec Hacks the CIA

The CIA's main website is currently out of service following a tweet that Lulzsec confirmed it had shut down a government website. No doubt law enforcement and intelligence personell will want to talk with Lulzsec. It was likely a very simple Ddos attack, and the CIA will probably claim that no internal servers were breached for sensitive information.

"We don't like the US government very much. Their boats are weak, their lulz are low, and their sites aren't very secure. In an attempt to help them fix their issues, we've decided to donate additional lulz in the form of owning them some more!""

Wait, Hacking Constitutes War?

It's a no brainer, but when I was reading an article regarding Lulzsec, the reputable website made the claim that the US Government is now considering hacking an act of war. Before we point the finger at China, let me be clear on what the Pentagon means. If any cyberattack were to be considered an act of war, we have a couple of million reasons, a day, to declare war on a country. It would seem militaristic, but someone from the Pentagon put it a very simple way:

Hack our power grid and you are looking at military retaliation.

The attack has to be large enough in scale that it:

1) Kills people
2) Disrupts the Economy
3) Disrupts Military

in order for the US government to act on it. At first, I said "no duh?", but I do agree. It is the same thing with weapons in space- disrupt a US satelite and it is an act of war. The US government has woken up not too long ago on the issue of cyber security- investing billions in cyber-infrastructure. In the early to mid 2000's, we could point the finger at them and claim they were ignoring security. Now they are more serious than before.

In this dirty game of cyber warfare, The United States is putting the Chutzpah out there: Don't mess with us.

Classified Information

Let's go over what the term "classified information" means.

Classified information is sensitive data that is meant to be kept secret, for a variety of reasons. Governments do not disclose classified information for national security reasons; possibly other reasons. Corporations do not disclose their classified information to avoid loss of trade secrets, as they are called.

The Associated Press, a news source I once trusted, is using the guise of the "Freedom of Information Act" to demand classified information from an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden. If it weren't for this highly valued target, we would have never heard about this mission. AP argues that the people have a right to know this sensitive military information, and that it infringes on their rights.

The Freedom of Information Act was meant to allow citizens to request domestic records on non-military government compositions, spending, etc. The FOIA was not meant as a gateway for sensational [attractive] media outlets to binge on a story that will make them money.

The United States Navy SEALs are an elite squadron of professionals who have conducted missions that the public will very rarely hear about. Some missions have been declassified and read by those interested in knowing the details, and many operations will remain classified. The Bin Laden issue has been so popular with Americans that media wants anything it can get its grubby mitts on to make money. The President announced the death of Bin Laden, and naturally, there are many skeptics. The media picked up on this news craze and swept it into the mainstream.

"Government secrets are popular. If people want to find out about secrets, it is in our interest to disclose this information for profit. Everyone wants to know a secret; why is it being kept a secret? Secrets secrets secrets! So sensational, so topical, so profitable ."

Despite the obvious answer from the US government, and the judicial system, it is a national security issue to disclose the operations of US special forces, and the American people have no need to know this sensitive information when this very issue is put at risk. The AP should know better that they will not receive the information, and I will be very surprised if they do get it. Perhaps it was a symbolic move on the part of the AP. Elaborating on the machine that the media is today will require an in depth analysis. People feel so attached to stories that are being relayed that they refuse to think critically about the situation, sometimes adopting the expressed views of the news station; that something is "bad" or "good". Why think hard about something "important" when the news did it for us? (I just squirmed)

I like the Chicago Tribune: local news is a lot better.

Wreckage Raises Questions from Janes

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, or someone who has to stick their nose where it does not belong, but this is an interesting development. The helicopters used in the mission to confront Osama Bin Laden may have been new variants of the Sikorsky Blackhawk, or completely new projects of their own.

According to Janes, from what is left of the wreckage, the features cannot be matched to any helicopters in their catalog.

Sikorsky could be working with the Pentagon to provide this secretive platform. To say that "secret" crafts do not exist is ludicrous. The U-2, the F-117A Nighthawk, and countless other examples of secret technology have been developed for the defense of the United States without the wide knowledge of other manufacturers, enthusiasts, and those educated on defense matters. Classified details of the helicopter, such as technology, mechanics and the overall design needed to be protected from those who have no need to know. It is standard protocol to destroy weapons platforms to deny snoopers access to study the weapon. As for the wreckage of the craft that crashed in Pakistan, it may be on its way to the lowest bidder.

Should Women be Allowed to Serve on the Frontlines?

                                                                                                    image courtesy AP.

This is an interesting question that has been put under the guise of inequality for women. Currently, in the US Military, women do not serve on the "front" front line in a combat role. The problem is this: should the military let them serve "because they are equals", or do we keep the rules the same because of ability restrictions? I think it all depends on how you define "equals". In most cases, a woman does NOT have the upper body strength that a man does. This limits her ability to fight in combat in certain situations that are guaranteed to arise in unconventional warfare. A male soldier is injured, and a female needs to carry him and his gear to safety. Can she really pick him up?


Feminists and women's rights groups have been fighting for this for a while. I certainly think it is an agenda of theirs, but in the analysis of combat operations, as much as the Pentagon would like to provide equal opportunities for women soldiers, nature has done the discriminating, not the US Military. If the Pentagon were to claim they are not discriminating against female soldiers, I would agree. If a woman passed the rigorous tests that are set upon men, then she should be allowed to serve on the front lines. If she fails, she fails with the other men that did not cut it. The bar should NOT be set lower for women. Why? this is COMBAT.


Certainly soldiers will each have their independent views. Perhaps the Pentagon should re-evaluate career advancement opportunities for women, because this is what feminists are complaining about. Women may have the same spirit and drive as men in the US military, but remember, nature discriminated when it designed bone structure and muscle strength.


Thanks to a reader who pointed this out to me. Nature did not "design" anything. We evolved through gradual steps to our current makeup today through the process of evolution. 5/20/2012

The Latest "Thing" Out of China is the J-20

So, the veils are off apparently- here is a nice photo of the new J-20 fighter coming out of China. China has a low amount of defense spending, but is beginning to build up its defense forces. China has downplayed many assertions that it is becoming militaristic, and many accusations that it has a stealth fighter. On the first statement, I believe them. On the second statement, it is plausible that they have a stealth fighter. Like the Pentagon has mentioned, it's one thing to develop a stealth aircraft, then another to integrate it into combat operations.

Initially, it looks like an F-22 fuselage married with Mig-25 Engines and YF-23 features. It looks really odd- but it does look cool, and stream lined. It seems to have side bays and internal bays. A few websites are reporting RAM coatings on the fuselage, a type of sprayed on material that aids in avoiding radar.

Another interesting development out of China is the fact that they want to refurbish, then begin constructing, aircraft carriers. I understand there is a sort of "power play politics" in the Asia region (especially on water) but a nation has the right to a military. China shows no stupidity towards making a stupid move, or any evidence of religious fanaticism. Developing this technology will take time and considerable amounts of money.

Neo conservatives are worried about the developments, including the news that China is working on a new anti-ship missile. For a few debunkers, the Pentagon will not say whether the new AS missile makes our current navy's defense systems obsolete. Every missile and attack system is a threat to our navy, and this one is no different or more special. One thing the US military can do? keep pressure on defense contractors to secure classified data. The last time China invaded the ranks of Boeing engineers, a man was sentenced to life in prison for mailing B-2 bomber secrets.

The US is, and will be, in the lead for some time in the defense department. The J-20 is a "meh" kind of situation, and with the entire fuss around Korea right now, I can see why the region is unstable. China working on its military? give me a break. This isn't a World War type of expansion anymore. I can't wait to hear some of the specs of the J-20. As an enthusiast of defense technology, I am interested in it.

F-35 Lightning II Program on the Chopping Block

Defense analysts saw this one coming a mile away- and I sure didn't. The F-35 program is up on the chopping block due to the financial crisis in the United States. Defense cuts need to be made, among other things. The United States wants to cut many programs to save billions of dollars through 2020. Can our old war birds survive that long? the Air Force may argue that the F-15 and F-16 platforms are aging.

Regardless, general opinion is that the United States is still the most technologically advanced army in the world, and that competition has decades to catch up. I hope they are right, and I hope our current air force can be retrofitted to deal with today's unconventional problems. Convention? turns out that no one wants to mess with the US military.

If we have to cut the F-35 program, we won't be on the cutting edge- but someone made a mistake that led us to this decision. I wonder who that was? Should R&D suffer? I don't know, but the defense of this nation is paramount.

Commentary: North Korea Shells South Korea

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Tuesday Morning

One thing I don't understand is this- the UNSC (United Nations Security Council) will condemn the recent strikes, but can't do anything because the seat in power is China, and they will veto any additional sanctions. South Korea will play down the situation, not having any backbone. Why does Asia not have a backbone? conflict prevention, perhaps. If my nation was attacked, and its sovereignty put at risk, and innocent lives put in danger, I would retaliate. Maybe it is too early to call them spineless, because the situation is still in progress. The president of the United States says it is committed to defending South Korea if necessary.

It could be that countries are attempting to avoid unnecessary slaughter. But at what cost? How far can the North isolate itself? One thing is for sure, the "new glorious leader" is a brat, and is more insane than his relatives. If the South is trying to prevent war to save lives, then I may have to give them more credit than I have- war is always an option, but is it the right answer? in the case of nuclear weapons fragging, probably. In this case, the South may be showing strength by not giving in to provocative gestures- and attacks.

Regardless, if the military isn't already on the border- I would start moving some of it there, and conduct patrols near the border. Artillery, SAM and ZSU sites need to be found, monitored, and destroyed (if they activate) in the event Pyongyang pulls another stunt.

As misguided as the United States is, be happy that you live in a free country. Know that some of the rest of the world wants us to fail, and wants us dead.

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Early Tuesday Morning

So... we knew they were going to do something eventually, I just didn't expect it to turn out this way. News reports are coming in from Reuters and other sourcers that North Korea has fired artillery shells at South Korean villages, causing multiple fires and carnage. Their "new leader" has made his final provacative statement: F*** all of you. With this attack and a resurgence of uranium enrichment, it seems like North Korea has finally lost its last marble.

If a war breaks out (again), I expect NATO to be in the region. We currently have 30,000 troops stationed in South Korea, and it looks like they will be on full alert as this crisis progresses.

On a final note, HOW DARE, how DARE they shell innocent civilians? No. You're not playing by Geneva, and you are glouting and showing it. I hope the entire military infrastructure and government in that country is leveled, so people can start their lives over. It goes to show you how much regard they have for human life.

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Implications of Leaked Documents

Introduction
I have a cousin over in Afghanistan right now, fighting a war that seems to never end. I think about him around 4-5 times a week when I sit down to look at facebook, and I see his picture. He's all dressed up in an army uniform and gear (minus a weapon). With US Forces beginning to pull out of Iraq over the next year, the focus switches to Afghanistan. The other day, my cousin's position was shelled at by insurgents at 5am in the morning. He was not happy to be woken up.


The Problem in Afghanistan is Elsewhere
There are still enemies in Afghanistan. A seemingly pesky insurgency is constantly training new recruits and brainwashing them with radical indoctrinations. The real issue actually does not lie in Afghanistan- as far as governments go, the Afghani one is fragile, but grows stronger by the day. The real problem lies in Pakistan. On the border with Pakistan, my cousin and other soldiers are attacked by insurgents who cross the Pakistani border, attack, then retreat across the border, a place we cannot touch.


This doesn't seem fair, does it? It was like the exclusionary zones in Iraq- except this time, Pakistan will not allow US troops in the southern tribal regions. Why? who knows. It's important to care- and I would say that it would make the situation worse than it is for the country of Pakistan (the country's stability), but with the Pakistani Intelligence Service aiding insurgents and playing a double game, I feel little sympathy for them. Pakistan wants to stick it's nose in the 'private' areas of Afghanistan, where it's nose doesn't belong.


Mrs. Clinton needs to cease aiding Pakistan immediately if they are playing a double game. She is allocating money to public works projects, and while she feels sympathy for the Pakistani people, the government needs to feel some friction to get it moving. The US Military made an excellent move by cutting off lobbying funds to some military services the Pakistani's own.


The insurgents are training to kill soldiers and innocent people worldwide in Pakistan. Pakistan chooses to do nothing about it, whether if they were able to or not. The CIA is sending in UAVs to attack high priority targets, but on the government level, this campaign does not exist. We can get to the case and point here, and make a few good assumptions:


1) War is an ugly, ugly business.
2) Countries sleep in bed with other countries, and poke their noses where they don't belong.
3) Political factions will always exist, aiming to tear each other apart.
4) Pakistan is the real problem; training insurgents to attack American and NATO shores.
5) The Middle East is one big hell hole, trapped in her own adulteries and hatred of everyone else.


Middle East peace is like wishing for unicorns and rainbows- as long as there is religion, there will be radical sects [so be there free will, and brainwashing]. As long as radical sects muck about, they will kill to further their goals.


Implications of Leaked Documents
Wikileaks has decided to release classified information on the Afghanistan War. They are doing so "in an act of civil disobedience against NATO governments". No matter the cost, they aim to show the corruption and the dirty business of war, which is already known. War is never pretty, it is bloody, and all about survival. It is my opinion that intelligence agencies and war departments knock this knight [Assange] off his high moral horse, and off the horses of all his followers. Tired of games, corruption and political back dealing? try another world.

The leaking of classified information puts the lives of soldiers, informants, and ultimately, the citizens of a country- in danger. Having a snobby, moral excuse is no reason to release sensitive classified information, and the explanation of "civil disobedience" is borderline traitorous.

As PFC Manning is locked away in solitary confinement, I hope he gets what is coming to him. As for the parties responsible for leaking the "wikileaks documents", i.e, the informants, I hope they are locked away in solitary confinement for putting us all in danger. Manning did no one a favor- he HELPED the insurgency because he felt he had to ride a high moral horse. There is nothing pleasant about war.

U.S. Intelligence Officer Breaks Oaths and Leaks Classified Information

A US Intelligence Officer with the United States Army was arrested in the Middle East after an ex-hacker revealed that the officer was leaking classified information to third parties. The officer felt "compelled" to disclose the "atrocities" of the United States by leaking classified information, disclosing cable lines, and providing third parties intel on operations within the middle east.


A lot of people call this officer a hero, some are calling him a traitor. I would stop short of calling him a traitor, as I believe he had no wish to harm fellow soldiers, but to disclose any back-dealings and political slime, if any, that the United States committed. Someone made this comment, and I agree with the person:


"Only an idiot would leak TS/SCI data and not expect to get caught. Kid doesn’t sound like an idiot – although he could have used some schooling on who to trust. Hope no-one ever makes the mistake of trusting Lamo again. . What Manning DOES sound like is a disillusioned young man. Probably respected his dad and his dad’s work, and thought that he himself would be proud of his country while working with its secrets. . I am guessing that what he found, and what he saw, was the kind of soul-damaging stuff that we all do not want to be true. Proof that our government is as slimy, corrupt, inept, self-serving and unjust as we all fear it is. . Having your illusions shattered may make you ‘forget’ you are under oath to keep your mouth shut, and a 22 year old just doesn’t have the life experience to deal well with that type of cognitive dissonance gracefully. You gotta figure that, at some level, he knew he was gonna go down for this, and he did it any way. Sounds like he felt he HAD to do it. . As others have pointed out, the material that was leaked may put a lot of lives in jeopardy. No way to know until it sees the light of day, if it ever does. If the info is seen, and it causes change, will it be worth his life and the lives of others that may be hurt or killed? Does it matter that our government is doing things that he felt were wrong enough that they needed to be exposed? Those are the questions I am pondering. How much is too much? . I cannot judge him, because I haven’t walked a mile in his shoes."


Whistleblowers and watchdog groups alike, no matter what they cover, can go on and on about what they do, and generally their goals are genuine: expose ethical wrongdoings within an organization. When you need to publicly announce classified information to do so, which is none of your business, you are endangering the lives of American soldiers and American citizens. Under no circumstance should classified intelligence or information be shared with a party that does not need to know, and does not have a security clearance. I don't care how righteous you need to prove you are, or how compelled you feel to share the atrocities of a nation:


Divulging classified information is illegal under military code, and it will end your future. This army officer, and the third parties divulging the classified information, are a national security threat to the United States. I seriously hope that the military plans on tightening access to classified information after this scare: If an officer breaks his oath, I don't want him protecting me, or this country. There is no high and mighty horse to protecting freedom.


Wired.com article

X-51 "Waverider" SCRAM Under Development by USAF

Photo courtesy of Boeing.


Well, this one is a scary proposition. The United States Air Force is developing an ultra sonic cruise missile that can arrive anywhere in the world within 60 to 90 minutes (SCRAM technology, no pun intended). It sounds like a very promising technology, however what has been done in regards to radar detection? The only... moving part is a pump (??0_0), and I am sure the rest of the specs are classified.


Apparantly you can "fire anything you want with it". So many think it could be used as a Nuclear Weapon, but I kind of see things the opposite. If a rogue state is about to fire a nuclear warhead, and you have the gps location of that launchpad, and you can take care of the problem within 90 minutes... well there you go. (From my Facebook account)

F35 Lightning Helmet

Check it out... pretty sci-fi. But the functionality is anything but.

Congress and White House: I agree with Raptor Exports

In the news, a Senate panel seeks an end to the ban on exporting the F-22 Raptor because of the stealth technology it contained. In the senate, a vote of 30-0 confirmed that Congress wishes to remove the ban and export the raptor to allies such as Austrailia, Japan and Israel- all clients who express interest in the raptor.


Lockheed had no immediate comment, but I am sure engineers will work to either protect programs and tactics, or downgrade the technology (so "our" planes are slightly better). Lockheed makes money, and the F22 program can continue. This will also increase jobs and allow money to be spent in the defense budget, which means more money can be directed elsewhere that would have went to defense.


I agree with removing the export ban. I also congratulate Congress on turning down the second engine proposal for the F35 fighter- they already have a contract, and the engine part is critical to the F35. Changing the engine means more tests to make sure the F35 can take the stress, and older models will have to be retrofitted and reverse engineered (possibly). In short, it is a waste of money to make changes to a product already out.


Good job guys. Not everything you do is perfect, but here and there the US Government does a couple of smart things.

Things Seem to Be Looking Up in the World: If Briefly

Things seem to be looking up in the world; if briefly. With the death of Mehsud, the Taliban leader in Pakistan, the Taliban are beginning to fight each other for supremacy. Since the pull out of Iraq by a majority of US troops, Al-Qaeda has been disabled to a point where they can no longer carry out major terrorist operations. The taliban are also suffering from a US surge in Afganistan that is relentless and unforgiving.


Terrorism will never go away, but it seems like a lull is approaching in worldwide terrorism. I have no idea if the original mission by George Bush will ever be "accomplished", but terrorist groups are beginning to feel the pinch of allied forces. I believe this news, coupled with small economic growth will lean in favor of the economic recovery.


These terrorist groups, like many others will always remain a threat, even when they are disabled to the point some of them are now. They still may carry out small attacks, but their monetary network, leadership structure and organization are beginning to crumble further. We are fully responsible for the Taliban's ability to carry out activities (because in the Cold War we gave them weapons and training to fight the Soviet Union) and it is our job to keep them crushed under the boot sole.

ABC News asks: if we got Mehsud, why can't we get Bin Laden?

There are a couple of reasons as to why we cannot get Bin Laden.


1.) Mehsud was above ground (literally) and extremely active in Pakistan as the taliban leader. Spies and networks of spies could easily learn information as to where he was. This intel reaches the Pakistani agencies, then the Pakistani government, and the intel is passed off to allies such as the United States or other UN forces.


2.) Technology has advanced. UAV pilots (of unknown nationality) are using UAVs ("drones") to launch attacks on terrorist targets. Bin laden has been caught twice by United States UAVs armed with missiles that could have killed him. [As a side note, the public is not using the terms "UAV" and "drone" correctly. A UAV is piloted by someone not directly in the vehicle. A drone is launched independently of a pilot, and contains an AI which carries out the mission assigned to it. If a drone does not know what to do, it asks the pilot what to do next as it loiters. A drone acts independently of a pilot until human intervention is required. This is NOT terminator; the machine can only perform the parameters it has been given.]


3.) Intel has gotten stronger. Movements are predictable. With solid intel and predictable behavior, Mehsud was waiting to get ambushed. Bin Laden is under stress to constantly move, underground.


4.) Bin Laden is dead. If the CIA really wanted Bin Laden dead they would have killed him by now. See the end of #2. Bin Laden is dead; it was reported years ago he was on kidney dialysis. He has to be a real superman to keep moving around hooked up to a machine AND run an offensive operation. Why isn't the media reporting and asking questions to the CIA about their dedication to hunting Bin Laden? because they (the CIA) know he is dead. I will die my hair pink if he isn't and surrenders himself.

Satisfied With Congress Decision

The F22 is the most advanced fighter developed- but it costs a fortune.



Congress passed a vote to halt funding for the F22 program. The F22 is the most advanced fighter platform ever developed, costing $100mil+ per plane. Strapped for money, Congress (and the president) are looking at the F35 program as a replacement for an aging fleet of F16s, A-10s (The A10 is slated for service well into 2020) and F18 Hornets. For the 7 or so Raptors cancelled, about 20 F35s can be made.


The real question is simple: are we concerned with the leaness of our military or the fact that some jobs will be lost? It is like eliminating jobs on the assembly line: robots are taking human jobs as technology progresses. This parallel illustrates a common point: The F22 either has to get cheaper or alternatives need to be sought. Sorry Lockheed. People that are complaining they are going to be out of work need to be moved to other projects. As amazing as this fighter is, in the long run it will be cheaper to slim the program down than to "stimulate" a few hundred to thousands of jobs.


I agree with the president, not his rhetoric, and Congress. The F22 is an expensive weapons platform. We have adequate amounts at the moment to meet our needs (assumed). China and Russia have no intentions of attacking this nation. The Cold War produced amazing technology; but at a cost, and we are paying for it now. Adapt to the needs of the nation as they arise; the Cold War is over.


"He said 11,000 jobs will be lost by halting the F-22, while it is anticipated that 82,000 jobs will be created by the F-35.". This is the direction we need to move in then.

Agree on F22 Defense Cut; But Watch the Rhetoric

I agree with Gates on the issue with F22 Raptors: as nice as they are, we don't need more of them then we already have now. Calling the raptor impractical is insulting a long ladder of people eventually leading to skunk works. Also, the rhetoric "we can spend the money wiser by feeding our people" reeks of liberal. The F22 is a more than capable fighting platform that proved to be a successful test bed for stealth and the upcoming F-35 Lightning.


The raptor is too good. The soviet threat is gone, China won't be nuking people in the future and all that cold war technology has made us uber. Spend money on the F35, F16s and F15s (navy, F18s) which have, to my knowledge cheaper costs and are just as capable as the F22 (but less superior than the F22) as a conventional weapons platform. Stealth is nice... but save it for the opening of the war.

Last Notification- North Korean Nuclear Intentions

This is probably the last of posts I will make on the North Korean issue because I don't want to turn my blog into a political one. It is suspected that North Korea will fire a missile at the US as bellicose waves of anti-American rallies are going on in Pyongyang with hundreds of thousands of people. They have even threatened war at the United States and threatened to shoot a missile at the territory.


All war rhetoric, if, among the fools in Pyongyang there is one slightly intelligent one has realized that against a UN force they cannot win. Instead of killing themselves and millions of people with them, the North is probably going underground to proliferate (to spread) nuclear material to those who hate the United States; namely worldwide terrorist organizations and unstable regimes in Africa and other places worldwide. It doesn't make sense to launch a missile at the US, but I was lead to believe Kim will do it because he is just that stupid.


I would imagine, other than the media reporting US destroyers are following North Korean transport ships that intelligence, sattelites and the works are all eyes on North Korea. If the president declared North Korea as a potential threat, to defeat an enemy this is the generation "the war of information". As perverse as it sounds, I am kind of wishing a test dummy would be fired at us- I love it when pompous people are proven wrong.