You all are aware that we are seriously vulnerable right now in regards to National Security, right? You know that Congress left to party and have a great time before renewing the Protect America Act, right? You know that there are no protections in place for companies that help track down terrorists, right? You know that of the 29 Senators that voted against extension of the Protect America Act, 24 took monies from trial lawyers that have sued companies helping to track down terrorists, right? You know all this because our friends in the media make it a point of sharing with you the importance these issues have in relation to our National Security, right?

Sure … right … I know they haven’t, too.

It is sad that the media and Washington’s elite continue to spin their untruths about the Protect America Act. While spinning all this muck, they continue to threaten our security. Just remember, they are doing this for another vote that will net them 4 more years sucking money from we, the tax payers! This is all about their ego, money for free, and power to tell you what they think is right - because you are too dumb to know. Yep, government knows best, we the people are sheep, and things like National Security are too far above our heads to grasp.

There is someone out there that hears your concerns and is aware of how you feel. They have published results from a poll to see just what you all know, and just how far off Washington’s elite and the media machine really are on knowing you, the American people! American Solutions for Winning America asked the Polling Company to cover three key areas: the Protect America Act, protection for companies that help track down terrorists, and the self-interests of Senators who took money from trial lawyers that sued companies that helped track down terrorists. Let’s take each one as a separate issue as well.

In regards to our immediate National Security being at risk, the Protect America Act was due to be renewed a short time ago. Well, our elected free loaders Congress decided to take 12 days off instead of voting to renew the Act. Yep, the “all about me” crowd decided to leave us all exposed instead of doing what is right and maintaining a strong front against terrorism (like this is nothing new, I know). So, the Polling Company asked we, the people, did we think it was right for Congress to leave to party and whoop it up for 12 days before voting to renew the Act. Here is what we, the people, have to say about their deplorable conduct:

Was leaving on a 12 day recess without renewing the Protect America Act best for our safety?

• Should have renewed the Act before leaving: 71%
• Republican: 83%
• Democrat: 63%
• Independent: 68%

As you can see, across the board, everyone says they should have actually renewed the Act. Of course, no one in the media cared to tell us what we already know. They just continue to sweep this under the rug even though OVERALL, more than 60% of we, the people, wanted Congress to DO SOMETHING RIGHT!!!

Moving on …

There is a very important facet to the protection of our beloved country. I fought for our country to continue to be free, as many of you have as well. I also believe that to maintain a strong front against terrorism, one must enlist all resources capable of supporting the effort. This includes those in the private sector, companies, that have a myriad of ways and opportunities to help our government track down terrorists. However, these brave folks in these companies have little to no protection at all from freak-fest lawsuits! These brave souls are out there, with no one to watch their six, and they get routinely stabbed in the back for keeping us safe. Well, how do you all feel about this, and is the media and Washington’s elite share your concerns? Well, here is what we, the people, have to say about this:

If a company helps the government track down terrorists, should these companies be afforded protection from lawsuits?

• Agree with protection against lawsuits: 75%
• Republican: 89%
• Democrat: 65%
• Independent: 77%

Again, the media and Washington just don’t see it. We are greater than 65% behind those companies that help to track down terrorists! What the heck is going on, anyway? Self-aggrandizing politicians and media twits are twisting this against us, and we need to spread the word - they need to tell the truth, now.

Moving on …

Did you know that there are a sizeable amount of lawyers out there that make money from suing companies that help track down terrorists? Did you know that from the money awarded in these cases, $1.5 Million went to our US Senators and other political causes? There were 29 Senators that voted against the extension of the Protect America Act. AND, 24 of those 29 took money from these 66 trial lawyers that donated this $1.5M!!! Yeah, these free-loadin’ Senators who already get paid way more than they should be, also took donations from the trial lawyers suing companies that have helped to keep us all safe!!! Plain and simple this shows that Senators are willing to put their own self-interests over the safety and welfare of all of us - we the people. Yeah, I can just hear the media and Washington’s elite providing us this powerful bit of news, what about you? Well, as before, here is what we, the people, have to say about this:

Senators put their own political self-interests above National Security - and take money from trial lawyers who sue companies that help track down terrorists

• Agree Senators put their own political self-interests above National Security: 58%
• Republican: 74%
• Democrat: 48%
• Independent: 61%

OK, so here is where you can see the true colors of the Democrats polled. If you give them a mulligan, you can still see that greater than 60% of we, the people, know that Senators only care about their own political gains and really care less about our National Security.

Look, the fence isn’t the only thing we need for our own protection. But, wouldn’t you say we all need some protection from our own elected officials and the main stream media? Really, these people are DANGEROUS to our own safety!

Think hard when you vote … bigger changes are needed … I’m gonna keep up on what American Solutions for Winning the Future … you should too!

If you are interested in helping American Solutions, or you are interested in the full data collected from their most recent poll, contact me: Fix4RSO :at: FIX4RSO :dot: com

Ah yes, we now have another back-N-forth issued from within our own borders. This NIE Report, which no one has even read yet, makes more trouble than it is worth. In fact, I believe that this latest NIE Report gives more ammo to scary world leaders like Putin and Ahmadinejad. And now, with “insightful?” commentary from StratFor’s writer George Friedman, proof is now up front that we’ve got a bigger problem listening to the likes of the NIE Report which has little HUMINT data.

Here, these two paragraphs just got me to sit up and read this article carefully:

With this announcement, the dynamics of the Middle Eastern region, Iraq and U.S.-Iranian relations shift dramatically. For one thing, the probability of a unilateral strike against Iranian nuclear targets is gone. Since there is no Iranian nuclear weapons program, there is no rationale for a strike. Moreover, if Iran is not engaged in weapons production, then a broader air campaign designed to destabilize the Iranian regime has no foundation either.

The NIE release represents a transformation of U.S. policy toward Iran. The Bush administration made Iran’s nuclear weapons program the main reason for its attempt to create an international coalition against Iran, on the premise that a nuclear-armed Iran was unacceptable. If there is no Iranian nuclear program, then what is the rationale for the coalition? Moreover, what is the logic of resisting Iran’s efforts in Iraq, rather than cooperating?

The second sentence in the second paragraph is where you should all begin to sit up and take note. If you believe that that sentence leads you to believe that we are wrong for being watchful when it comes to Iran’s nuclear weapons development program, I weep for you …

Be very careful, people - this isn’t just Israel we are talking about. In today’s world, Pearl Harbor is now your own backyard. Weapons can be delivered farther than a series of aircraft that can only reach the Hawaiian Islands. And we are only 2 days away from that ill fated day … take heed.

My older sister sent me this snippet - she knows Teddy and Winston are powerful, insightful, and also quite with the times even today:

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Theodore Roosevelt, 1907

Gotta tell ya - heard any of the candidates today stumble into words so powerful and true?

[nope - too affraid of going back to when Europe hates us more than now is DANGEROUS, eh?]

Well, just making sure everyone knows I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. Work had been very busy up until August. I’m now out lookin’ for a new place to work.

In the meantime, as I’ve been on the search, I’ve also been forging ahead on my own company. Software is such a wonderful medium with which to build a business. Plus, I can plow through tons of development with my business partner, remotely! He works at his house, on his own time, I work here at home, on my own time.

We’ll break out into the market early next year - if all goes well.

I’ll post again, soon - that is sooner than this last break!

I’ve been a member of the ReviewMe program since inception. I always felt that the program was solid, because it gives the author of a blog the opportunity to choose the products that best suit the audience and deserve attention. I know that some frown on “pay for posts” but then, these same folks use ads and such on their sites and blogs. So, frown away, but I like the following company I am about to review, VA Mortgage Center.

Just to be clear, this is a sponsored post, a paid review, of the VA Mortgage Center.

I’ve been contacted quite a few times via snail-mail by the VA Mortgage Center because I am a member of the Air Force Association. Because I’ve agreed to receive contact from companies that seek out Air Force Association members, I get mailers from time to time from the VA Mortgage Center. I’ve read the material and one good thing is, I’ve kept them on my short list of firms to call once I decide to re-fi my home loan.

Which, odly enough, is coming very soon …

My wife and I were speaking about this just this evening. We are remodeling our home, and we have a HELOC (home equity line of credit) that we are using during construction. We plan to collapse the HELOC into a primary loan, and re-fi the whole package. I was telling my wife about the opportunity to write a paid review of the VA Mortgage Center, and she said, “Well, if you write an article/review, can’t they give us a break on the points?”

Clearly, she gets the whole process.

Anyway, I’ve looked into the VA Mortgage Center, and found that they have a strong reputation and solid backing. They are also listed with the Better Business Bureau, and their report can be found here: BBB-Online Report. I’ve used ask.com as well as a google search and haven’t found any negative articles or complaints - you can do the same, use the following links:

Ask.com Search for complaints against VA Mortgage Center

Google Search for complaints against VA Mortgage Center

I hope that if you are in the market for a va loan, home loan, or even a re-fi, please give the folks at VA Mortgage Center a try. You really should take advantage of your va benefits, and this is just one avenue. I will be - ya know, I listen to my “chain of command”, and she’s instructed me to check ‘em out!

I’ve been trying a few different things that prove to generate a teensy bit of revenue a year to pay for my hosting fees. I have several domains as well as this domain, Fix4RSO.com. I know that things may seem a bit choppy, and there are these weird ads showing up between posts - I’m experimenting with different ad applications and providers other than those snooty-guys with the $450+ stock price, you know the mega-giant (who shall be nameless)?! I never ever generated anything at all from them, ever! And, the only reason to have ads from Amazon is ’cause I can target my own personal likes in an ad - and if ya like, ya clickee-clickee and maybe buy too!

Recently I posted about Text Link Ads and how they have generated some revenue. This is a start-up group of folks that have been working very hard to give us bloggers some easy tools to use, good content, and some cash! They also started a site called ReviewMe - but I haven’t popped to the surface there at all. And just recently these same crazy ad guys started a new service called AuctionAds! The power is really beginning to dawn on me - I just hope some cash does too!

AuctionAds gives you the power to put eBay auction items on your blog sidebar, in between posts - well, just anywhere ya wanna stuff the code! You can create ad campaigns, giving you the power to analyze and then realize which location gives you the most returns on value via impressions and click throughs. I am trying to use campaigns right now: one tower ad in the sidebar and then individual ad chunks between each post. So far, they’re both easy to install and work nicely.

Again, these folks that started Text Link Ads (TLA) are giving us some very cool tools with which to get a little coin without a bunch of pain to implement, and without mucking up your whole look and feel.

I’m stickin’ with the TLA team, what about you?!

It’s true, no one wants to have to memorialize anyone that has given the ultimate sacrifice serving their country. But when our brave men and women serving their country,our country, have fallen while performing their duty, they shall be given the respect they deserve.

[DVIDS — USAF photo by Staff Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth]

“Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff briefs Chief Master Sgt. Rudy Lopez and Air Force Surgeon General James Roudebush on the Fallen Airman’s Memorial which was created to honor the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen that have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country, Balad Air Base, Iraq, Feb. 26. Roudebush came to Balad to meet with 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing leadership and asses the efficiency of the air medical operations in the region.”

Thank God men like these are there to ensure all the fallen are given the respect, praise, and support they and their families deserve.

Now, to those who expend their breath trying to convince us they support those who protect us all, I believe they cheapen memorials such as these. It saddens me when I have to listen to the spew-ridden, soulless, vote-gettin’ politicians, and their cabal of Satan-forgiving main stream media types, trying to make us all believe they support the troops. If you truly inspect the record of those doing this unholy deed (lying to us all) you can see they have quite a history that contradicts their glowing statements of today.

Do you honestly expect me to believe someone like Mike Wallace actually supports the troops? The same Mike Wallace that spent countless hours deriding and destroying those who served in Vietnam? The same, “man”, that put everything on the line to promote an agenda of destruction that to this day has roots so deep I believe continue to choke those who served so bravely and were sold a steaming bag of excrement. Just because they may have served, or may have taken the field of battle to report, does not excuse the destruction they have directed at us all.

Again, one can only take so much - and how much have you checked into the backgrounds of those that say, “I support the troops.”?

OK, you’ve seen my sidebar that has TLA logos, etc, right? Have you actually set up an account and placed your ads along your sidebar? No? Well, get with it!

I’ve had TLA on my site the moment I found out who they were. And, over time, I’ve made a few dollars - not a King’s Ransom, but enough to pay my hosting costs. I just received another check in the mail today!

I want to thank my current TLA Sponsor, TotalTickets.com! Right now they are doing a promo for Sony Ericsson Open Tennis Tournament tickets. In fact, if you are into tennis, they have the most recent tourneys covered, here. And, even if you aren’t into tennis, they began posting this year links for the Super Bowl, and you can even find tickets for concerts - well, all sorts of venues!

So, if you get crackin’ on your TLA account, maybe you can make a few dollars to cover your yearly hosting fees, like me!

We decided to take a short trip to SoCal and left yesterday! There is nothing like a last minute trip to a climate that is warmer than the one you currently are experiencing.

I’ll be adding a few snaps once we return. The one thing on our trip I really wish I snapped a photo of was when we were “buzzed” by a C-17 out on HWY 395, just outside of Adelanto! The crew was practicing TAGs, and they were on their last one.

The girls were rapt - as was my wife!

These two desserts look to be pretty much the same thing. And, to the person standing there watching you make these two after dinner delights, it sure looks like you used the same ingredients, mixed the batter, rolled the dough, prepared the apples, you know, the same steps. But, there are subtle nuances that can be found, if one actually takes the time and has the experience, in making these two classic desserts.

The Main Stream Media thinks they understand how the US Military gets troops ready for battle. These are the same scum that miss some glaringly obvious nuances and truly “forked us” in regards to Vietnam.

In this last Sunday’s San Francisco “Comical” (SF Chronicle to those of you that respect this friggin’ rag!), Anna Badkhen, the person that typed the piece of fiction to which I refer, says that the US Military has “cut corners” to get personnel into the field. She asserts that shorter training times and lack of equipment have hurt readiness. One of the choice paragraphs that exposes her lack of understanding follows:

“Soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division had so little time between deployments to Iraq they had to cram more than a year’s worth of training into four months.”

At first blush, one could say, sure, this amount of training time seems a bit too short for someone to go into an operational theater, not to mention the field where every move one makes has consequences. Some of us would say that there are very plausible reasons to have just such a training period. I will hold that assessment until my conclusion. My true intent at the outset is to show just how off the mark these “writers” are when it comes to understanding US Military training and deployment policies, procedures, and ultimately goals and objectives that are more strategic in nature. Or, more appropriately, just what these twits are really up to as they mask their true colors.

The “writer” continues:

“Some had only a few days to learn how to fire their new rifles before they deployed to Iraq - for the third time - last month.”

Now, let’s really look at this statement closely. This is the third time that this particular team, or team member that she spoke with, has been to the battlefield. They had weapons then, obviously, yet this time they have a new weapon. Is the weapon in question such a tectonic departure from their current weapon for their MOS? And I am assuming these individuals are only in the US Army (1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry), what if it were a US Marine or US Air Force Security Forces person? C’mon, is this reporterette honestly trying to make me swallow this swill, hook, line and sinker?! Are all the “SF Comical” readers truly that lost that they do not understand weapons training and in-combat experience?

Am I the only one awake, left reading this tripe, and barely able to hold down my breakfast? Well, this gets better, really! Chew on this one:

“And some soldiers were assigned to the brigade so late that they had no time to train in the United States at all. Instead of the yearlong training recommended prior to deployment, they prepared for war during the two weeks they spent in Kuwait, en route to Anbar, Iraq’s deadliest province.”

Again, members of this brigade are on their THIRD ROTATION! Or, am I just missing something she seems to understand as being crucial to the whole picture? Onward:

“As the Pentagon prepares to boost troop levels in Iraq by 21,500 people, such logistical and training hurdles are emblematic of the struggles besieging a military strained by unexpectedly long and grueling commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

I’m trying really hard to stay calm here … really …

You’d think that, based upon the above, we are talking about shortened training time with new weapons, right? Oh no, this little barb sticks out, in a big way:

“After the Cold War, U.S. military [her use of case, not mine] policy - pushed hard by former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s policy of “transformation” - relied too much on cutting-edge technology and air power and too little on boots on the ground, and further undercut spending on equipment that would protect large ground forces, critics charge.”

Why do these pinheads always dodge the bullet and say, “critics charge” or “military analysts conclude”? Why isn’t this reporterette making an assertion herself? C’mon have some “gravitas” and make the call yourself! Hiding behind faceless, and often out of context, assertions that are based on several factors, not the one under discussion. But, I digress … these friggin’ chicken-livered, candy-assed, oops … sorry … onward …

Obviously, this writer has no information from which to posit an intelligent conclusion. Just 20 minutes of research on 5th Generation Warfare, and she’d be relatively up to speed on modernization and the efforts being put forth by the US Military - beyond boots on the ground. The only reason that the casualty rate is SO FRIGGIN’ LOW YOU MORON is due to these new, modern, and all encompassing changes to improve the net effective force strength and battlefield control infrastructure.

As to my statement above where I said I’d add a conclusion, well, here goes. Reporters like this Anna Badkhen, in pieces like her 4th of February 2007 piece, “Corners Cut in Rush to Add Troops”, really shows just how lost these people are today. I am struck by the obvious lack of military experience that pervades our printed and video media reports. To just take one point to task, shorter training times are not necessarily bad during war - in fact, they are quite often the smartest decision. By using real world examples (ie on the job training - the hallmark of the US Military!), while riskier, provides training that far surpasses anything you get using fake rounds and a confidence course! And, when you are already skilled with one rifle, how hard is it to get qual’d on a newer one? I know folks that would be splittin’ targets after about 10 minutes of mini-instruction on a new rifle!!! Once you’ve got the sight, feel, weight, balance, and correction for drift, any rifle is just damn deadly - to our enemy. So, THREE WEEKS TO LEARN A NEW RIFLE!?!?!?

Sheesh!

What’s holding us back is stories, and I truly use the word story in reference to this reporter’s piece, and uninformed perspectives that cloud the overall effectiveness of the US Military. We wouldn’t have such a strong insurgency if it weren’t for the cut-N-run crowd and these twits that are very much the lesser of any species trying to grasp what warfare and the US Military are all about.

Anyway, we’re way beyond Apple Crisp and more into apple sauce … what a mess!

If you have the Sunday Comical from 4 February, 2007, maybe you need some bird cage liner?

Well, RIFs (reduction in force) happen all over the country. I have been scooped up in a RIF at my small company. We were acquired back in July and just last Thursday the changes to the company took a personal turn. I’m back out in the job search world …

It’s funny, many years ago I used to take these sorts of things personally. Today, because I am at a Director level, you know that these changes are business decisions, especially when there are obvious overlaps in duties and functions. My previous (since last week, heh) company has 90% of its engineering resources (I direct software quality groups) in another location - and I am not willing to relocate. So, gotta put the boots on and start walkin’.

If you know anyone that needs a Director of Software Quality, drop me a note. I’ve managed teams from 160 personnel and 6 managers to 4 person senior level quality engineer teams, onsite, offsite/onshore, offshore, software, hardware (devices), firmware, enterprise class, shrink-wrap, data acquisition (satellite/signals/video capture playback), government contract supplier, and all kinds of startup to fortune 500 companies. My resume/cv is quite the eclectic collection of jobs and companies.

So, my posts may be frequent and they may be sparse - OK that has been the case lately, I know.

And, no, we’re not talking about snow chains for your car or those hanging swag light chains. The 5th is being marked by something very simple, and I’ll just drop a few breadcrumbs to get ya walkin’ in the right direction:

• JTIDS
• JSTARS
• TADIL
• MC2A
• MOP/DSHTW/Big BLU
• JSF
• JDAM
• HDBTDC Thermobaric Weapon
• Metal Storm
• MOAB
• NLOS
• RJ
• SWF
• UAV/UCAV/JUCAS

In the strategic and tactical execution of warfare, the above have enabled or will produce a tectonic change, uncovering the holy grail of warfare: the Shortened Kill Chain.

Really, the dialectically qualitative change has happened, you just need to read the simple signs. Several of the above I’ve seen on Future Weapons. And a couple of these I’ve had the honor of supporting on active duty. I believe that once you tie all the US Military services’ commands, infrastructure, tools, and weapons together you’ll start to see just how much the change is so very real.

More to come. (how ya doin’ so far, eh?)

UPDATE: added the Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SWF) and Direct Strike Hard Target Weapon (DSHTW) as these two truly change the “response” of the enemy on the battlefield. In fact, in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the SWF was used and was VERY effective. Oh, and ya can’t leave out the MOAB - she’s got game!

UPDATE 2: added the Hard and/or Deeply Buried Target Defeat Capability (HDBTDC) Thermobaric Weapon, or the BLU-118/B. This is the cave-buster used in Afghanistan that was rushed through development, test, and live fire, to be used live - in less than 67 days (from the woman in charge of the program at Eglin AFB that was interviewed on Future Weapons). Another item to make the enemy, think, before hiding …

To see the beginning of the 5th Generation Warfare watershed we need to define the boundaries of the 4th Generation. Although there are specific cataclysmic events that mark the transition into a new generation, there are several elements of these events that remain true, even in today’s battlefields and training grounds. Mr. Lind dedicates a section of his paper, “The Changing Face of War: Into the Fourth Generation”, to show how each generation utilizes elements from the past and discards those deemed less effective. In the section, “Elements that Carry Over”, Mr. Lind states:

“Earlier generational shifts, especially the shift from the second to the third generation, were marked by growing emphasis on several central ideas. Four of these seem likely to carry over into the fourth generation, and indeed to expand their influence.”

The four areas that Mr. Lind cites as carrying over are:

1. Utilizing Mission Orders
2. Decreasing dependence on centralized logistics
3. Increasing emphasis on maneuver
4. Collapsing the enemy internally rather than from physical destruction

While it is true that all wars waged by formal states rely heavily on structure utilizing mission orders, centralized logistics, formal maneuvers, and to some extent forcing an internal collapse of the opposition, this fourth area wasn’t truly effective until the 4th Generational Warfare watershed. I submit that this one area, or element, is becoming a very integral part of today’s informal state sponsored wars. And it was honed during the end of the 4th Generation and has displayed a dialectically qualitative change to mark the beginning of the 5th Generation.

Let’s provide an overview of the generational warfare watersheds, using the fourth element as the catalyst that marks the entry into the 4th Generation:

• 1GW :: 1648 to 1918 - smoothbore musket, line and column formations
• 2GW :: 1918 to 1940 - rifled musket, machine gun, indirect fire and movement
• 3GW :: 1940 to 1970 - tanks, blitzkrieg, AC-130, maneuverable agile forces
• 4GW :: 1970 to 2003 - collapse the enemy internally

I believe that the end of the 3rd Generation Warfare watershed was around 1970 when the North Vietnamese first utilized one element or weapon in a new and highly effective manner. This element is the defining moment that marks a significant change in how warfare is prosecuted and signaled the beginning of a more powerful tool marking entry into the 5th Generation. Let me use an example from the 4th Generation to make my point, remembering that this element also carries over to today’s battlefield in a new way. Again, this is only one element or weapon of several that mark the beginning and the end of the 4th Generational Warfare watershed.

In my last post I detailed one of the catalysts that marks the beginning of the 4th Generation watershed. The use of the F-105 and the Shrike missile to destroy the SA-2 missiles supplied to the North Vietnamese by the Russians was a positive turning point in the US Military air campaign. One side effect of the tactics and weapons used to destroy the SA-2 was collateral damage to civilians in local villages. The SA-2, being a rocket loaded with rocket fuel, would explode in an enormous fireball ejecting huge amounts of shrapnel into the surrounding area. The North Vietnamese seized this opportunity, with the help of the Russians, to utilize an old weapon in a new way that was powerful and far reaching. The retooled element that played a pivotal role in the final pullout (defeat) of the US Military was: propaganda.

Propaganda was not new, by any means, in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generations. The Russians were very effective utilizing propaganda as a weapon against their enemies and their own people, as well as between their politicians and their military leaders. With the help of the Russians, the North Vietnamese used the media to spin lies that the US Military was purposefully targeting civilians. While this was a lie, the media and all the antiwar protestors (especially Hanoi Jane Fonda) broadcast the lies as fact, or on some occasions an alleged instance (albeit the latter was rare indeed). The successful use of communications and the broadcast media in particular was instrumental, and I posit a huge catalyst, marking the beginning of the 4th Generation Warfare watershed. The fact that images and messages could travel worldwide very quickly, in comparison to say WWII communications, the speed and effectiveness of this lopsided propaganda emasculated the US Military from within - collapse internally - forcing the United States to draw down and finally pull out of Vietnam. And while this incarnation of the use of propaganda is a catalyst triggering a major shift into 4GW, it will take on a new form thereby defining the entry into the 5th Generational Warfare watershed.

The effectiveness of the emasculation of the US Military spread like a plague across the United States. It became commonplace for college students, the media, and politicians to continuously frame the US Military and the United States as being inherently evil, baby killing, corporate raiders, with no compassion and very little regard for the world, the environment, and human beings. The vilification of the United States had begun, and she began to crumble from within under the weight of all the negativism and overt attacks to destroy patriotism. To be a patriot was evil and wrong and unless we became like the USSR, we were doomed to failure. Appeasement began to sweep the country and culminated with the Presidency of Jimmy Carter and the inevitable failure of a man driven by appeasement and lack of fortitude. His orchestration of the failed, and deadly, attempt to rescue the hostages from Iran was clearly a result of the emasculation of a nation - not to mention her military.

Fast forward to 1993 … Laurie nailed it when she said that the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993 was a pivotal moment. Even though it took 10 years to perfect, this new element had it’s humble beginnings on that ill fated day in 1993.

The fall of socialism in the USSR, coupled with the quirky end to the 1st Gulf War, signaled to those out to destroy the United States that there was a simple weakness in these large states just waiting to be exploited. There had not been an attack on US soil since December 7th, 1941, at Pearl Harbor. The Middle East was beginning to form new, non-state sponsored, factions driven to destroy Israel. Since the United States supports Israel, and the population is overwhelmingly non-muslim and thereby infidels, these new factions plotted the second attack on US soil: the attack on the World Trade Center in 1993.

While this attack was unsuccessful in a physically destructive sense, it provides insight into how a burgeoning hate for the United States transformed into an informally coordinated attack. This relatively ad hoc attack had the primary goal of effecting mass destruction within small geographic confines utilizing simple tactics and tools. While communications technology had surged forward at an amazing rate, the architects of the 1993 World Trade Center attack preferred to use only portions of the new technology mixed in with an age old process: person to person communications. With technological advances in listening devices, the attackers knew that as long as they could keep the most secret of information protected, utilizing person to person couriers for written and oral communications, the overall attack would be successful.

The attack was successful in that it gave rise to a new approach of synergizing previously known elements into a central element. This new element, the Neural Attack, would signal the end of the 4th Generation Warfare watershed. The elements that carry forward and later are combined to comprise a Neural Attack are the following:

• Phone, Satellite, TV, Video, Cellular, Radio, and Internet Communications
• Courier and Person to Person (written and Oral) Communications
• Propaganda and Information-based Attacks
• Stealth Aircraft and FAF Munitions (fire and forget)
• Integrated Strategic/Tactical Communications Technologies and Protocols (JTIDS/JSTARS, etc)
• Joint Forces Command Structure and Operations

While the above do not, in any way, enumerate all the elements available, they do constitute a fairly broad list with which a successful Neural Attack can be formed. Once several Neural Attacks are combined to form a Neural Attack Battle Plan, a dialectically qualitative change can be seen. I submit that a battle plan of this type was formed and executed in the 2nd Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, marking the end of the 4th Generation Warfare watershed and propelling us all into 5th Generation Warfare.

With the advent of the Neural Attack, here is the new generational warfare timeline:

As you can see, from the 2nd Generation to today, each major change has been roughly 30 years apart. While technology plows ahead at amazing rates of change, warfare and the art of war progresses at a relatively even pace. Several questions came to mind while I was preparing this post. And one observation was very unsettling: does everyone think I’ve made this all up and spaced things evenly? But, to truly have a dialectically qualitative change one must be engaged in formal war. The 1st Gulf War was more of a police operation because the US and Coalition forces did NOT push through to the final result, a true war. Once Iraq was moved back into and within her own borders, the US Military began to stand down. Another contributing factor was “The Road to Basra” which proved the US Military’s effectiveness at executing a Neural Attack on a small scale. This also resulted in more propaganda than President George H.W. Bush was ready to endure, thereby giving us a “quirky” end to the 1st Gulf War.

In the next series of posts, I’ll lay out what I see are the elements that comprise a 5GW Neural Attack and Battle Plan that resulted in successfully capturing Baghdad: Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Did ya miss it? Huh?

To truly grasp why I posit that we’ve blown through 4th Generation Warfare, and have already entered 5th Generation Warfare, one must understand the periods that comprise 3rd and 4th Generation Warfare. It is key that we understand what comprises a transition, or in fact the watersheds William S. Lind describes in “The Changing Face of War: Into the Fourth Generation”. Mr. Lind’s report, filed with the US Marine Corps in the Marine Corps Gazette some 17 years ago, has been a primary resource for those that dabble in “generational warfare” speeches, theories, papers, and books. In one simple statement Mr. Lind provides the definition for these generations:

“While military development is generally a continuous evolutionary process, the modern era has witnessed three watersheds in which change has been dialectically qualitative. Consequently, modern military development comprises three distinct generations.”

Now, when Mr. Lind wrote this initial report for the US Marine Corps, back in October of 1989, warfare was very different from today. In fact, some may even say that they have not seen a change in the way the US Military fights today than say, WWII or even in The Korean War. But on closer inspection, I say that there has already been one more watershed added - the 4th Generation is clearly marked and we are now into the 5th Generation. Again, as stated above by Mr. Lind, the catalysts for change are key when transitioning from one generation to the next.

Looking at a timeline of the first three generations, you can see that the shortest transitions have taken place around WWI (1914 - 1919) and WWII (1939 - 1945), as pictured here:

It is very important to note that Mr. Lind has stated that the basic concepts of 3rd Generation Warfare tactics were in place by the end of 1918. What is written as the primary catalyst defining the entrance into 3rd Generation is a new technology and the tactics that are a direct result of that new technology: tanks and the blitzkrieg. Therefore the 3rd Generation owes its very existence to the tank and blitzkrieg. You can learn all about these watersheds in the first page and a half of Mr. Lind’s paper. The last three and a half pages carefully postulate what could comprise the 4th Generation’s watershed, as if it is something that is in the future - or near future. I posit that it is actually in our past, and that we’ve blown through the 4th Generation and have already entered the 5th Generation based upon the above guidelines for what makes a generational shift possible, a huge catalyst.

There were huge changes after the Korean War and into and through Vietnam that, to me, are incontrovertible evidence that the 4th Generation happened and we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of the 5th Generation. I’ll give you the two that come quickly to mind for me, and that is mainly ’cause I’m ex-USAF and these two birds show a clear shift in technology and tactics.

The first example can trace it’s birth to the need for close air support and directed strikes in rough terrain: the AC-130 Spectre (the younger sister of Spooky, the AC-47). The AC-47 Spooky, a rework of the C-47 Skytrain, had guns that could destroy targets from the air, but she lacked the range, and effectiveness, that the field commanders required. Later, in 1968, the US Air Force put the first AC-130 Spectre into action - and she performed beyond expectation! The growing relationship between ground troops and the AC-130 became paramount to the success of ground operations. The AC-130 afforded small squads the opportunity to call in close support in terrain that in the past would have been impossible. The AC-130 flew in, taking direction from the squad leader or officer on the ground, with pinpoint accuracy. By eliminating the enemy without directly engaging them reduced casualties. Plus, with the advent of even newer and more accurate weapons’ delivery systems, the AC-130 became the best friend for anyone pinned down during a firefight.

The second example is the grandfather to a maneuver that has changed the way of the air campaign: the F-105 Wild Weasel (older brother to the F-4 Wild Weasel, well all wild weasels!). The bane of every attacking wave of US Navy and US Air Force fighter/bomber pilot is the Russian made SA-2 rocket. Sorties into North Vietnam were tough with just having to put up with AAA fire, now pilots had to deal with this ground missile guided by ground based, mobile, radar trucks. The threat needed to be eliminated, and new technology and tactics developed for the F-105 allowed pilots to fly ahead of and behind those fighter/bomber sorties, eliminating the radar systems, either by scaring them into going dark or blowing them up on very dangerous, “down the beam” attacks. Once the AGM-45 missile was developed for the F-105 and RF-4, SA-2 sites no longer had a chance.

These two examples, in my estimation, are evidence that huge catalysts in technology and tactics provide the 4th’s watershed, the beginning and the end. The reason that I posit that there is an end to the 4th and an entrance into the 5th is, well, read on.

Several pundits and authors have presented their analysis that states, and I’ll generalize here, that there are multiple elements considered when categorizing these generational warfare bands or eras (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th). Most often spoken of today is technology and tactics that make up the 4th Generation. This is due, primarily, to the fact that we all are using a body of work that is 17 years old and that our thinking has stopped there, in 1989. In a few places that I have gone to, and these are not the only sites, Small Wars Council, ZenPundit, and Dreaming 5GW, I have found excellent cross references from which to conclude we can see the 4th Generation’s watershed, and that the 5th’s is very current, and very real. But until now, I have not seen what I believe is a real world example of this 5th Generation’s existence. But by enumerating several, and not all, of the primary elements I see as the delivery mechanisms, varying devices or munitions, the locales or targets, and the tactics or methods employed in 5th Generation Warfare taking place today, I think that you will begin to see just what I mean.

I believe that a 5GW warrior or strategist utilizes several, and sometimes all, of these elements, interchanging and combining them in a very hyper-frenetic fashion to create weapons and tactics in a dynamic, and extremely lethal, attack. This new process is the catalyst, or the dialectically qualitative change, that Mr. Lind tells us defines each watershed - our 5th Generation Warfare watershed. Just take this list in for a moment:

Information Sources

• Internet / Communications / Face-to-Face
• Battle Plans / Objectives
• SitReps / JTIDS / Sensors
• Media
• Folklore
• Factual History

Influences

• Religion / Belief System / Morality / Ethics
• Government / Rule / Politics
• Academia / Instruction / Literacy
• Economics / Resources
• Media
• Folklore
• Factual History

Geographical / Physical

• Battlefield / Theater
• Village / Town / City / Province|County / State / Country / Continent

Technological / Virtual

• Websites / Blogs / Forums / Feeds
• E-mail / Listservs
• Land line
• Radio
• TV
• Video

Current Examples

• Guerrilla / Militia / Gangs / Dictators
• Propaganda / Political Correctness / Appeasement
• Terrorism / Hijacking / Hostages
• Hysteria / Riots / Mass Killings
• Oppression / Rape / Looting & Robbery

In actuality, I believe that these are the tools or weapons with which a 5GW campaign is being executed today. I am sure, as you review these, you might begin to build your own combinations and see that there are some very clear, and cataclysmic, examples taking place today. And these combo-catalysts are reshaping and redefining the battlefield at an alarming rate, while at the same time making the battlefield more mobile and at the same time more difficult to conquer.

This new generation, the 5th Generation Warfare and Warrior, is no friggin’ goof with an SA-2, people. It is real, and it has been here already, and it is taking root in places you would never expect or imagine. I am not a conspiracy theorist or whack-nut psycho trying to get extra hits to my blog or boost ad revenue. I am a concerned, ex-USAF, US Citizen that sees a new wave that our US Military is not prepared to fight. And we need a wake-up call that is not rooted in old, stodgy, and myopic views of warfare. The new generation, the 5th GWW (generation warfare warrior), is betting you’ll keep your noses in those books, old training manuals, and stay in clearly formed columns and squads acting in concert to central commands.

They’re betting on it.

I’ll provide the entrance criteria for the 5th Generation Warfare watershed in my next post. Here’s a hint: sniff around 2003, using 1993 as a point of reference for the initial signs of change. And drop your freak-theories about wars for oil and nukes - it is simpler and more dangerous.

Have FUN!

It’s funny, but how many have that poignant Thanksgiving memory that just sticks in the back of your mind? And, it always seems to come back at the funniest of times doesn’t it?

My wife and I were watching the local news one night. During the sports segment the reporter was asking one of the 49ers what he was all about for Thanksgiving. He joked around and then mentioned Stove Top Stuffing. They cut back to the studio and the anchors were kidding around. Then, the female anchor said something to the effect of, “Well, men like Stove Top.” It was kinda a slight, but that’s not what came up from the depths of my memory banks.

I remembered one Thanksgiving very far from home. I was stationed in Germany at the time, and my Mom and Dad sent me a care package before the big day. I got a small-ish electric tea pot and some precooked turkey, can of cranberry sauce, and, yes, stuffing! I got a container of Stove Top, which was round in those days. I heated the turkey and decided to not make tea but heat water to make some, stuffing!

It tasted good. And, not because it was Stove Top but because it was from Mom and Dad. Back then we didn’t have sat-cameras for video e-mail, or well, e-mail of any kind! I had to share a phone in the barracks until I moved out on the economy - hmmm … phone calls weren’t cheap! Letters and packages were my only means of communication - except those memories and smells that triggered new memories.

So, if you are thinking of something nice to do for all those serving right now, please, join the Soldiers’ Angels and adopt a soldier! Or, find another org or local outfit and do your part! It really is the small things from home that make life as a servicemember a big friggin’ deal!!!

And, maybe some day on the couch watching TV, someone is gonna have one of those, memories.

BE A PART!!!

I have been doing a ton of reading lately. 5GW (5th Generation Warfare) has sparked a renewed interest in all things military and the approach to warfare. OK, I never really left that path, but work with me here.

As I was working my way deeper into this subject, I have found that I deviate, severely, from what has been the most authoritative work on the generations of warfare. I cannot say that this work is the only resource. However, I can say that most folks I have chatted with regarding subject of warfare through four distinct generations, base their root analysis on Mr. Lind’s work. I’ve been working through what I see in today’s warfare, based on my experiences within the USAF and the missions I was a part, and I think I am seeing a path not well traveled.

That said, I have to say, my posts have been very few lately! I think that there are a few more things to research, but it seems from this toil there are going to be several posts dedicated to this subject.

Therefore, I’m gonna post something new, right after this post, that is a tad bit more lighthearted to get back into the bloggin’ rhythm … OK?

Many posts ago I was reviewing the new direction(s) of the US Military and BRAC. It is interesting to see how our military adjusts to the enemy, the environment(s) in which we fight, the emboldening support we get countered by the derision we face, and the tools we employ to get the job done.

I’ve been reading up on 5GW. It is not a new form of wireless protocol to improve your cell phone reception or stop the dreaded dropped call. 5GW is Fifth Generation Warfare, and it is a subject that, to me, is near Schrodinger-like! I have been diving in to learn as much as possible. I have seen so many clues, or waypoints, that bode a shift in today’s wars - as well as for future wars.

I’ll be posting regarding my findings … hopefully they’ll interest you. But, be prepared and forewarned - if neural networks do not interest you, you might wanna skip my 5GW posts.    

Well, tomorrow is Veteran’s Day, and I have had so many things happen this week that have made me even prouder of my service to my country, and those that have served before, with, and after me. And, to add a finer point to it, there are those that have not served at all that have gone out of their way to help our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. Over the last two weeks, those that have not served surprised me in ways I would not have imagined, and confirmed for me just who they are deep down inside.

There is one man, in particular, who I know is not the most outspoken in favor of the current administration. He lives in a world that is very counter to what you would expect. He has had some very trying times, he is strapped financially, and he is mad at the world. He has fallen into a funk that is often times difficult to extricate oneself from - like target fixation, ya know? I have known this man for almost two years. We laugh about all sorts of stupid things and riff on Monty Python skits and stupid movie quotes. And he floored the buh-jeezers outta me when I talked to him early Wednesday morning. He asked me why I looked so tired, and I told him I am trying all kinds of things and staying up late getting folks involved in a donation drive. He asked, “Which one?” I said, Soldiers’ Angels Valour-IT, and I am on Team Air Force.” He says, “Well, duh!” (he knows, ’cause we talk about all kinds of Air Force stuff - he loves all things planes!) Then, here’s the kicker, he says, “Send me the URL, I’ll help.” He turns on his heel and heads back to his desk with a smile on his face.

Thump … like the sonic boom we used to hear from the Blackbird. Thump …

I know he is strapped for cash. I know his life is gonna get even worse very soon. I know not to talk about my political “leanings” or get into subjects that would put us at odds, ’cause, well, we’re friends, and that’s what friends do.

But, he knows the stakes, and he knows that everyone serving right now has volunteered, and he knows that we all need to help one another when the chips are down and there is no way out. And for those fine men and women that request a laptop from the Soldiers’ Angels Valour-IT program, we all need to help them, no matter what it takes.

Thanks again, from me and my family, to all of you on the Valour-IT Air Force Team. In fact, my Dad, who’s old RAF from WWII, he thanks you too!

‘Cause the kindness you show reflects on us all. And in the end, that’s what the US Military is allll about.

God Bless to all those that follow, here:

AND a special blessing to:

• Laurie of Soldiers’ Angels NY - she’s a ROCK!
• Buck of Exile in Portales hangs in there when it gets tough!
• The 7th SOS/ACS of Hurlburt AFB and Max Friedauer
• 3c0×1.net Forum
• KFOX 98.5 with Greg Kihn and Chris Jackson
• KSFO 560 - Lee Rodgers, Melanie Morgan, and Officer Vic!
• All the LinkedInUSAF Members (my colleagues)

They gave and I am very grateful for all your kindness and support!

I listen to Greg Kihn in the morning on KFOX 98.5 here in the Bay Area. He speaks out in favor of our troops all the time. I switched to listen to him after the GWOT started, ’cause he was the ONLY local radio guy to be pro-Military - well, except KSFO that airs Rush.

Greg’s Dad fought in WWII and has talked often about how he found out more about his Dad after his Dad passed away. Greg is the main reason I listen to KFOX. Greg takes some crap from listeners that tell him to shut up about being pro-Military. He even has been right on the money when he equates this to what our parents went through during WWII. And he is so correct, and has even made a point to say this is even worse - ’cause Islamofacism is far more dangerous as it is “in the name of God/Allah” … he is soooo right on!

I sent Greg and Chris, his right-hand-guy during the morning show, a note to see if they could get some info out on the air about Soldiers’ Angels Valour-IT drive. Not sure if they got my note - it’s a web-based thing and ya just never know. Plus, they are busy producing and doing the show. I hope they can help us all out.

So, folks, get to work and think out of the box! Contact local personalities like radio shows! We gotta get to the goal and any way you can get us there is what we need!

Alright, the numbers for Team Air Force, well, flat out suck. We are so far behind that Laurie of Soldiers’ Angels NY, Buck of Exile in Portales, and I have been trying all kinds of crazy things to get our numbers up. In fact, Laurie actually did something about it and has offered up HER OWN STUFF to get the donations going!

FOLKS, SHE IS AUCTIONING OFF HER OWN MEMORABILIA!!!

She has offered to auction some US Air Force Thunderbirds memorabilia she received when she visited the team at Nellis AFB. The items are a Thunderbirds 11″ x 14″ Poster with 2006 T-Birds facsimile signatures, a Thunderbirds Safing Pin Style Key Chain embroidered on both sides, and a Thunderbirds T-Shirt with logo on front and back. Here are the photos of each item, being offered as a whole package:

So, get on over to this new auction for US Air Force Thunderbirds memorabilia, now!!!

Valour-IT Air Force Team Member CoInSide is managing the auction for Laurie, which is very nice of him. It’s great to see that we can get a few folks involved in our crazy hair-brained schemes!

Thanks to all of you, especially Laurie of Soldiers’ Angels NY, for keeping this drive going!