Archives for category: The Draft

Never Forget-

The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.

Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.

Anybody fired over this?

A special marketing tribute to a catastrophic military failure:

For the US federal government, the event is remembered as a day about victims, heroes and patriotism.

Honor and commemorate the sacrifices made that day by remembering the heroes, armed forces, first responders, and countless others’ acts of service to defend our nation’s freedom. On 9/11 Day of Service, Americans of all ages and backgrounds are again invited to join and lead community service projects to honor the lives and service of those we lost on September 11.”

We got our ass kicked on 911.The federal government has been squandering credibility ever since. If the US Armed Forces were keeping us safe– first responders would have had a routine day at work on 911. The giant government and “Dept of Defense” were nowhere to be found on 911. For federal government convenience, take the day, follow along, pledge your allegiance and behave as that government sees fit. Do as you are told. Fly your flag as you are told. Think and behave as that government tells you. Divert your attention away from federal government failure and stay busy with federal suggestions for the day.

Nothing wrong with volunteer work. The manipulative federal government can stay out of it.

Here at Oak Bay Starfish, we will observe the day by avoiding network TV. At the bottom of this page, we will offer up some readings featuring voices of dissent and alternative media.

Aftermath

Let’s say the federal government did everything right before and on the day of Sept. 11th, 2001. The uniparty press avoids questions on how things have come together since.

Big Homeland Security spending

The US Dept of Homeland Security was established on November 25, 2002. Plenty of time for lessons learned, and more cartel drugs entering Hometown, USA than ever before?

Lessons Learned?

Anytime there is a plane crash, a loss at sea, or an industrial accident, a thorough investigation takes place. Lessons learned are used to prevent future accidents. A major aircraft manufacturer grounds certain airplanes after mishaps. Time is required to investigate and find out what went wrong.

Any similar effort after a big cartel drug bust inside the US?

The folks who show up and investigate the plane crash don’t spend time congratulating each other. Their work is designed to try and prevent similar future incidents, not promote themselves.

Preventing drugs from entering local communities would kill the chance for various agencies to get publicity for the occasional big drug bust happening in those communities.

Precinct 4 SET detectives conducted the operation with the assistance of other KCSO detectives from contract partners of Shoreline, SeaTac, Maple Valley, Metro, and TAC-30.”

Wonder what was happening at border crossing/port of entry inspections during the 12 months Operation P-22 (to take down just one branch of the cartel activity) took place. Do the good guys who made the local bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?

Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?

Did the cartel traffickers get fast track screening at the border so as not to disrupt this ongoing investigation?

If the drug traffickers were given a pass at the border- would that have tipped them off as to the investigation- or would that have been seen as standard protocol?

Imagine that LE authorities observe a shoplifter or bank robber in action. Instead of going in to make an arrest they back off and conduct an investigation that goes on for months. What if they applied the same tactic Re: crimes involving arson, terrorism, child abuse, DUI, etc.

This time next year- will there be any shortage of cartel product in the Puget Sound area? Has any city, county or state jurisdiction been able to cleanup their drug problem using these methods?

Snohomish 2015

Local law enforcement agencies may benefit when the US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep heroin out of the US:

Seattle media: Heroin busts could finance police construction in Snohomish

Newspeople are good about posting a drug bust press release. Newspeople remain silent when it comes to asking questions about Homeland Security funding and performance.

Big DOD spending on undeclared/unwon wars for our freedoms.

The All Volunteer Force era has been a time to tell the American people that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms. This urban legend has run its course. People have seen enough now to know this is no more than a marketing strategy. Uniparty newspeople play along by not asking questions:

Freedom?

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their lawn mower.

Did hostile forces in distant lands attempt to replace US consumer demand with government demand and end the free enterprise system?

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system,
voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

 

Maybe a few more decades of undeclared/unwon wars and the freedoms will get better.

The uniparty promotes the idea that The Troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms. The press plays along by not asking questions.

Why do we speak of the US Armed Forces as if they function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?

Both major parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Both major parties are good with a land of the free holding pattern where alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18? Are The Joint Chiefs of Staff working to change any of this?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

The country struggles with:

Cultural Honesty

Search Engines

Has it become harder to find blogs, videos and alternative media that ask questions or point to the failures of 911 and its aftermath? How about COVID? How about a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security?

Land of Information Suppression

Refusal To Release Sept. 11 Documents

Aug. 6, 2021 NBC News

9/11 families to President Biden: Don’t come to our memorial events

“Nearly 1,800 victims’ relatives, first responders and survivors are calling on Biden to refrain from attending any memorials over his refusal to release Sept. 11 documents.”

“The administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump also declined to declassify supporting documents, citing national security concerns.”

22 Years Later

Part of the reaction was to send The Troops into undeclared wars.

If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Fake GWOT?

The US Dept. of Homeland Security was invented after the catastrophic military failure of 911. The idea was to keep bad people from coming to the US to do bad things/attempt another 911, etc.

Wouldn’t the giant War on Terror be a cartel drug trafficker’s worst nightmare?

Welcome Home Troops

Jan 27, 2023 KONP FENTANYL NOW TOP DRUG IN CLALLAM COUNTY OVERDOSES

Have opioid lawsuits played any role in improving the situation?

How do cartels react to opioid lawsuits?

Has a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security created any shortage of opioids in the Puget Sound area?

If Americans lived in a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking public policy related questions all of the time. This is not the case.

Thanks For Your Service

Thanks for doing time/risking your ass in Iraq and Afghanistan, working to keep a post 911 USA safe & secure.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

Related:

GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

Port Angeles – Cartel Drugs

Homeland Security Is A Scam

GWOT questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:

REAL ID

If REAL ID is critical to the safety of America, have travelers out at the airport been less safe since 911?

The new REAL ID requirement for domestic air travel has now been extended out more than 20 years past 911 – May 7, 2025

 

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

 

If the CIA (est 1947) serves as an advantage to the US, why does the Department of Defense have such a poor record of winning undeclared wars going back to 1949, the year DOD was established?

 

Show up early to wait in line and squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube at the airport?

What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?

Has anyone ever seen any member of the press ask questions on this?

Fred Reed December 4, 2015

Security Theater: Customary Federal Pointlessness

“…the intelligence agencies have proved useless. NSA did not prevent the first attack on the Twin Towers in 1993, nor the successful one.”

“What goes on at airports is not security. It is Security Theater. When the government’s own agents try to smuggle “weapons” aboard airliners to test the system, they succeed ninety-five percent of the time.”

“Further, a terrorist doesn’t need to get aboard an airliner to blow up spectacularly. At many airports, hundreds of people line up at ticket counters during peak hours. A carry-on bag of explosive would easily create enough slaughter to shut down air travel and to make international headlines for weeks.”

Warnings at airports that unattended vehicles will be ticketed, towed, and perhaps destroyed are also Security Theater. By the time the vehicle was noticed, and somebody sent to check it out, an easy five minutes would have passed and the driver would be somewhere else. Boom.”

REAL ID And The Fake War on Terror

 

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces. The Cold War ended in the early 90s. The Pentagon was happy with the All Volunteer Force.

Look what they did with it.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

Secretary Wormuth,

Will sending the National Guard, active, reserve and IRR forces to support NATO/Ukraine stimulate new enlistments over at the recruiting office?

National Guard

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials, top Pentagon Generals and the press earned it.

Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

These families have stories to tell and they’re not all positive. Will their stories support a draft?

Return to a Military Draft?

Related:

Uniparty No Good For Confidence in US Armed Forces?

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Operation Macho Swagger

 

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

Voices of Dissent and Alternative Media

Sep 19, 2017 By Laurence M. Vance

Five Lessons from 9/11

I much prefer Thomas Jefferson’s foreign policy to Shaprio’s: “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations—entangling alliances with none.”

“Even with all of its resources and military might, the U.S. government failed miserably to protect Americans on 9/11.”

“Lesson number 1: Never trust the government. Ever. And especially when it has anything to do with terrorism, foreign policy, war, or the military. The government is a giant lie-making machine. Never trust what the government says about the events leading up to 9/11, the causes of the 9/11 attacks, or what actually happened on 9/11.”

“Lesson number 4: Government can’t keep us safe. The government couldn’t even protect its Pentagon.”

 

Sep 1, 2007 by

Bushs AmeriCorps Fraud

“Two months after the 9/11 attacks, Bush announced that he was expanding AmeriCorps and that all of us can become a September the 11th volunteer by making a commitment to service in our own communities.”

 

Samuel Cohen Sep 8, 2021 Los Angeles Times

Op-Ed: We hide an ugly truth when we call Sept. 11 ‘Patriot Day’

 

Recommended:

LewRockwell.com
anti-state•anti-war•pro-market

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Quality time at Point Partridge

 

Looks like the Big Uniparty Debate Night revealed some support for the US/Ukraine effort. Looks like Trump wants to shut down war over there.

Over the past year or so, the US Armed Forces recruiting crisis has been in the news and the occasional comment advising a return to the draft will appear.

Here at Oak Bay Starfish, we believe that a return to the draft is total political fantasy. Below, we will go into some of the reasons why, but not much is new if you’re one of the many readers who have been closely following the blog at any time since the catastrophic military failure of 911. Still wondering if anyone was fired over that.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

It is understandable that young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

The press supports the uniparty, so newspeople go easy on asking any questions here.

The US Army brought back WWII uniforms a few years back. Was this an effort to boost recruiting? Looks like it didn’t work. The WWII uniform reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s ask if newspeople can do something totally different. Have newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Have newspeople find out:

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

Back Home/Away From NATO

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume again- a look from a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Talk of the draft is a response to recruiting struggles and more wars on the table.

Never Forget-

The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.

Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.

If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like: The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

This is what Americans will support with a draft?

Fake GWOT?

The US Dept. of Homeland Security was invented after the catastrophic military failure of 911. The idea was to keep bad people from coming to the US to do bad things/attempt another 911, etc.

Wouldn’t the giant War on Terror be a cartel drug trafficker’s worst nightmare?

If Americans lived in a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking public policy related questions all of the time. This is not the case.

Related: GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

What a Scam

Cartels react to General Milley by moving more product into the US:

July 27, 2023 FOX 13 Seattle

6 suspects arrested in one of King County’s largest drug busts plead guilty

“In total, they seized 25lbs fentanyl powder, 31lbs heroin, 8lbs cocaine, 400lbs meth, 478,000 fentanyl pills, 5 handguns, & 3 rifles.”

“According to the King County overdose tracker, 617 people have already died this year from a fentanyl overdose compared to 802 reported deaths in all of last year.”

About $10 million worth of deadly drugs were taken off the street in this bust, which was one of the largest seizures in KCSO history.”

Wonder what was happening at border crossing/port of entry inspections during the 12 months Operation P-22 (to take down just one branch of the cartel activity) took place. Do the good guys who made the local bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?

Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?

Did the cartel traffickers get fast track screening at the border so as not to disrupt this ongoing investigation?

If the drug traffickers were given a pass at the border- would that have tipped them off as to the investigation- or would that have been seen as standard protocol?

Imagine that LE authorities observe a shoplifter or bank robber in action. Instead of going in to make an arrest they back off and conduct an investigation that goes on for months. What if they applied the same tactic Re: crimes involving arson, terrorism, child abuse, DUI, etc.

This time next year- will there be any shortage of cartel product in the Puget Sound area? Has any city, county or state jurisdiction been able to cleanup their drug problem using these methods?

In the news:

July 25, 2023 The Spokesman-Review

Senator holds fentanyl roundtable as WA becomes overdose epicenter

“…the state had the biggest increase in the nation — more than 21% — in fatal overdoses reported between February 2022 and February 2023.”

“One big reason, explained Robert Hammer, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge of the Pacific Northwest region, is that fentanyl is extraordinarily cheap in Washington. The powerful synthetic opioid sells for as little as 80 cents a pill, about 50 cents cheaper than in California.”

US Dept. of Homeland Security Vote of Confidence:

“Compounding the problem, Hammer said, is Washington’s position on the Interstate 5 corridor and its ability to serve as a stop-off point on the way to smuggle drugs into Vancouver, B.C.”

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for doing time/risking your ass in Iraq and Afghanistan, working to keep a post 911 USA safe & secure.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

National Guard

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

These families have stories to tell and they’re not all positive. Will their stories support a draft?

Random Questions For The Uniparty:

Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?

General Thomas,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis

General Thomas,

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

 

Potential applicants on the way to comply with the next draft:

Jan 13, 2023 Military.com

Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens

“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”

More here:

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Last time there was a draft that involved an undeclared war, things did not go well.

Related:

More COVID & Climate Change? – The Press is Weak

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Random Questions for The Uniparty

Uniparty No Good For Confidence in US Armed Forces?

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

A Military Draft?

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Operation Macho Swagger

Homeland Security Is A Scam

Freedom? – New Biden Campaign Ad

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

The country struggles with:

Cultural Honesty

 

March 13, 2023 Military Times @MilitaryTimes

White House budget calls for more troops & services hope to add about 12,000 but battling high employment, lower public interest in joining

From comments:

Time for a draft…and time to include women.”

Our take:

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

It is understandable that young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s ask if newspeople can do something totally different. Have newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Have newspeople find out:

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

 

Back during the Cold War era of the 1980s, the US Armed Forces seemed to be in good shape. Today, DOD struggles with recruiting difficulties. I have my own attitudes about all this.

May 13, 2022 Military.com

Military Throwing Cash at Recruiting Crisis as Troops Head for the Exits

“Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel panel, says the military is on the cusp of a recruiting crisis.”

Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:

Senator Tillis,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

More here:

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

 

Potential applicants on the way to comply with the next draft:

Jan 13, 2023 Military.com

Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens

“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”

More here:

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Last time there was a draft that involved an undeclared war, things did not go well.

 

RealClearDefense – We Need a Peace Time Draft

From comments:

“During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq the services met their quotas, and that was with people dying and coming home missing limbs. What has changed? Young people see what a failure those wars were. Why fight for a govt that views them as pawns for their political whims and cuts out when all the Generals have been promoted and the companies made billions. Add in the cultural politicization of the military (changing base names and pronouns to name a few) and the pool of eligible people (which is still large) see the military not as honorable service but something to be avoided. Young people see a made up war in Ukraine coming soon as the administration keeps poking the Russians. The left has spent decades demonizing military service, now it is ok? People are smarter than that. A draft is way to avoid fixing the decline in our military and the politicization of its mission/people. Stop the cultural attack on the military ethos, hold accountable someone besides a Marine Major for the failure of the Iran/Iraq wars and stop promoting a war with Russia so Raytheon and Lockeed can make more money. You would see people join. I am a Naval Academy Graduate and served my country for 20 years in various jobs. I would sooner my sons work at a gas station than join today’s military.”

 

What we were thinking in 2012:

No Draft

Related:

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Thank You For Our Freedom?

Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover

GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

About this time of year – Skagit Valley

 

DSC_0002_005

“Ten years and $60 billion in American taxpayer funds later, Iraq is still so unstable and broken that even its leaders question whether U.S. efforts to rebuild the war-torn nation were worth the cost.”

 

$97 Million Drug War in Central America

DSC_0001

Google:

$60 billion in DOD contracting fraud

& see where savings are available to pay fees for healthcare earned by people who volunteered to go to far away places and maybe never come back again.

Make us proud guys-

Army Corps of Engineers can’t produce $1 billion of fuel receipts in Iraq

“The total amount of funds unaccounted for has now reached a staggering $7 billion, officials say — and they warn that the Iraqi government is likely to demand at least some of that money back.”

 

Elected officials preside over waste & decades of ongoing, undeclared wars overseas- then tell us there is no more money for the traditional DOD military healthcare benefits that were used to entice people to stay for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

No union rep. No grandfather clause.

 

Many Americans may associate free medical care with people who stay for 20 years in the US Armed Forces.

Recommendation-

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Stop spending federal money on meaningless support the troops promotions, campaigns and VIP photo ops that are not connected in any way with public policy.

 

Instant, non-experimental jobs program/revenue generator requiring zero tax dollars-

Allow U.S. farmers to answer the global demand for Industrial Hemp.

 

Related-

No Draft

 

 

Photo- A symbol of freedom & federal government credibility

 

DSCN5999_003

It is unfortunate that the American people seem to want to support the troops, but lack a basic understanding of public policy related to the troops.

To be fair- public policy in this area can be confusing- even to people who did time in uniform.

corps

This confusing article seems to indicate that people in highly respected and specialized units, or people involved in high-profile operations would be eligible for a different benefit package than the average people who were in average units over the years. Investigative reporters may not have had a clear understanding of public policy in this case.

A less confusing update here.

 

This very popular marketing device for a US auto manufacturer is not connected in any way to public policy:

Take a look at comments below the video and you will see that people truly feel connected to supporting the troops by watching a made for TV car commercial.

 

The First Lady has made an effort to support military families. Unfortunately- these efforts appear to be completely unrelated to public policy.

Here is a hand selected lady who was surprised (1:12) to get a phone call of support from The First Lady- even though cameras were rolling in her home when the phone rang:

 

No definite benefit package is offered for people who stay for 20 years in the US Armed Forces.

Honest management of public information could improve the situation.

 

Many Americans may associate free medical care with people who stay for 20 years in the US Armed Forces.

Recommendation-

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Stop spending federal money on meaningless support the troops promotions, campaigns and VIP photo ops that are not connected in any way with public policy.

Background here:

Thanks for your Service

Related-

No Draft

 

I am no longer recommending the US Armed Forces to young people.

I would have- maybe 10 years ago.

 

What’s changed in the past 10 years?

$60 billion in DOD contracting fraud.

Multiple tours for the National Guard in Iraq and Afghanistan while benefits are cut back.

Heroin inbound.

 

Security Theater

Harpist on Port Townsend-Keystone ferry silenced after 17 years

“State ferries officials say they had no choice but to fairly enforce security policies that were stepped up in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the East Coast on Sept. 11, 2001.”

Security policies?

The Washington State Patrol uses dogs to check vehicles at some ferry terminals on some days. Walk-on passengers are not checked at any terminal- at any time.

 

Puget Sound port security-

Doublespeak?

July, 2012-

Port security: U.S. fails to meet deadline for scanning of cargo containers

April, 2006-

“CBP screens 100 percent of all maritime containers that pose a risk for terrorism at foreign ports before they are shipped to the United States.”

If a 100% screening was conducted at the foreign port- how did human cargo make it to downtown Seattle?

More here:

Making sense of the War on Terror-

 

What sort of ID is required to prove innocence away from border crossings and ports of entry?

“… their main interaction with the boating public: Boarding boats and checking for ID, getting a “vibe,” as Jeff P. called it, for what’s up.” 

“But another audience member noted that her husband, while fishing, was checked out in one day by the Coast Guard, state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Sheriff’s Department and Border Patrol.

“That seems ridiculous if all you’re doing is fishing,” she said.”

 

More here:

Suspicionless local ID checks?

 

Troop suicides.

 

Sensitive Dept. of Homeland Security documents released to the public at a garage sale-

Question to ask:

How do sensitive DHS documents leave the workplace without being signed out for official business?

“We would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations for their hard work, commitment and dedication to this case” said Chief Patrol Agent John Bates of the U.S. Border Patrol, Blaine Sector.

More here:

The Garage Sale Incident

 

Secret arrest statistics

US Border Patrol- secret arrest statistics on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula

Nov 2011- “The report is always limited to one page regardless of the number of arrests made, includes only those arrests selected by the agency for public release and does not include apprehensions that result in ongoing investigations.”

Sounds like something out of the Soviet Union.

A free and independent press plays no role here in questioning public policy- simply passing down dictates from above.

So, if this guy is arrested it might be done in secret if the one page report is already full, the arrest is not selected by the agency for public release or is an apprehension that results in an ongoing investigation?

 

Suspicionless checkpoints on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula- away from border crossings and ports of entry-

Border Patrol checkpoints came to Jefferson County, WA in 2008.

 

“Federal law allows the border patrol to conduct the checkpoints and stop and talk with any motorist and passenger of any vehicle, said Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Joseph Giuliano.”

“No cause is needed to converse with anyone in the car,” Giuliano said. “Zero, zilch.”

 

A month later-

We are told the #1 US Border Patrol objective is to stop terrorists.

The US Border Patrol explains this objective at a local public forum- this YouTube video covers Border Patrol objectives at 3:50

At that same forum a lady asked:

“What is the penalty for not identifying oneself to federal agents at an internal, suspicionless checkpoint?”

US Border Patrol said they would call in the Sheriff when a person refused to identify themselves.

Sheriff says they will not respond to a non-emergency situation involving a person peaceably refusing to interact with federal agents.

Question about providing ID is at 0:35

Checkpoints ended here in 2008- possibly due to well-informed citizens and local protests. Looks like they weren’t vital to national security after all.

War on Terror- credibility squandered.

More here:

Good luck with your all-volunteer military

 

 

Photo- Port Hadlock Transit Center

 

DSC_0002_005

Google:

$60 billion in DOD contracting fraud

& see where savings are available to pay fees for healthcare earned by people who volunteered to go to far away places and maybe never come back again.

Make us proud guys-

Army Corps of Engineers can’t produce $1 billion of fuel receipts in Iraq

“The total amount of funds unaccounted for has now reached a staggering $7 billion, officials say — and they warn that the Iraqi government is likely to demand at least some of that money back.”

 

Elected officials preside over waste & decades of ongoing, undeclared wars overseas- then tell us there is no more money for the traditional DOD military healthcare benefits that were used to entice people to stay for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Senator McCain speaks about military healthcare benefits-

“I have not yet met a single 18-year-old, including my own son . . . who said, ‘Gee, I want to join the Marine Corps because of TRICARE.’ No, they joined the military because they want to serve their country.”

Background here:

Thanks for your Service

 

Senator McCain,

There was a time when Moms & Dads, friends, relatives, folks at church and school- and people with years of military experience- encouraged a younger generation to take a favorable look at making a career of the US Armed Forces.

Even if there was another draft- people would be drafted for an enlistment- not a career.

Good luck with your all-volunteer military.

 

Related-

Popular slogan- Support The Troops

No Draft

 

 

Photo- A symbol of freedom & federal government credibility

 

 

Insists on dividing people up into groups– then assigning a separate value to each group.

 

Cheers on military forces that are not in the habit of winning decades of undeclared wars in distant lands.

Credits The Troops with defending American rights and freedoms- as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.

 

Stopped supporting a draft a long time ago.

 

Spends money on gunboat escorts for ferries on Puget Sound while terrorists are free to put their boat on a trailer and drive it onto the ferry.

 

Spends months promoting the idea of buying stuff to celebrate Christmas.

 

Brags about freedom- then goes with a control freak approach on individual liberty.

 

Lies about the stories associated with federal holidays.

Celebrates independence from a powerful central government.

Tries to make people feel guilty for not properly observing some federal holidays.

 

Talks about legalizing marijuana while including restrictions that leave prohibition and the drug war in place for adults age 18-20, those who want to grow a plant at home, possess more than an ounce, or possess marijuana from non-state sanctioned outlets.

 

Talks about placing high taxes on legal marijuana.

Dealers, traffickers and cartels are good with this idea.

 

Supports a Homeland Security police state that can’t keep heroin and cocaine out of the US.

 

Tolerates reporters who do not ask questions.

 

Tolerates politicians who lie about clean energy.

 

Supports a Drug War that places us all at risk.

 

 

Photo- Port Hadlock Transit Center

 

DSCN5780

Perhaps four handguns could have saved thousands on 911?

Never Forget-

The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.

Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.

 

How are terrorists kept out while heroin comes in?

‘Uptick’ in heroin use seen on North Olympic Peninsula

Think terrorists are smart enough to pose as drug traffickers- then cross into the US free of screening, scanning, pat downs, special IDs, inspection of personal items, etc.

Domestic heroin busts are reported as some sort of law & order success-

Each one is evidence that- 11 years after 911– the US Dept. of Homeland Security is unable to prevent criminal traffic from entering the US.

 

Conspiracy Theory-

More information is better- this is how science and medicine works. Over the years some people have been freed from prison based on new DNA evidence becoming available.
Are the people who took steps to discover that new evidence conspiracy theorists?
Apply this same curiosity and desire for knowledge to some controversial topics and you’ll be labeled a conspiracy theorist.

Why the effort to suppress ideas?

 

 

 

General McChrystal recommends bringing back the draft.

 

No draft folks.

The all volunteer military is the politician’s best friend.

 

No draft means less war protests & more undeclared wars in distant lands where the National Guard is doing multiple tours.

Today- most Americans can repeat the “Thanks for your service” slogan and move on without having to involve themselves or family members in decades of undeclared wars in distant lands. This is just the way politicians want it.

If there is any quiet sense of guilt among politicians or people who never did time in uniform about all that- it can be cleared up by thanking The Troops for protecting American rights and freedoms, supporting The Troops, giving them discounts, being cool with them wearing field uniforms in public, not questioning wars that aren’t won, etc.

 

Spending just a few moments at major sporting events honoring the troops covers for cutting benefits for those who hung in for multiple tours in Iraq.

 

Troop suicides are less of a big deal if everyone is a volunteer.

Discuss on facebook here.

 

 

Photo- Oak Bay starfish