Far East Cynic

Will the Navy learn the lessons it needs to?

Despite all the blowback from folks in certain circles and the continued whining of the surgeaholics, I remain firm in my conviction that getting the hell out of Afghanistan was the right thing to do. Most of the objections to the policy decision have no factual basis anyways – and

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Nothing short of a crime.

Amidst all of the recent political news in the United States, a few Navy related headlines from defense trade papers may have escaped your attention. However, you really should pay attention to them. Your Navy, MY Navy, for which I gave decades of service, is being ground into the dirt.

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An idea that is long overdue.

If you have been a long time reader here, you will know that one of my pet peeves is that the Navy has more flag officers than it has ships.  A few years ago I picked a fight with one of the Naval Institute’s   “preferred customers” on this very subject. Well, it took

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Why the Navy is horribly wrong.

This has always been a stupid idea on the part of the US Navy. I experienced it in 1975, when,  in order to win a scholarship- I had to Major in Mathematics, a field of study I hated, so as to become a Naval Officer. The only benefit therein to

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Herr Doctor will see you now

I've been in Germany about six months now and I thought I would take a moment or two to write about my experiences with the German Medical system. In my previous employments I was either under American insurance and being seen by American doctors or I was under military care

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Because some fights are worth picking-Unbalanced Part II

Some things take longer than a comment block to explain. Accordingly-since this is my blog and I will write what I want to- I have decided to address commenter Michael Junge’s comments in a more lengthy fashion. After all, not everything in the world can be reduced to a Power Point

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One guy who does not need to stay around…….

For the most part, I have been impressed with the cabinet appointments President Elect Obama has made. His more liberal supporters are disappointed he did not appoint Kool-aid drinkers, but by seeking to have a cabinet that is at the same time inclusive and broadly based, he showing that he

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Yea, its tough to be John McCain.

Man it sure sucks to be John McCain. Wish I had these problems: Must be nice to have that kind of money. Condo in Crystal City, home in Sedona, Condo in Phoenix, one in San Diego, and then investments besides? Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “Trading Up”.

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Chu gets screwed………..

The good doctor silently weeps. The President signed the GI bill into law a couple days ago so that he could pay for the war. Whatever gets the job done………. Many people say this was about affordability and transferability. Regarding the former-if the country can afford to keep 150, 000 troops

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Shut up and pay the bill.

The GI Bill that is. Are you listening Dr. Chu? I’ve been watching this for 30 years. On the one hand, we say, ‘This is the new greatest generation,’ and on the other we don’t even give them the type of educational benefit that will allow them to go to

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