"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter." —Mark Twain
Damn the torpedoes . . . full speed ahead!
From Wikipedia: The “Powell Doctrine” is a journalist-created term, named after General Colin Powell in the run-up to the 1990-1991 Gulf War . . . The Powell Doctrine states that a list of questions all have to be answered affirmatively before military action is taken by the United States: Is a vital national security interest […]
In its last years, West Berliners covered the Wall (which came down 20 years ago today) with paint, political statements, street art, and graffiti. Many Americans, when they picture the Berlin Wall, see it in color. That’s not what I remember. Both times I saw the Wall, it was forbiddingly gray. In 1966, Donna and […]
Or . . . stealthy and expensive mega-guns? I’ve been trying to think of something intelligent to contribute to the ongoing debate over future production of the F-22 Raptor. President Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates want to cap production at 187 aircraft, the number currently funded. Congressmen and senators from F-22 producing districts […]
It’s Memorial Day. My father died on this day, two years ago. Some time after his death I posted a letter of his to this blog. The letter was about his WWII service as a US Navy Armed Guard gunner aboard the MS Chester Sun, a civilian tanker. Just today, I received an email from […]
When I drove disabled veterans for the local VA hospital in Tucson, one of my first regular patients was an elderly man who made daily trips from the VA hospice to the university hospital for radiation oncology treatments. One day he pointed out several areas of skin cancer on his arms, neck, and face, then […]
When I told my son I wasn’t going to vote for John McCain, he said, “But he was a fighter pilot. And a POW!” Meaning, I suppose, that McCain just has to be my kind of candidate. I understand the fighter pilot part. Indeed, my ideal candidate would have served in the military. If he or […]
Some thoughts on Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ sacking of USAF Secretary Wynn and Chief of Staff Moseley: The nuclear weapons SNAFUs described in the linked article were too serious to excuse, and ample reason to replace senior leadership. I can’t say I saw it coming, but I did wonder, back in 1992, what then-USAF […]
Blogging’s been sporadic. Well, no, there’s plenty of blogging (passive voice, get thee behind me) . . . I’ve been blogging sporadically. I went on a 20-mile bike ride this morning with Darrell, Linda, and Lane, who are Trail Trash buddies. Donna, Mary Anne, and Kris got roped into manning a welcome booth at our destination, […]