Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 04.23.09

Tom Ricks at the Best Defense

Tom Ricks is hosting two very interesting discussions on his blog over at Foreign Policy:

- He's questioning the value of service academies vis a vis OTS/OCS/ROTC
- He has some interesting commentary on Ivy League military officers

Take a few minutes and check out the link here.

Drop the Air Force

While Ricks' blog deals more with the Army, Navy and Marines, the Air Force has received more than enough love in the pages of the New York Times.

On Monday, Paul Kane fired the opening salvo, calling for the end of the Air Force as an independent service:

Yes, air power is a critical component of America’s arsenal. But the Army, Navy and Marines already maintain air wings within their expeditionary units. The Air Force is increasingly a redundancy in structure and spending. (link)

Oh, and don't think he doesn't take a shot at the Air Force regarding recent reports that 12 percent of the Air Force was obese.

Today, there were some great letters regarding the topic. Air Force Chief of Staff, General Norton Schwartz (a morganobrien.com favorite) dutifully chimed in:

Today’s Air Force brings specific capabilities to the joint fight to defend the homeland, deter aggression, help those in need and defend the freedoms we all enjoy. This resonates with the American people because they recognize the vital importance of Air Force global vigilance, reach and power.

We proudly secure our nation’s skies and our sister services from attack, any time and any place. Airmen will be there when America needs them, and every serving member of the Army, the Navy and the Marines knows it. (more here)

As always, with my greatest respect,
xOxO
Morgan

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 03.10.09

Another reason to hate man's worst enemy:
This morning, I awoke to the eerily disturbing sounds of raccoons copulating in the tree over our garage. This is how it sounded: SHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRR EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKEKKEEKKEEEE GRRRGGLGLGLLGLLG EEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKE



Nature's Alarm Clock

Annoying as that was, after reading the following article, I can't complain. In fact, of the countless reasons to hate raccoons, I think Alexander Kirilov will forever have the best (or worst).

Toothy raccoon bit off manhood
By LEON WATSON

A FEISTY raccoon has bitten off a pervert’s PENIS as he was trying to rape the animal. Alexander Kirilov, 44, was on a drunken weekend with pals when he leapt on the terrified – but toothy – fur ball.

“When I saw the raccoon I thought I’d have some fun,” he told stunned casualty surgeons in Moscow.

Now Russian plastic surgeons are trying to restore his mangled manhood.

“He’s been told they can get things working again but they can’t sew back on what the raccoon bit off," said a pal.

“That’s gone forever so there isn’t going to be much for them to work with." (link)

As an aside, I was looking for a picture to go with this and Googled "raccoon sex". Click this link (here). You learn something new every day.

Another sad, military-related drunk driving death

Groton Sailor Held In Fatal I-395 Crash
Judge orders $300,000 bond; state laws on alcohol liability at Mohegan murky
By Michael Naughton , Jennifer Grogan

As David Musser waited for his son's arraignment in Norwich Superior Court Monday morning, he ducked in and out of the courtroom, paced the lobby and spoke with attorneys and family members, all the while clutching a red book titled “Christian Prayer.”

His son, Daniel Musser, a Navy machinist's mate from Missouri now living in Groton, was arraigned on charges that he drove drunk on the wrong side of Interstate 395 without his lights on early Saturday and collided head on with a livery van carrying Connecticut College students, killing one of them.

Musser, who turned 24 years old Sunday, was ordered held on $300,000 bond by Judge Robert E. Young, who also ordered Musser to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and be placed on a suicide watch.

Sad

I'm pained to read stories like this. You're sad for the victims but also sad for a 24-year-old that threw his life away for a night of drinking. I'm also bothered that the casinos are now taking heat for this from local politicians, regarding their 24-hour alcohol sales.

I hate that our culture has an insatiable appetite for finding people and institutions to cast blame. I think that if pressed Machinist's Mate Musser (if he learned anything during his time in uniform) would be the first to admit that he's the only one held accountable for his actions.

Some more sad news

Arrest in slaying of US diplomat's wife
By FRANK ELTMAN
Associated Press
2009-03-10 04:30 AM

The wife of a former ambassador to Haiti and humanitarian coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina was fatally stabbed by an intruder while visiting a friend in an exclusive Long Island neighborhood, police said Monday.

A 22-year-old man known to police from a prior burglary arrest in the area was arrested on murder charges.

Robert Schiavo was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Nancy McKinley. His court-appointed attorney did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

McKinley, 61, is the wife of Brunson McKinley, a longtime State Department official who served as a U.S. ambassador to Haiti and was the U.S. humanitarian coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1995-1998. He is currently co-chairman of the Geneva-based Association for International Mobility.

Homicide detectives said Nancy McKinley was on a weekend visit with a friend in Bellport, about 65 miles (100 kilometers) east of New York City, when Schiavo allegedly broke into the home at about 1 a.m. Sunday and then stabbed McKinley numerous times, police said. (AP)

Figures how everyone is so worried about us moving overseas and the truth is that a diplomat's spouse can't even feel safe in Bellport. What a world.

As always,
With my Greatest Respect
xOxO
Morgan

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 02.06.09

I read this and could almost hear the audible sigh coming from Hanscom AFB. Looks like someone still has a shot at a second star. God bless the service that fails to reward our warfighters--what's next, paying officers to leave during wartime?

Deployment history to be removed from promotion briefs

by Richard Salomon
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

2/5/2009 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials here recently announced that deployment history data will be deleted from duty qualification briefs for officer selection and preselection and from senior noncommissioned officer evaluation briefs.

This total-force initiative will apply to all active-duty members, Reserve and Guard personnel. (link)

I mean, why would deployment experience mean anything nowadays?

Air Force One


The Commander in Chief

I was watching a documentary with Mrs. Morganobrien.com the other night on NatGeo, and it concluded with then President-elect Obama boarding Air Force One for his first flight (this was before the inauguration).

The best part of the doc came at the culmination, in an incredibly cool moment, when the film crew captured the moment Obama met Col. Steven Harrison, the pilot. Upon meeting Col. Harrison, our 44th president said, "You're the pilot of Air Force One? Where'd they find you, central casting? You look like Sam Shepard from the Right Stuff."

That is the 100% right way to ensure you get on the pilot of Air Force One's good side. I mean, is there a better thing to say to a pilot? This only cements the fact that President Obama just has 'it'.
(link)

Reserve Recruiting

I received a neat email this week from a reserve recruiter:

I ask you to think back to why you separated from the Air Force (not right, or wrong... just YOUR reasons) and see if those reason are still valid today. Do you miss being on our Air Force Team? Do you miss the camaraderie of being a part of something "bigger than yourself"? Do you have a substantial amount of service time going to waste and applying that time to an Air Force Reserve Retirement may look a bit appealing?

Once again, there is no right or wrong way to answer those questions; as those answers are both personal and individual to where you are...personally and professionally.

I haven't regretted the decision to leave the service, a point I've made numerous times on this very site. That said, there isn't a day--literally--that goes by, that I do not recognize the value of my time in uniform. This email also reminded me of this great post from 2dinar (link).

One sidenote: this email was tied to my personnelist AFSC, and not my PA experience. Interesting.

Morganobrien.com Remembers

In more somber news, I want to remember a couple of young men from a couple of my orbits that both passed away far too soon this week. There's not much worse than seeing a young, healthy, bright, talented peer pass away.

So here's to the memories of Capt. Jonathan Bayless and Diplomat Brian Adkins.

As always, with my greatest respect,

Morgan

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 01.22.08

May or may not have been getting his haircut Wednesday

I was searching for something to write about today, and was going to write about the obnoxious guy that showed up at the barber shop when I was getting my post-military wig lopped off. The guy's material wasn't that good--he looked like Uncle Teddy from Rescue Me and kept saying stuff like, "If sheep could cook, I would marry one," in his really loud, NY accent. I don't even know what that means.

Anyway, I have a cure for writer's block: thank God for the Air Force:

First is the case of Micah Henry, a former Kirtland Airman that just pleaded guilty to killing two folks:

Ex-Kirtland airman pleads guilty in DWI case
The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A former Kirtland Air Force Base airman accused of killing two people in what police say was a drunken driving crash has pleaded guilty to two charges of vehicular homicide.

Micah Henry, 24, entered his pleas Wednesday.

He will be sentenced in March. He faces up to 12 years in prison for the 2008 New Year’s crash. (link)

Only 12 years? All I can say is that it's a shame Henry didn't end up in Nassau County. Maybe we should ship Kathleen Rice to Albuquerque...


Send Her to Albuquerque!

An excerpt from an interview "60 Minutes" reporter Bob Simon conducted with Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice:

SIMON: Why did Heidgen fit as a murder case?

RICE: The statute under which he was charged required us to prove that, through his actions, he had a completely depraved indifference to human life. ... His actions made the deaths of Katie Flynn and Stanley Rabinowitz inevitable. It was as inevitable as taking a gun and firing it at an individual who's standing 5 feet away from you.

SIMON: You really believe that?

RICE: I do believe that. I do.

Source: "60 Minutes" transcript

And then there's this terrifying news:

Retirees, reservists to be tapped for empty jobs
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer

The Air Force is turning to retirees and reservists to fill 1,600 empty flying and staff positions — a strategy that could eventually have 58-year-old lieutenant colonels flying alongside officers half their age.

If you are a retired rated officer or a rated officer on traditional reserve status, the Air Force wants you back on active-duty status to fly or serve in staff positions for up to four years.

For retired officers, the program is open to aviators who retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel or below and will not be older than 60 when their service starts.

(link)

As it looks, I'm safe for now but I'll continue to keep my antenna up. If they start looking for stud PAO's that are only a couple years removed from service, well then the race is on, Gen. Schwartz.

As always, With my greatest respect,
xOxO
Morgan

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 1.05.09

On AFLink today, the Air Force got it right. Kudos to Tech. Sgt. Michale Voss, who knocked it out of the park in reporting what I consider to be the perfect internal communications piece.

What follows is a truly awesome story from the junior enlisted personnel that went above and beyond in an attempt to become a better Airman, family man and human being. The story couldn't have better timing (we're in the middle of resolution season); couldn't be more inspiring (you'll see); shows that our subordinates can often provide some of the greatest examples of leadership; and best of all, there are some great pictures to highlight the accomplishment (see below).

Rather than ruin the story through my muddled retelling, I'll hand it over to Sgt. Voss:

Deployed servicemember returns home half the Airman he used to be

By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
376th Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

1/2/2009 - MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyz Republic (AFPN) -- "I knew I was unhealthy and had to make some changes, especially when I thought about my five-year-old looking up at me," said Senior Airman Jarvis Johnson. "Without changes, I wouldn't be around to see him and my daughters grow up."

When you ask someone what they can accomplish in six months -- just 24 short weeks -- they may say something like, "I plan to finish a couple college courses," or maybe, "I'm going to read a couple books," or "Tour a little."...

(Instead, Johnson) has lost 125 pounds, is down to 165 pounds and has taking 14 inches off his waist.(link)

Kudos to Airman Johnson--here's the big reveal:


Before


After

I have to admit, this story blindsided me. In all honesty, I intended to highlight this "no-duh" story by my man Michael Hoffman today (which I still take great pleasure in posting):

PT program needs fixing, audit finds
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 2, 2009 18:12:05 EST
An Air Force-wide audit found the service’s fitness program is failing to keep airmen fit year-round.

The fitness program “did not effectively promote a healthy lifestyle,” and unit commanders did not give airmen enough time to work out while not cracking down on airmen who failed PT tests, according to a December report released by the Air Force Audit Agency. (link)

Rather than expecting a PT program to be a magic cure all (which I suspect the powers that be intended), the Air Force might look at the program more as a catalyst. If you want to be healthy, great--go for it, here are the tools. In fact, look at guys like Airman Johnson as examples.

If you don't care about how you look, how you feel or how you perform in the field have fun at the back of the pack where you belong. Just know that you made the conscious choice to position yourself there.

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 12.17.08

My latest attempt to get Wyoming

As we approach the end of the year, Wyoming remains the lone holdout state to send a visitor to www.morganobrien.com. While the nuclear surety beat really doesn't generate hits, FE Warren's latest contribution to the Air Force's dismal nuclear 2008 gives me no choice but to hope that someone from the base finds this post and clicks on it. Here's hoping (not only that I get a visit from Wyoming, but that the Air Force figures out how to maintain our arsenal. I mean, who was in charge of this? Oh, right).

F.E. Warren missile wing fails nuke inspection
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Dec 17, 2008 15:33:36 EST
The 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., will fail its Nuclear Surety Inspection that is set to end Wednesday because its maintenance group did not properly document tests on its missiles, an Air Force official said.

The 90th will be the second nuclear missile wing and at least the fifth nuclear unit known to fail its NSI this year. (link)

PS- Kudos to Michael Hoffman of the Air Force Times whose work on this issue would be Pulitzer-worthy if only he was tackling important issues...like the decline of newspapers.


Baldwin!
I love reading a Drudge headline announcing, "PTA Vice President Busted With 13-Year-Old In Back Of Fogged Up Car...," clicking the link and finding that it happened in my own backyard.

God Bless the South Shore of Nassau County, from Buttafucco to this lady, you never let me down!

Nassau Cops: PTA Mom, Boy Found Half Naked In Car
Police Come Across Fogged Up SUV On Elementary School Grounds In Baldwin; Residents Shocked, Horrified

Reporting
Jennifer McLogan BALDWIN, N.Y. (CBS) ―

A prominent PTA official is facing some serious allegations involving a teenage boy.

Police arrested (Redacted) after allegedly finding her in the backseat of a parked car with a 13-year-old boy on Friday night. Both of them, police said, were partially unclothed. (link)

I mean, come on...


Bad name, cute kid

Obviously the news loves this story, but this is one of those times where they should drop all objectivity. I'm all for the First Amendment, but you can't expect ShopRite to make this cake, and frankly I'm shocked that WalMart did.

The kid is adorable, though.

Supermarket defends itself over Adolf Hitler cake
Supermarket Refuses To Personalize Cake For Child Named ‘Adolf Hitler’

EASTON, Pa. (AP) - A supermarket is defending itself for refusing to a write out 3-year-old Adolf Hitler Campbell's name on his birthday cake. Deborah Campbell, 25, of nearby Hunterdon County, N.J., said she phoned in her order last week to the Greenwich ShopRite. When she told the bakery department she wanted her son's name spelled out, she was told to talk to a supervisor, who denied the request.

Karen Meleta, a ShopRite spokeswoman, said the store denied similar requests from the Campbells the last two years, including a request for a swastika.

As always,
With my Greatest Respect,
xOxO
Morgan

Morgan O'Brien's WIGO, College Edition

BCS News
I'm rooting for Florida this weekend, but I hope my man (and fellow Oct. birthday boy) John Parker Wilson does well. I'm trying to emulate his haircut...

In the Big XII, I have ties to Texas (as reported here) and think they're getting kind of screwed. I'd love to see Chase Daniel come up big and lead Mizzou to an upset.

Finally, Ohio State shouldn't be in a BCS bowl. Let Boise State play (at least they know how to win in the BCS)! Heck Boise should at least play Ball State--it's a shame that won't work out.

Awesome West Point stunt:


Go Army,Beat Navy

UNC Hates Jeeeeezuuz

As a Yankee down South, I quickly realized that my fervent Catholicism stood no match for the rapid Christianity wrought by residents of the Bible Belt. And for that, I can't imagine this new policy will last long:

UNC libraries to forgo Christmas trees
Chapel Hill library chief says staffers complained about the display.
By Eric Ferreri
Your vote has been counted, thank you for voting.

CHAPEL HILL For as long as anyone can remember, Christmas trees adorned with lights and ornaments have greeted holiday season visitors to UNC Chapel Hill's two main libraries.

Not this year.

The trees, which have stood in the lobby areas of Wilson and Davis libraries each December, were kept in storage this year at the behest of Sarah Michalak, the associate provost for university libraries.
more

That said, Christmas trees are not religious symbols--at least not Christian religious symbols--and it should be noted that Christmas is both a state and federal holiday.

Carolina's new chancellor and fellow Maui Invitational attendee Holden Thorpe chimed in, although not very convincingly:

I understand that the Library staff made the decision not to put up a Christmas tree this year after giving it a lot of thought. The university administration doesn’t get involved in decisions like that. Departments can choose to put up a tree or not. And if you take a walk across campus, I think you’ll see that. The façade of Memorial Hall, our major performing venue, is fully decorated for the holiday, and The Nutcracker is its major December attraction. Student Stores is like any retailer this time of year. They have a tree decorated with Carolina ornaments in the window and, in the store, there is a mantle decorated with Carolina stockings. The Student Activities Fund Office has a Christmas tree in its window. There’s a big Christmas wreath with a Carolina-blue ribbon on it in the Student Union. Our own Carolina Inn is again featuring its Twelve Days of Christmas displays throughout the hotel. And just as we have for the last 59 years, our Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is featuring The Star of Bethlehem.

So Christmas is recognized on this campus.

Thanks for your interest in Carolina, and have a joyous Christmas season.

Holden Thorp

Morgan O'Brien's WIGO 12.04.08

Doug Larsen with a photo of himself and Ronnie Winchester, left. Winchester, a Marine, was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Neat article in today's NY Times about two of my classmates.

For those who don't know me, I'm proud as hell of my alma mater, and think that being a Chaminade man means a whole hell of a lot--a point underscored when you recoginze how we answer our nation's call to service, and the unmatched commitment to our country. The Marianists mean so much to so many, and the values they consistently instill upon generations of young men is commendable.

When I caught the ND-Navy game a few weeks ago, it was hard to root against Navy, because you respect each and every one of the Middies, and the same would be true of West Point. I probably would root against USAFA.

I'll be watching Saturday:

In Army-Navy Game, Friends, Competitors and a Band of Brothers
Marc Steiner for The New York Times
In Army-Navy Game, Friends, Competitors and a Band of Brothers
OLD BRIDGE, N.J. — As Army renews its college football rivalry with Navy for the 109th time Saturday in Philadelphia, Doug Larsen’s mind will surely drift back to the game in 2000.

That was when he looked across the line of scrimmage and saw his friend Ronnie Winchester. They were like brothers, having met as freshmen at Chaminade High School, an all-boys Catholic school in Mineola, N.Y., on Long Island. But for a few hours on that day eight years ago in Baltimore, they were rivals, and loving every minute of it.

continued...

Great call on Bob Gates
Morganobrien.com supports president-elect Obama's choice of Bob Gates to stay on as SecDef. We're huge fans of Gates, and think it's a great move for our troops in the field.

During a busy week, Gates also found time to visit the megalopolis of Minot, N.D. Morganobrien.com's spies were not available to gather intel, but Time did a nice write-up:

Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had his famous rules, a written roster of commands about how to deal with Washington, including such pearls as "It is easier to get into something than to get out of it." Robert Gates — his successor in the Bush Administration and, as of this week, the Obama Administration — doesn't have a list of rules. Those who only see his serious pronouncements about the nation's wars might even get the impression that Gates doesn't have a personality.

But confidants say Gates can be a funny guy who specializes in punch line humor inspired by Bill Cosby, Sam Kinison and W.C. Fields. After leaving the CIA following a 26-year career, Gates spent more than a decade giving speeches and honing his delivery. On Monday, after being tapped by Barack Obama to continue managing the nation's two wars, Gates jetted to Minot, N.D., to become the first Defense Secretary ever to visit the airmen at the missile base there. "It's always great to be out of Washington, D.C. — the only city in the world where you can see a prominent person walking down lovers' lane holding his own hand," he quipped.

And while we're at it, we're huge fans of Gov. Richardson and appointing Gen. Jones as the NSA was a killer move, too. (As a matter of policy, morganobrien.com does not comment on our chains of command, unless they're in a good video with Jay-Z).


Farewell to Heroes
We lost two Doolittle Raiders this week (story here).

If I were more enterprising, I'd work on a piece about these American Heroes. Here's the Wikipedia entry for more information: (link)

Backhanded Compliment/Unfortunate Quote of the Week


Hey, Big Spender!
Former Air Force Secretary Verne Orr left us this week. I don't know much about Sec. Orr, nor could I say that I even knew who he was until I read the article.

I did find Sec. Donley's quote very interesting--let me know if I'm being hypersensitive:

"Former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr was a leader and a professional committed to the United States Air Force and our nation during a crucial period of change," said current Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "Although he served during a time of increased defense spending and modernization, (emphaisis mine) he will be remembered most for his deep commitment to our Airmen and their families. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one."

OK, I get it, we're trying to be responsible nowadays about defense spending, but why even mention that? I thought rule #1 in Air Force obituaries was to never use the word, 'Although' to begin a sentence.

You know, we did win the Cold War on the heels of his tenure, so one could argue that the spending was worthwhile...just sayin'

As always,
With my greatest respect,
xOxO
Morgan

Morgan O'Brien's WIGO 11.13.08

In recent weeks, the Air Force has announced some exciting programs available for line officers/senior captains. Not enough to make me wish I was back, but very cool opportunities nonetheless.

First is the opportunity to work as a defense attache:

Apply now to work in U.S. embassies overseas

Want to trade your CONUS base assignment for something a little more exotic? The Air Force has the job for you.

The Air Force Personnel Center announced Wednesday that the Air Force is accepting applications until Dec. 5 from senior captains, majors and lieutenant colonels to fill various defense attaché positions. Officers selected for attaché duty will begin training for advertised positions in January 2010.

Air Force Times

And I love that they're allowing non-rated officers (and potentially enlisted personnel) fly UAVs:

Air Force creates new pilot programs for drones
By LOLITA C. BALDOR – Oct 23, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — Scrambling to meet commanders' insatiable demands for unmanned aircraft, the Air Force is launching two new training programs, including an experimental one that would churn out up to 1,100 desperately needed pilots to fly the drones over Iraq and Afghanistan.

As many as 700 Air Force personnel have expressed some interest in the test program, which will create a new brand of pilot for the drones, which are flown by remote control from a base in Nevada. That new drone operator will learn the basics of flying a small manned plane, but will not go through the longer, more rigorous training that their fighter jet brethren receive.
AP

In some bothersome news, guess who gets hurt by the latest shenanigans at Kirtland...leadership? No.

The folks at the Shandiin Child Development Center? Well, there bottom line will be hurt.

But the true victims are the hardworking men and women trying to make ends meet who'll no longer be able to conveniently drop their kids off in the morning en route to work or PT. No, now it looks like now they'll have to spend time searching out alternate, and most likely less convenient, daycare options. Talk about life being unfair. Thanks to an irresponsible few, the hardworking men and women of Kirtland and Sandia will now have to pay (that's Chaminade alum Dick Knipfing at the anchor chair):

Childcare center on base may close
Center must find new government sponsor by Nov. 20
Last Edited: Wednesday, 12 Nov 2008, 10:58 AM MST
Reporter: Maria Medina
Web Producer: Todd Dukart
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (KRQE) - A childcare center on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque may close at the beginning of the year unless a government sponsor steps in soon.

The Shandiin Development Center's previous sponsor pulled out after base security said marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in the cars of three workers last month. KRQE

Finally, while I typically avoid nuke news for a variety of reasons, one line I read from an Albuquerque Journal article caught my eye as this week's unfortunate metaphor.

“I’m going to be the Wal-Mart for all nuclear weapons for the United States Air Force,” (Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Commander Brig. Gen Everett)Thomas said.

Unfortunately, I'd say he isn't far off the mark, considering some recent headlines...

5th Bomb Wing flunks nuclear inspection
Malmstrom missile wing fails nuke inspection
Malmstrom AFB officer charged with sexual assault

Hopefully Gen. Thomas is something of a turnaround specialist, because he's got his work cut out for him:



With my greatest respect,
Morgan

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 09.04.08

Military Blogging article from The Nation
Yet another reason to love Gen. Petraeus (and All-American fave, Bill Caldwell):

Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, who commanded the 82nd Airborne in Iraq, is calling for more soldier blogging. He argues that instead of blaming the media for negative war coverage, the military should "empower" soldiers to blog and interact directly with the public and the press--even if it leads to some critical stories. In a recent blog entry for Small Wars Journal, Caldwell noted that the military takes many risks on the battlefield but becomes risk averse in "the informational domain." Meanwhile, one of the most prominent military leaders, Gen. David Petraeus, has plunged into the blogosphere from Baghdad to the Beltway. Last year, he e-mailed the popular conservative blog Blackfive to publicly thank "milbloggers" for "accurate" reporting on "the situation on the ground" in Iraq, while crediting them for following "legitimate operational security guidelines."

I'm a huge proponent of the power of information. As I look to learn more about the Foreign Service, I've often searched blogs written by junior FSOs looking for information on the exam process and A-100. I think that the military would do well to promote this type of information exchange among troops looking to enlist and those preparing to deploy. Likewise, as I wrote a few months ago, part of this blog's mission is to hold our military leadership accountable during this period of tremendous importance.

It seems like those self-assurred leaders with the least to fear--heroes like Caldwell and Petraeus-- are the biggest proponents of this openness. Meanwhile, those that earned their rank through less-than-heroic circumstances hit this site, well, we'll continue to keep an eye on you.

This headline needs a play on X-Files or something hacky like that
Thoughts and prayers are going out to Fox Mulder himself, David Duchovny, as he battles addiction. I thought this fantastic Newsweek article explained the fascinating concept and realities of sex addiction rather well.

New 2008 NFL Rules
As the NFL season kicks off tonight, I am using this as a shameless opportunity to nab some hits. New rules for the 2008 NFL season include:

A communication device is now allowed in the helmet of one defensive player.

Teams that win the coin toss can now defer until the second half.

Unless literally carried out by a defensive player, receivers must land with two feet inbounds for a completion.

The five-yard face mask penalty for incidental contact with the facemask was eliminated. Any twisting, grabbing or illegal use of a facemask will result in a 15-yard penalty.

and finally...

Jack Link's Beef Jerky has some funny f'ing commercials





With my greatest respect,
Morgan