https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/20/james-mattis-will-retire-as-secretary-of-defense-in-february-trump-says.html
Reminds me how Adolf got rid of generals, like Beck, who were willing to argue with him.
Sycophants to the fore.
:o
Political commentary aside, this is.... actually, I guess it isn't too unexpected? Aside from the volatility at Trumpcourt, he has signaled a lot of intention to draw back hard on deployed forces. Mattis might not approve, or care to manage forces in that situation.
I had seen Mattis' name in lists of administration figures expected to step down soon, but the timing was certainly clear
I'm impressed he hung in there as long as he did.
Quote from: besilarius on December 20, 2018, 07:10:15 PM
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/20/james-mattis-will-retire-as-secretary-of-defense-in-february-trump-says.html
Reminds me how Adolf got rid of generals, like Beck, who were willing to argue with him.
Interesting. How did that story end >:D ?
Very sorry to hear this, Mattis is a great leader and patriot. I don't think this portends well for US Foreign Policy.
I think Mattis was good. He had a clear vision of how we should treat our allies and our adversaries, and he was decisive. That was very refreshing.
I think the shift from asymmetrical warfare back to emphasizing our near peers (Russia and China) was also the right thing.
From my view inside the building working on major acquisition programs, he and his administration have had less of an effect. I've been doing this for three decades now, and every time a new administration comes in, there are some small changes, but mostly it's business as usual with different buzzwords. Mattis did coin the term "lethality at the speed of relevance." (I think I had to put that in my performance plan #:-) ) Concurrently, there's been a shift to rapid acquisition; from my perspective, the acquisition programs are just using this to bypass scrutiny, regulations, and oversight, but we're still not acquiring anything faster.
That must be some performance plan.
Quote from: Gusington on December 21, 2018, 01:08:37 PM
That must be some performance plan.
Better than mine which is "Fail Faster"
Next year when the new SecDef is in place, I'll have to update my plan with a new set of buzzwords that I can pretend to think are inspirational.
We put the anal in analyst?
"SURVIVE HARDER!" (trademark registered) >:D
"high velocity" anything is a sure winner.
hollow shaped would be my input
make loiter with intent great again! :bd:
It seems an angry Trump is sending Mattis home early.... https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/23/us/politics/trump-mattis.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/23/us/politics/trump-mattis.html)
Yeah, that's bad. Sounds like a case of "you can't quit -- you're fired!"
I'm not sure about Shanahan as acting SecDef. He spent his career at Boeing. He was a reasonable choice as DepSecDef to handle the acquisition side, but I'm not sure about SecDef. They need to find a replacement ASAP.
^Careful, you're probably next on the list.
Trailrunner for SECDEF!
Second that! O0
Man, y'all must really really hate Trailrunner, to wish him SecDef in this administration... :o :D
Note he has not returned to this thread...coincidence?
I don't think Trailrunner could possibly kiss enough ass to be considered for the position. Lack of said posterior puckering seems to be a Secretary killer in this administration.
If selected for the position, my first priority would be to reform the food court in the Pentagon. The coffee rolls that Dunkin' Donuts serves there are smaller than at other DDs, yet they charge the same price. I'd also suggest in the strongest terms possible that the Au Bon Pain in the courtyard bring back the pecan rolls.
Oh yeah - I'd also give free rent to anyone that wants to open a game store in the concourse.
Ok, skip SecDef.....how about you run for President? 8) ;D O0
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 24, 2018, 08:01:45 PM
Ok, skip SecDef.....how about you run for President? 8) ;D O0
In that case, I would need some volunteers for key cabinet positions, such as Minister of Scotch and Cigars. And think of the monster wargames we could set up in the Oval Office!
Quote from: trailrunner on December 24, 2018, 08:17:19 PM
And think of the monster wargames we could set up in the Oval Office!
Yeah, uhhhh.....I'm kinda worried that's happening now :o
Mattis won't be out of a job long. Perfect fit for Head Coach for the Packers. :clap:
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 24, 2018, 09:32:50 PM
Quote from: trailrunner on December 24, 2018, 08:17:19 PM
And think of the monster wargames we could set up in the Oval Office!
Yeah, uhhhh.....I'm kinda worried that's happening now :o
I suspect that Civ 6 is being used right now to set our foreign policy. I can't wait till the Mayans bomb Pearl Harbor
Civ VI is way...you know what, never mind :/
Quote from: Con on December 24, 2018, 11:16:35 PM
I can't wait till the Mayans bomb Pearl Harbor
I thought that was the
Germans?!
in todays political climate Panama could bomb a boat dock on the west coast of Floriduh and we would invade Sri Lanka.....
TrailRunner, is the Crystal City Restaurant still open, right near the corner of 23rd Ave a block or two off the Highway? I used to walk by that place on the way home from work every day, must have bought 2,000 Gorditos at the 7-11 right next door. Only went into the Crystal City Restaurant once, as I couldn't afford the cover charge, but the Gorditos next door were cheap...
Whatever your partisan beliefs or opinion of Mattis, the current level of administrative churn at top positions should be a source of concern for folks on any side of the aisle.
It's my understanding that Mattis resigned after Trump announced we were withdrawing all advisors and staff from the Kurdish autonomous regions. They've been about the only consistent allies we've had in the region these last 17 years. I think that was the straw that broke Mattis' back.
Quote from: FarAway Sooner on December 26, 2018, 02:43:45 AM
TrailRunner, is the Crystal City Restaurant still open, right near the corner of 23rd Ave a block or two off the Highway? I used to walk by that place on the way home from work every day, must have bought 2,000 Gorditos at the 7-11 right next door. Only went into the Crystal City Restaurant once, as I couldn't afford the cover charge, but the Gorditos next door were cheap...
If you mean the gentleman's club, as far as I know it's still there. When I'm in that part of Crystal City I rarely go on the that side of Route 1, so I don't know for sure.
Quote from: FarAway Sooner on December 26, 2018, 02:43:45 AM
TrailRunner, is the Crystal City Restaurant still open, right near the corner of 23rd Ave a block or two off the Highway? I used to walk by that place on the way home from work every day, must have bought 2,000 Gorditos at the 7-11 right next door. Only went into the Crystal City Restaurant once, as I couldn't afford the cover charge, but the Gorditos next door were cheap...
Whatever your partisan beliefs, I don't see how any right-thinking American can defend the current Shitshow of a White House administration we are displaying. Political satire has been lost as an art form because nobody could dare to think up stuff as brazen as our daily news briefings.
This is a dude who attacked Gold Star families for political gain. This is a guy who made fun of prisoners of war for being captured.
It's my understanding that Mattis resigned after Trump announced we were withdrawing all advisors and staff from the Kurdish autonomous regions. They've been about the only consistent allies we've had in the region these last 17 years. I think that was the straw that broke Mattis' back.
This is coming dangerously close to approaching R&P territory. We closed that forum down for a reason. If political issues are going to be discussed, I ask that they remain non-partisan and focused on news, rather than opinion or spin. We will continue to permit discussions regarding current political events so long as they are in some strategic, military, security and/or historic context.
Thank you.
Edited: whoops, sorry, thought I was in the Syria Withdrawal strategy thread. Too early here to think straight.
Sorry, guys, I lost my head on that first post of mine. I started out typing a witty follow-up to Starfury's comment about the U.S. invading Sri Lanka, and then kind of lost track. It's been a while since I've practiced my "current events" forum etiquette.
Yeah, TrailRunner, I hated that strip club. Made parking near my house MUCH harder, since it only had about 8 parking spots and the overflow just sprawled into the streets. I lived just a block down the street from Highway 1.
Quote from: FarAway Sooner on December 26, 2018, 10:59:47 AM
Sorry, guys, I lost my head on that first post of mine. I started out typing a witty follow-up to Starfury's comment about the U.S. invading Sri Lanka, and then kind of lost track. It's been a while since I've practiced my "current events" forum etiquette.
Yeah, TrailRunner, I hated that strip club. Made parking near my house MUCH harder, since it only had about 8 parking spots and the overflow just sprawled into the streets. I lived just a block down the street from Highway 1.
No problem, brotha'. Just a friendly reminder to all.
We really want to make a concerted effort to avoid upsetting, or annoying anyone over hot button, emotional topics. We'll see how long the experiment lasts. lol
Quote from: trailrunner on December 21, 2018, 12:53:26 PMConcurrently, there's been a shift to rapid acquisition; from my perspective, the acquisition programs are just using this to bypass scrutiny, regulations, and oversight, but we're still not acquiring anything faster.
The Corps stood up a 'Rapid Capabilities Office' (RCO) last year to run an $7.3 mil acquisition for the Tactical Decision Kits (TDK). They took funds from different programs, on paper it looked good but the RCO excluded the requirements & acquisition people from the buy. All 24 Infantry Battalions got the TDK within 8 months of the RCO standing up. There was no sustainment worked into the acquisition........ now the requirements & acquisition people are trying to get this into a program of record but it is proving to be a tough hurdle.
One thing that will probably go away is Sec Mattis' Close Combat Lethality project. This is looking promising but I don't see the next Sec Def picking up this effort and expanding it.
^ Smuck: Is that monkey picture from Gibraltar? It certainly reminds me of what I saw there.
Quote from: airboy on January 05, 2019, 10:50:07 AM
^ Smuck: Is that monkey picture from Gibraltar? It certainly reminds me of what I saw there.
Yes, it is from Gibraltar, good memory.
Is that the monkey that throws stuff at ships passing through the straight?
Quote from: Ubercat on January 05, 2019, 05:06:05 PM
Is that the monkey that throws stuff at ships passing through the straight?
No, this monkey makes sure that the fish & chips in Gibraltar never reach the high standards of the fish & chips in the UK.
He does that by throwing stuff.
Very specific stuff.
So that's not Gulden's mustard on the chips?
Must be Poupon then.