Military
[Originally posted over at Ace of Spades] Those who “abjure” violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf. — George Orwell, Notes on Nationalism This film has gotten a fair amount of ‘net publicity — though probably not nearly enough regular marketing — because of its fundamental concept: film a [...]
Continue reading about “Act of Valor”: a brief review, w/spoilers
I know I haven’t been posting much lately — I haven’t had a lot to say. But today, on Memorial Day, I want to repost the eulogy I gave for my father when we scattered his ashes out at sea in June 1997. My father’s life spanned three-fourths of this [the 20th] century and was, [...]
Honestly: our defense spending is high. We’re still embroiled in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and while we’re withdrawing from Iraq, it really is unclear (President Obama’s various pronouncements notwithstanding) when and under what circumstances we’ll actually leave. So, yes, if we weren’t spending the money we’re spending on defense, we’d have a lower deficit. Maybe. [...]
I could do without the music and intense narration, but I post this in memory of my late father, John A. Webster, who was there at Pearl Harbor as a 17-year-old seaman first class aboard the USS San Francisco. If you click through on the video to YouTube, there are additional segments. Hat tip to [...]
Here is our annual Veterans Day post listing the vets in our respective families: ============= Bruce Webster: CPL Darren Green, USMC (active) — just returned from a tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan; currently stationed in Hawaii (and newly married) CPL Jon A. Webster, USMC (reserves) — served in al Rutbah, Iraq; now going to school [son] [...]
I have been watching with growing levels of delight as a community of amateur satellite hunters have been tracking one of our nation’s newest space platforms, known as the X-37B. In this age of internet pundits seeking real time vainglory for themselves, there is rampant speculation what this thing is for, with frequent references to [...]
Continue reading about NRO’s X-37B UAV Shuttle Stumps Astronomers
The world is a dangerous place, and today that danger went up a notch. Our erstwhile allies, the Russians, have decided to lease a powerful Akula / Project 971 nuclear powered attack submarine to India for an extended period of time. India has been working steadily towards a home grown (and at some point for [...]
Tonight in an address to the nation from the US Military Academy at West Point, NY, the President finally disclosed his long suffering decision on General McChrystal’s troop surge for Afghanistan. The theatrics surrounding this decision have at times bordered on comical, and at long last the president has committed to supplying most of the [...]
I’ve been running around since early this morning and didn’t get a chance to put up our annual Veterans Day post listing the vets in our respective families. Here it is. ============= Bruce Webster: CPL Darren Green, USMC (active) — just returned from a tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan (see photo above) [nephew] CPL Jon A. [...]
I’ve got a nephew (CPL Darren Green, USMC) who’s just coming back from Afghanistan (Helmand Province, no less). I’m very thankful he wasn’t one of the ones that Pres. Obama met at midnight at Dover AFB, and that my sister, brother-in-law, and niece didn’t have to travel there to meet him as well. While (like [...]