A few notes. I will be attending AFCEA/USNI WEST 2011 next week and hope to refresh on several topics. It has been nice not blogging much this week, I've been reading some books and doing quite a bit of research on some topics I hope to expand my knowledge of next week - specifically reviewing the budget of the last few years for the Marine Corps.
Last year while I was at WEST 2010 the QDR was released. This year, the State of the Union? Joy? Na, probably wine or beer instead. With panel discussions about budgets, unmanned systems, cyber warfare, and Air-Sea Battle - I'm thinking I will have a lot to talk about as these are subjects that matter a great deal to me.
As usual, you can reach me email, Facebook, Twitter, txt, phone, etc. I even respond, most of the time.
One of the books I read recently is Red Star over the Pacific: China's Rise and the Challenge to U.S. Maritime Strategy by Toshi Yoshihara and James R. Holmes. I note this because both authors will be guests on Midrats Sunday evening.
A few thoughts on the book... It has a very academic flavor. That is a style criticism to some, but I don't mind that style so I was good with it. I tend to take a lot of notes when reading books written in academic style, and in this book in particular I went through a bunch of page notes and post-its. To each their own, but I find the book has been a useful resource for reviewing specific topics, particularly when comparing with news and other analysis.
Yes, I was thoroughly embarrassed by my performance on Midrats a few weeks ago. I am one who likes to think about what I say/write before I say/write it, and the interview thing is not something I am very good at - clearly. The first question asked on that episode, apparently specifically given to CDR Salamander by Admiral Stavridis, is one I intend to blog about very soon.
"What is the next big thing in maritime operations?"
It is a great question, and after thinking about what the question is asking, I think I have a more interesting answer than the one I gave.
Finally, there is an article by Seth Cropsey that was included in the Wednesday edition of CLIPS titled Anchors Away: American Sea Power in Dry Dock published in World Affairs, Volume 173, Number 5 / January-February 2011. The only thing I can think of that is worse than denying Seth Cropsey potential revenue from people not purchasing that article is the fact that so few people will ultimately read the article because of where it was published and the cost associated with reading it. It is a fantastic and brilliant article. I might quibble over the wording, but not the meaning, of maybe 2 sentences in the entire 3500 word piece.
After years of putting Loren Thompson in every single House Armed Services Committee, Seapower Subcommittee hearing where Lockheed Martin and other defense company clients of Loren Thompson got more of voice than the American people on Naval issues - can someone in the new House leadership please invite folks like Seth Cropsey instead? That guys ideas need to find a microphone. If you need a list of new names with new ideas, I got lists for both Republicans and Democrats, and given an opportunity these people won't disappoint while filling the heads of new House members with all kinds of smart things to say in public in front of the media.
I'm not a Loren Thompson hater, actually I appreciate that he will give an opinion to the press, but when a panel is CBO, CRS, and defense lobbyist like Loren Thompson ultimately you end up with a panel of government and industry lobbyists advising government leaders who are lobbied primarily by government (DoD) and industry. In a YouTube era of contested elections, that's a situation just begging to make someone look really stupid to voters.
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