Headlines That Caught My Eye

The New American Way of War (Slate)
Slate gives an overview of the headlines.  Since I read it and liked it, I'm linking it first.

In a nutshell: War is all about Special Operations and the Navy going forward.

Pentagon Plans to Shrink Army to Pre-World War II Level (NY Times)
Read the Times to get the facts.

Chuck Hagel details Pentagon budget cuts (Politico)
Read Politico for proof that it's all about politics and not about the defense of our nation.  That should not come as a surprise to anyone.

After reading through all of that, one kind of gets the feeling that the Administration would like to make it functionally impossible for the US to wage another offensive ground war, while at the same time sticking it to folks that the party in power generally doesn't like, i.e. service men and women.  And the sad fact is that they will almost certainly get away with it because as a matter of reality, the military doesn't have many allies in Congress any more.  Sure, various Congressmen would like to protect whatever pork-barrel projects exist in their own districts, but as far as fighting and winning our nation's wars is concerned, it's pretty much the same old shit they've been feeding us since I was a cadet--the Air Force can do it with air power (or drones), and besides, that's better than putting actual people on the ground.

Unfortunately, that theory has been disproven every time it's been put to the test, but this is the same government that for the past fifteen years couldn't choose between guns or butter but instead wanted both.  And now we can't afford either.

***
Finally:
Detroit's bankruptcy: Revenge of the 99% (The Economist)
It's becoming a challenge in America to stick it to anyone besides the littlest guy who can get it.  But Detriot is trying to hurt the bankers, too.  Oughtta be interesting to see how that one comes out.


Am I the only one who is incredibly cynical today?

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