Politics

[Tanks]

...

It's not about the whataboutism... It's because of the constant double-standard applied to Trump with everything...

I am not applying a double standard per se. Both candidates running were morally corrupt. People seem to overlook it nowadays when it is "their" person.

 

[Red Leg]

No wonder they don’t have any pistol ammunition, they don’t need it.

It is also a rare young enlisted man who would be issued with a pistol. Virtually all junior enlisted soldiers are carrying an M4 variant.

 

[cwpayton]

Looks like we have another big industrial fire in " you guessed it" CALIFORNIA". Seems a huge battery storage facility in Monterey cty. has exploded into a horrific toxic maelstrom. these were storage for the GREEN ,SAFE, nontoxic solar system they have installed. Where's x mayor Eastwood when you need him.
Ive nothing against solar in smaller scaled applicable situations, I run on solar on my ranch, but they cannot suffice in all situations, coal fired or nuclear power is a far better option.

 

[Hunt anything]

It is also a rare young enlisted man who would be issued with a pistol. Virtually all junior enlisted soldiers are carrying an M4 variant.

Do junior officers undergoing airborne training go through the course with enlisted personnel?

 

[Tanks]

Looks like we have another big industrial fire in " you guessed it" CALIFORNIA". Seems a huge battery storage facility in Monterey cty. has exploded into a horrific toxic maelstrom. ..Where's x mayor Eastwood when you need him.
...

Eastwood was mayor of Carmel, not Monterey.

 

[mdwest]

Do junior officers undergoing airborne training go through the course with enlisted personnel?

Yes. The airborne course is a combination of enlisted and officers (as well as cadets from ROTC and West Point), men and women.. and most classes will have a handful of folks from other branches of service as well..

For example when I attended the USMC had just graduated an ANGLICO class and the USN had just graduated a BUD/s class.. so my particular airborne course had a lot of Marines and Sailors in it.. it was also a December course, so we had a significant number of USMA cadets attending over their Christmas break…

 

[Goopy]

…and after they complete these short term classes, they then embark on their real dream- to become Naval Aviators!

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Pro-Stacey Abrams groups fined $300,000 after admitting they broke Georgia campaign finance law

Two Georgia voter advocacy groups founded by Democrat Stacey Abrams and led by Raphael Warnock before he was elected to the U.S.

apnews.com

 

[SFRanger7GP]

The "woke military" is an interesting topic. All militaries, (in my experience) are a snap shot of the society and country they are serving. Unfortunately there are not warehouses in some secret bunker with an endless supply of super soldiers/marines/airmen/seamen/Naval Aviators, SeALs, etc. Whatever issues good and bad the country has, they will be inside the military as well. As a leader, you train and lead whatever you have assigned to you. To quote one of my great friends and mentors, "With good leadership, the only difference between the girl scouts and SpecOps is the mission and the budget." I was fortunate to serve in units that were shielded from most of the conventional BS, but that also has its own special set of challenges and problems. I am sure a few of my former leaders would say I was one of those problems and challenges.

Having said all of that, I will end this with the timeless Greybeard motivational BS that gets passed on since militaries existed......................
I went to the last hard: Infantry school/Jump school/Ranger school/BAT/The Division/SFAS/Q-Course/etc. Everyone after me was weak and only made it because they lowered the standards and had a quota!!

It's Friday. Everyone pour themselves a cocktail and relax.

Safe travels

 

[cwpayton]

Eastwood was mayor of Carmel, not Monterey.

You are absolutely right and I was wrong , thanks for correction.

 

[Doubleplay]

Do junior officers undergoing airborne training go through the course with enlisted personnel?

Yes they do. My son went trough airborne with all the enlisted when was an USMC first Lieutenant,

 

[Datchew]

Interesting that whenever one points out something in regard to Trump et al. the defense seems to be "What about the other guys?".

What happened to doing better?

The irony of this is staggering on so many levels.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Eastwood was mayor of Carmel, not Monterey.

The two towns run hard up against each other. Not much difference between. Even people who live in other parts of Central/Nor Cal often refer to the area as Monterey. Picking nits not really all that necessary.

 

[Tanks]

The two towns run hard up against each other. Not much difference between. Even people who live in other parts of Central/Nor Cal often refer to the area as Monterey. Picking nits not really all that necessary.

Less distance between Newport Beach and Santa Ana and a huge difference in demographics. No one in Carmel would want to be known as living in Monterrey. I have spent plenty of time there. Used to be a perfect spot for weekend getaways back in the day.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

 

[spike.t]

*Is Zimbabwe’s War of Liberation One Of The Biggest Frauds In Human History ?*

*_by Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi_*

The Zimbabwe War of Liberation is often heralded as a noble struggle against colonial oppression, yet many now argue that it represents one of the biggest frauds in human history. The irony of it all is striking, the very nation that Zimbabweans fought against, the United Kingdom, has become home to over four million of those who fled the post-colonial regime. This phenomenon raises questions about the legitimacy of the liberation movement and the motives of our leaders.

At the heart of the liberation narrative are figures like Robert Mugabe, who promised to free the masses from the grip of colonial rule. However, the decades following independence in 1980 have revealed a troubling reality. The so-called freedom fighters, rather than uplifting the people, have entrenched themselves in power, exhibiting many of the same traits as their colonial predecessors. The ruling elite now live lavish lifestyles, while ordinary Zimbabweans grapple with poverty, unemployment and political repression.

This stark contrast is perhaps best illustrated by the migration patterns of Zimbabweans. Many have sought refuge in the UK, where they often find better opportunities and a semblance of stability. Ironically, the children and grandchildren of these so-called liberators now hold British passports, a symbol of their paradoxical existence. They have escaped the very oppression their forebears claimed to have fought against, yet they continue to profess a commitment to the ideals of liberation.

Now the question arises, how can these leaders, who have benefited from their positions of power, justify their actions while insulting those who dissent? The rhetoric of liberation has been co-opted to silence criticism, with dissenters often vilified as traitors or enemies of the state, specifically mutengesi. This has created a climate of fear and repression, where the masses are left feeling betrayed by the very people they once trusted to lead them to freedom.

Furthermore, the economic situation in Zimbabwe has deteriorated dramatically, with hyperinflation and widespread corruption becoming the norm. The once-promising nation has descended into chaos, leading many to conclude that the liberation struggle was not a genuine fight for freedom, but rather a power grab by a new elite. The leaders who once wielded the banner of liberation have turned into oppressors, using their positions to enrich themselves while the majority suffer.

The complexities of identity and belonging complicate the narrative further. Zimbabweans in the UK often grapple with their dual identity, as descendants of freedom fighters and as individuals who have sought refuge from an oppressive regime. This duality raises uncomfortable questions about loyalty and the true meaning of liberation. If the liberators have become the oppressors, what does that say about the ideals they professed to uphold?

The legacy of the Zimbabwe War of Liberation is fraught with contradictions. What was once seen as a monumental victory against colonialism has devolved into a situation that many view as a betrayal. The migration of Zimbabweans to the UK underscores the failure of the liberation movement to deliver on its promises. What will the future generations SAY?

*Pindula*

 

[Altitude sickness]

SFRanger
“To quote one of my great friends and mentors, "With good leadership, the only difference between the girl scouts and SpecOps is the mission and the budget." “



a little friendly needling from a Navy guy.

We would say your mentor was probably correct with regards to the Army

Seriously though, I agree the military has always been just a microcosm of society.

 

[Dirtdart]

Do junior officers undergoing airborne training go through the course with enlisted personnel?

I was Army enlisted but my "Stick Leader" was a USMC 1st LT. He was an impressive leader that took every opportunity educate/train his subordinates.

There are many that complete jump school and go back to what ever unit and that is the end of it. We call them a "Five Jump Chump".

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Eastwood was mayor of Carmel, not Monterey.

@Tanks to receive full credit and be awarded any points, isn't the correct answer, Carmel-by-the-sea? I guess this name was chosen to avoid confusion with all the other Carmels, not by the sea.

 

[Tanks]

@Tanks to receive full credit and be awarded any points, isn't the correct answer, Carmel-by-the-sea? I guess this name was chosen to avoid confusion with all the other Carmels, not by the sea.

Correct. Though in CA when one says Carmel, that is understood. Beautiful place though if you ever get there in the summer make sure you bring a sweatshirt for use at the beach. It can be deceiving as there is a really, really cold breeze at the beach.

I used to love the Highlands Inn with wood burning fireplace and a huge jacuzzi in their spa suites, with great ocean view. Lots of memories with a number of companions. Then, Hyatt bought the place and screwed it up. Haven’t been back since then.