America negotiated with terrorists to secure the release of a soldier* who, based on the facts available as of this posting, is likely a deserter. Not only did America break one of its most rigid rules to secure this soldier’s … Continue reading →
Island Dweller has some thoughts on the Czar’s mercurial rant on Korea: Most esteemed Czar A close examination of the photo of that poor man on that lonely Korean hilltop will disclose some deep slash wounds on the palm of … Continue reading →
A side-note from another topic prompted the Retired Spook to write this on a cinder block that was chucked through the window and hit Sleestak square in the chest, as if it had been precisely timed and aimed. Retired Spook … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes in with a thought or two: Most esteemed ruler of the Midwestern Icebox: You know who else had a program of mandatory national service? No? This one sort of got away on us. When something like this … Continue reading →
And it wouldn’t be Thursday without Island Dweller spotting something to tick us off. He brings up the subject of former Defense Secretary Gates: Most illustrious, dread, awful, and so on – Your slightly chilled minion here in the hinterlands … Continue reading →
The Czar knows how smart you readers are, and will not hesitate to get you talking smart stuff with one another. For example, the Czar got a great letter from Island Dweller (and who doesn’t?) as follows: Oh Sultan of … Continue reading →
Island Dweller revisits us but brings a new topic, a well-groomed cocker spaniel, and a rare eight-pack of Zima. Does he know how to visit the Castle, or what? O Most Supreme Ruler: I have received a missive from Esteemed … Continue reading →
Could the Czar be any happier than to have not one but two highly respected epistolarians offer sweet prose on different topics, each of which deserves a response. First, in order of arrival, is Borepatch, who delights us with a … Continue reading →
Yeah, pretty much everything stops when LTC(R) Dan writes in. The Gormogons, as you well know, enjoy considerable military acquaintanceship, but we probably all give pause when LTC Dan writes in because, as you know, he is as smart as … Continue reading →
There was, back in the early days of the Tea Party, a movement afoot to make incoming Congressional freshman take a half-day seminar on the Constitution. This is probably a very good idea, given how many idiotic comments members of … Continue reading →
’Puter, You’re attributing too much foresight to Mr. D.P.A. McManus. The “Arabs” in “Oliver’s Army” are not the lumpen Muslims you talk about. The vast majority of that group have always been Subcontinental, the “blacks” or “Pakis” of the unlovely … Continue reading →
This is almost exactly ‘Puter’s beloved2001 Nissan Pathfinder, which really hasvery little to do with the point of this post. ‘Puter’s not a car guy. It’s not that ‘Puter doesn’t like cars, it’s just that he’s not the type that … Continue reading →
GorT generally despises “reality TV” – it’s akin to texting in that it is a cheap way for networks to earn money by airing low budget content (and therefore low-value content) and rake in the advertising money (texting for those … Continue reading →
One of the best comments about Ron Paul was sent to us some time ago by Bluesun, who forwarded us a comment that Ron Paul was a broken clock who was right 23 hours a day. The Ron Paul clock … Continue reading →
First, let us be perfectly in sync: the entire idea of women serving in active combat roles is a distraction, pure and simple, by the Obama administration. Second, like most of these awesome, super-cool ideas by the Obama administration, this … Continue reading →
Alert and poised-for-instant-Kung Fu-action operative MS writes in: Your most illustrious majesty: I watched only the first 10 minutes or so of last night’s debate before I was able to discern its rough course: Dear Leader: “This nation/me (priority frequently … Continue reading →
GorT has a number of favorite genres for fiction which include mysteries (particularly British characters such as P.D. James’ Adam Dalgliesh series, Sarah Caudwell’s Hilary Tamar series and Deborah Crombie’s Kincaid/James series, but also some other sub-genres), British naval historical … Continue reading →
GorT, and many others before him have discussed the ‘Cass Sunstein’ method of government nudging individuals to behave in the manner that they see fit. Given the strong resistance to Obamacare, Dr. J. hopes to see a ramp up in … Continue reading →
Much hoodoo is hitting the newswire that the Pentagon is relaxing restraints on combat roles that could potentially allow up to 10,000 women to serve in more front-line and special forces missions. This is a canard, and has been a … Continue reading →
Do we not have super-smart readers? Check out this important course correction from Operative B2. Oh Dread Lord of the Castle Gormogon,Exalted knower of many things, Permit me to make a slight correction to your description of the chain of … Continue reading →
The Czar has trouble following the right-wing and left-wing media’s competing narratives about President Obama’s (over-)reliance on drone attacks. The left is worried he is getting too bloodthirsty. The right has a dual message: first, this was actually a Bush … Continue reading →
This is a little late for Veterans’s Day, but the Czar’s dad sent this to him a while ago and he just got around to it. Anyway, he and the Czar defy you to be unimpressed with this WV salute … Continue reading →
A happy Thanksgiving and a hearty thank you to our servicemen and women! OWS folk, Dr. J.’s got nuttin’ for ya. Dr. J.
Continue reading →One of your Mandarin’s orbital satellites intercepted the follow message: O Fearsome and Fashionable Mandarin, I read Confucius’s article about the informal Presidential preference poll. When I read that you had created the T.E.D. and were trying to sell it, … Continue reading →
MH, whose loyalty will surely see him as sole ruler of the Canadianan provinces, brings you news that you just do not get here in the US. And indeed, this is a story the Czar knew nothing about. See why … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, Gormogon Operative BG writes in on a stack of $2 bills regarding the Debt Ceiling: Illustrious Gormogons – There’s something I don’t understand about this “one dollar of spending reductions for one dollar of debt ceiling hike” business. … Continue reading →
This list barely scratches the surface: The Internet Spread spectrum wireless communications Digital photography GPS Forward-looking infrared Zodiac boats Night-vision cameras Telemedicine Velcro RADAR Heads-up displays Data encryption Nuclear reactors SONAR Flat panel displays Robotic prosthetics Indeed, this list is … Continue reading →
Sixty seven years ago at 0630 British Double Summer Time (GMT+2), the largest amphibious assualt began when over 155,000 Allied troops began to storm a 50-mile stretch of the beaches of Normandy, France (Utah and Omaha began at 0630 and Sword … Continue reading →
If there’s one good thing about ‘Puter, it’s that he’s fair enough to call out shenanigans on the Right. If there’s two good things about ‘Puter, it would be news to us. More to the first point, we want our … Continue reading →
Well, the Czar’s okhrana was able to obtain mission pictures that neither the Press nor the White House want to show you. Here they are, along with the comments we received. So like, here’s the guys on the team just … Continue reading →
He finally did. President Obama, during his El Salvador junket: And that’s why building this international coalition has been so important, because it means that the United States is not bearing all the cost. It means that we have confidence … Continue reading →
Over yonder on the Twitter tree, AgStateSense tweets: CZ: Re Bracket Obama, Eisenhower (I believe) once said that in battle, plans are useless. But planning is essential. For those of who do not do the tweet, allow us to translate … Continue reading →
Things are different today, I hear every sergeant say. Operative MC sends a cipher on the back of a Bazooka Joe comic concerning this article in yesterday’s USA Today (America’s high school paper of record). The article concerns the overprescription … Continue reading →
(You’d know that that means, had you clicked through on my last post…) Pictures! Pictures! And a little bit on the less-sexy but maybe more-important DF-21D. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →China’s military: “Paper tiger or real?” You know what Confucius thinks… Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →In answer to Dr. J’s question, while the Volgi isn’t strapping on the leather and garters like ’Puter, nor can he rouse himself to great indignation about the repeal. He has two observations, though. First, it’s curious how DADT quickly … Continue reading →
ERC responds to DT’s letter about California. Your link to Dr. Hanson’s article was a real downer. I’m a second generation Californian in my mid sixties. “I’ve seen California destroyed by Progress.“ I’m one of those 20-to-100-acre orchardists: used to … Continue reading →
And filled with seamen? Why, the HMS Gay Viking of course! With her World War II record of service, the Gay Viking may be the first openly homosexual participant in a major Western military since those flaming Spartans and Athenians … Continue reading →
Well, you can always count on EC to read one of our essays, no matter how long or tangental it gets. And he always writes in substantively: Your Czarness: Your thoughts on gays in the military are, naturally, profound and … Continue reading →
The Czar has not picked up on the subject of gays in the military, so we should probably say something about it. Here it is: there are gays in the military. They are already there. But what a weird thing … Continue reading →
Happy Veterans Day to the men and women of our Armed Forces. Thank you to those of you who have served our country, and especially to the families of those who died in service to us. If you see a … Continue reading →
Volgi, Your post on China’s naval buildup merely confirms what you predicted back in April. Once again, you were right. What bothers the Czar about this story is the comment that a Chinese fishing vessel somehow collided with not one … Continue reading →
‘Puter just sent Sleestak over to the Czar’s library to tell him that preparations for his upcoming back surgery are taking up too much of his drinking time, and would the Czar be able to write up an official Gormogon … Continue reading →
‘Puter will have more on this later. However, this post from Fred Lapides at GoodShit* may be the last word on the topic. You must read it. Now. ‘Puter bows before the master. *This link is SFW. The rest of … Continue reading →
China has made no secret of their desire to knock us out of their rightful sphere of influence. Read this outstanding article by Dan Blumenthal — China’s staggering boost in military hardware and technology isn’t gear that’s limited to a … Continue reading →
Maybe not all, but there seems to be enough anecdotal evidence to warrant some sort of investigation or regularization of their status relative to the Armed Forces. Doubtless there are some bad guys in there, but for those who aren’t? … Continue reading →
While your Mandarin was perusing the web over breakfast this morning, I happened across this interesting article on FoxNews.com. Now I am no expert in international treaties on the conduct of war and the treatment of wounded and dead soldiers, … Continue reading →
Back to uncontroversial topics, like gays in the military. The Gormogons are split on the topic of integrating openly gay servicemen into the armed forces, and good arguments exist on both sides of the issue. ‘Puter advocates for inclusion. At … Continue reading →
God, we love ‘Puter, especially when he is always right. The Czar agrees that conservative talk radio is making too much of Senator Barbara Boxer’s request of BG Walsh. Bigger fish to fry, people! However, this exchange nevertheless gnaws at … Continue reading →
Your Mandarin was sent by secret courier a very interesting link that details the proposed sensor systems in the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. If this works even half as well as advertised, this will be incredibly awesome. The MandarinThe … Continue reading →
On this day of remembrance, I’d like to post some excerpts from a member of the 506 Paratroopers, 101st Airborne, Fox Company that I think are telling of the spirit, sacrifice and dedication that these brave men and women had: … Continue reading →
In another manifestation of the KGB ascendancy under Vlad the Bad, the Chekists’ traditional rival in the intelligence community, the GRU [Главвное разведительное управление, “Chief Intelligence Directorate [of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation”] has … Continue reading →
And I know what a contingency is. And certainly, “operation” is easy enough to understand. But the lamely-labelled “Global War on Terror” is now the “Overseas Contingency Operation.” And that’s close to meaningless. “That thing we do abroad if or … Continue reading →
Looks like they want to expand out into the Pacific. I wonder what Minister Hamada and the rest of the Japanese government thought of that… Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →President Obama floated, then quickly withdrew, a plan to require injured veterans to use their private insurance to cover combat injuries, despite the public care provided by the Veterans Administration. Meanwhile, President Obama’s administration continues full bore on a plan … Continue reading →
So suggests Reuben Johnson, a very knowledgeable observer. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →If this is true, it’s both tacky and somewhat disturbing. He’s the Commander-in-Chief now. Please, let’s not have a rerun of the early Clinton Administration’s disdain for the military. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. … Continue reading →
But the military’s getting screwed. Thanks, Congress. Thanks, banks. Thanks, Fannie & Freddie. Thanks, real-estate speculators. You’ve made us all less safe. Thanks. Thanks so much. UPDATE: On the other hand, at least the same thing is happening in Russia. … Continue reading →
Ivanov confirms the $50B* we told you about before. Translated to Ghettoputerese: $5XXXXXXXX. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…but sick, says Stuart Koehl. Worth reading for a clear-eyed view of Russia’s military capabilities. It’s worth noting, though, that Russia still significantly overmatches any of its neighbors save China.* *And they’re not dumb enough to invade Finland again. As … Continue reading →
