tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10465909.post5269521379335186596..comments2023-12-29T22:29:57.954-06:00Comments on Kate/A/blog: Keepin' Ya SafeKate-Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02097300904370192818noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10465909.post-70856924373921754632007-02-26T19:51:00.000-06:002007-02-26T19:51:00.000-06:00Rose covered glasses - Thanks for the post. Let's ...Rose covered glasses - <BR/>Thanks for the post. Let's hope not too many of us grunts are underneath if and when the MIC collapses.<BR/><BR/>I tend to think greed and self-serving'ism is often mistaken for "conspiracy" in America. But you're absolutely right the MIC is a creaking machine groaning beneath its own weight.<BR/><BR/>I'm adding your link to my list here if you don't mind.Kate-Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02097300904370192818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10465909.post-50111435906136782312007-02-26T18:25:00.000-06:002007-02-26T18:25:00.000-06:00NEW PENTAGON AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE HAS TAKEN 10 YEARS...NEW PENTAGON AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE HAS TAKEN 10 YEARS AND COST 1.7 $ BILLION <BR/><BR/>IT BREAKS DOWN EVERY 4.5 HOURS<BR/><BR/>General Dynamics gets $80M Award fee for delivery. The Military Industrial Complex does it again. <BR/><BR/>Please see following article in The Washington Post:<BR/><BR/>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/06/AR2007020601997.html<BR/><BR/><BR/>It is time to view once again the vintage movie, "Pentagon Wars". You can still order it for about $8.00 from many video supply sources on the web. It is a humorous but remarkably true story of the design and development of one of the costliest weapons systems ever to grace the Pentagon Budget, the "Bradley Fighting Vehicle". The movie was produced by HBO and starred Kelsey Grammer as the Pentagon General who led the government establishment sponsoring the vehicle program. The profusion of design and performance specification changes and other difficulties which plagued the program for years were hilariously but accurately portrayed in the film. <BR/><BR/>The new "Marine Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle" is sure to rival the Bradley if it goes to production. According to the Post Article above, the Marines may choose a wiser course and scrap the prototype, starting over with 7 new prototypes over 2 more years, costing $22M each.<BR/><BR/>Now that's a bargain!<BR/><BR/>We have bought into the Military Industrial Complex (MIC).<BR/><BR/>Through a combination of public apathy and threats by the MIC we have let the SYSTEM get too large. It is now a SYSTEMIC problem and the SYSTEM is out of control.<BR/><BR/>I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.<BR/><BR/>There is no conspiracy. The SYSTEM has gotten so big that those who make it up and run it day to day in industry and government simply are perpetuating their existance.<BR/><BR/>The politicians rely on them for details and recommendations because they cannot possibly grasp the nuances of the environment and the BIG SYSTEM.<BR/><BR/>So, the system has to go bust and then be re-scaled, fixed and re-designed to run efficiently and prudently, just like any other big machine that runs poorly or becomes obsolete or dangerous.<BR/><BR/>This situation will right itself through trauma. I see a government ENRON on the horizon, with an associated house cleaning.<BR/><BR/>The next president will come and go along with his appointees and politicos. The event to watch is the collapse of the MIC.<BR/><BR/>For more details see:<BR/><BR/>http://www.rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.comRoseCovered Glasseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14959248140987830086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10465909.post-64164597867579615662007-02-25T17:14:00.000-06:002007-02-25T17:14:00.000-06:00I heard Boeing wanted nothing to do with BAE shipy...I heard Boeing wanted nothing to do with BAE shipyards and the merge off, but if the boys be meeting and eating .... Also heard BAE / Lockheed merge possible. <BR/><BR/>Bet the Queen's portfolio has all 3.Kate-Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02097300904370192818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10465909.post-75742108267266272622007-02-25T16:54:00.000-06:002007-02-25T16:54:00.000-06:00cf Osprey due for deployment in Iraq real soon now...<I>cf</I> Osprey due for deployment in Iraq <B>real soon now</B><BR/><BR/>Hot tip, Boeing to take over BAE (which is now effectively a US company now it has got rid of Airbus).<BR/><BR/>NB <B>Pat Shanahan,</B> VP Boeing Missile Defense Systems,is in London all next week, accompanied by Lt. General <B>Henry “Trey” Obering III,</B> Director, US Missile Defense Agency meetin'n'greetin' with BAE / MODzizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15249645812407323273noreply@blogger.com