Is Robert Gates A Genius?

This happened in the 60's and was it reported in the News NO!

From 14:03 until 14:10, the Israeli air assault unleashed hell, concentrating a coordinated strafing attack first of bombs, then of rockets, armor-piercing bullets, and napalm on the ship's communication antennas and crew. Basically these fighters exhausted all of their ordnance and ammunition on a ship they knew could not return fire before they left. (3) page 16 and (4). Israel later confirmed that multiple Mirage fighter-bombers and Dassault Mystyres swept-wing fighters were used, and this was confirmed from photographs taken by Liberty sailors. During the assault, the aircraft jammed all frequencies so the Liberty was only able to communicate during the short intervals when the Israeli rockets were in-flight, as the fighters had to switch off jamming temporarily. (1) page 36. Also during the assault, the American flag was shot away, but before the torpedo attack began, it was replaced with a larger 8x13 foot version. (3) page 19.

Between 14:24 and 14:28, the three torpedo boats arrived in visual range and were reported as flying Israeli flags. (3) page 19 and (1) page 36.

At 14:31, both the USS Liberty and the torpedo boats opened fire at each other. At least five (5) torpedoes were launched, and two (2) torpedoes made contact at about 14:35, and later mechanical analysis revealed one of the torpedoes hit in an area where a few meters in either direction would likely have broken the ship in half. Twenty-five (25) Americans working in the SIGINT section were killed instantly by this torpedo. Following the torpedoes, the Israeli boats raked the USS Liberty with cannon and machine-gun fire, shooting at any visible sailor above deck. At one point, the Israelis concentrated their fire on the boiler, trying to cause an explosion and sink the ship. The torpedo boats were later confirmed to be Ayah class motor torpedo boats, each carrying two (2) torpedoes, and (4) cannons. Before the ship was scrapped, there were 861 holes larger than a man's fist and thousands of 0.50 caliber machine gun holes. (3) pages 19-20, (2) pages 7-8, (1) page 37-38. Same as the fighter attack, basically the Israelis expended all of their ordnance and then just opened up with machine-guns, possibly to keep the sailors from activating a new radio line. They threw everything they had at the USS Liberty, trying to sink a defenseless vessel that they had confirmed to be American.

Interesting article, which seems to hit the nail on the head, but let down by the very first sentence which makes one wary of some of the other matters cited as fact. Jonathan Swift was not an "Engish Satirist". He was Irish, born in Dublin, Ireland in 1667. He's buried about a half mile from where he was born in St. Patrick's Cathedral Dublin.

I think Mr. Zakaria is completely correct. We should be focusing our defense spending on providing real solutions to actual issues. Cutting programs that are producing no actual benefit makes sense. I find it highly ironic that the same people who scream in outrage about government spending to help feed, clothe and educate American citizens also believe we should be putting the taxes they hate so much to use dreaming up weapons we aren't even using.

Where is it written that technology means doing with less. No two wars are alike, which you should have pointed out and there were no assurances on President Obama's tour which indicated that Europe was ready to play a part in any war. Gates was told about a fantasy world where there were no more nukes, everyone got along, and this country was the only threat to the world. In order to show the world we mean business, it's this country who must take the first steps in disarming and down sizing. Thats the only way President Obama can demonstrate to the world, he's nothing like Bush. Every time President Obama opens his mouth he talks about a world that he envisions that has nothing to do with reality. The reality which keeps escaping President Obama's world, is that North Korea is still kicking the UN around, Hugo Chavez is trying to persuade Iran, China, and Japan their the new world order, Daniel Ortega is still winning elections by fraud and intimidations, and the pirates shows no signs of stopping their terrorist activities on the seas. Plus, we are still in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nothing stays the same. Tomorrow, another 9/11 might happen, no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Especially a President who lives in a world that has nothing to do with the real world. The F-22 is the most advanced plane we have. Nothing matches it. Nothing. Limiting the production of the F-22 is just what the world would like to see. This country is the police of the world. President Obama knows this and so does Gates which is confusing why Gates would let himself be put in a fantasy world of thinking like President Obama. We should never weaken our nations defenses because of one's vision which has nothing to do with reality.

Around the end of the 19th century, it was a widely held view tha large interstae wars had been impossible because global trade had become so great. In the middle of the 20th century, many believed it was only a matter of when that the US and USSR would fight a full scale war. e have een the aftermath of both periods, and the new military circumstances after each. Although there is always plenty of fat to trim from government efforts on such a large scale as the national defense of the world's only superpower, we should not become shortsighted. The development time for high tech weapon systems is generally a decade or more. Who knows if in ten years, an agreesive Russia in the Caucasus, CHina in East Asia, or even Iran, Venzuela, or North Korea might offer a conventional military threat. Then, where will the F-22 be? The military's cutting edge ideas may seem fantastical and wasteful now, but fighting with outdated mindsets and weaponry have spelled doom for the lagging powers in every war since civilization began.

Around the end of the 19th century, it was a widely held view tha large interstae wars had been impossible because global trade had become so great. In the middle of the 20th century, many believed it was only a matter of when that the US and USSR would fight a full scale war. e have een the aftermath of both periods, and the new military circumstances after each. Although there is always plenty of fat to trim from government efforts on such a large scale as the national defense of the world's only superpower, we should not become shortsighted. The development time for high tech weapon systems is generally a decade or more. Who knows if in ten years, an agreesive Russia in the Caucasus, CHina in East Asia, or even Iran, Venzuela, or North Korea might offer a conventional military threat. Then, where will the F-22 be? The military's cutting edge ideas may seem fantastical and wasteful now, but fighting with outdated mindsets and weaponry have spelled doom for the lagging powers in every war since civilization began.

If we can cut Defense then we need to cut many other federal programs. If we don't get a handle on fiscal sanity, we will be bankrupt within 10 years.

Finally there is a "voice of reason" in Washington when it comes to defense spending, for that matter SPENDING in general. It is time that reality matches our actions as the world's supper-power. Hey, couldn't those dollars be better spent in funding Health Car or Education? Right on Mr Gates!

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200903/air-force

Wow, alot of you people really do not have any idea about deployments and the use of the military. I am not a democrat, nor a republican, just an average American that can think on their own without having the party line pulling my puppet strings. I see several people making a big deal that we currently have 11 carrier groups and China has zero. That is true, for now, since it is believed that China is building a carrier. And yes that is still a threat.

Let's look at how everything works. We don't have 11 carrier groups at sea at all times. Most of the time 1/3 are in port or shipyard, 1/3 are coming or going from port, and 1/3 are out on station. This is the same all across the Navy. And taking into account the Chinese quiet development of "ballistic missile ship killers" should be enough that they are targeting our navy and no others.

As for cost overuns, I say that this should never happen. The amount of money that is wasted is unbelievable. But most of this is not due to contractors, but to the government itself with shifting requirements that only add additional design and construction cost. The LCS program is an excellent example.

As for jobs and the Congress protecting defense jobs in their state, they should! We have been hearing alot about all other jobs being moved over seas and people complaining about loosing jobs. What is the difference between securing defense or non-defense jobs? None, they are all jobs!

Wow, alot of you people really do not have any idea about deployments and the use of the military. I am not a democrat, nor a republican, just an average American that can think on their own without having the party line pulling my puppet strings. I see several people making a big deal that we currently have 11 carrier groups and China has zero. That is true, for now, since it is believed that China is building a carrier. And yes that is still a threat.

Let's look at how everything works. We don't have 11 carrier groups at sea at all times. Most of the time 1/3 are in port or shipyard, 1/3 are coming or going from port, and 1/3 are out on station. This is the same all across the Navy. And taking into account the Chinese quiet development of "ballistic missile ship killers" should be enough that they are targeting our navy and no others.

As for cost overuns, I say that this should never happen. The amount of money that is wasted is unbelievable. But most of this is not due to contractors, but to the government itself with shifting requirements that only add additional design and construction cost. The LCS program is an excellent example.

As for jobs and the Congress protecting defense jobs in their state, they should! We have been hearing alot about all other jobs being moved over seas and people complaining about loosing jobs. What is the difference between securing defense or non-defense jobs? None, they are all jobs!

I was at the Navy War College on 10 September 2001 discussing the cost savings of dismantling of the Cold War military and force end strength reductions. People forget the mandate of Bush's SECDEF was to make the military more like industry and cut people/programs. On 9/11 everyone of those ideas went out the window and the massive and unnecessary military procurement buying spree began.