Porter was selected to get rid of the Caribbean Pirates 🏴☠️ n the 1820’s because he was a man of action. He killed them using unconventional naval tactics and finding them in shallow water using barges. He innovated.
What may also be nice is a President Jackson-type giving an experienced pirate hunter-type, like John Downes, a directive to do what it in your country's best interest to ensure the safety of shipping in the waters around the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1928/january/commodore-john-downes
Broad orders and hands off in any way would likely work out better in many national endeavors so long as the picker understands who the picked person is and can do.
True. Treating the military like Toyota is simply stupid. I also remember being ordered by XO to attend 7 Habits training when I was a CWO3. I laughed. Didn’t. Attend. I was pretty successful on my own merits and didn’t need Covey and his stupid talking stick.
At root, a corporation, particularly public, exists to increase shareholder value (arguments can be made with respect to long and short-term benefits of ultimately destructive behavior to tweak share price).
The military, like security and insurance, are always in the expense column for a non-expansive empire. The calculations are totally different. Instead of "how much can I make with my Navy" it's "how much can I lose if my Navy is too small/ineffective?"
Thank you, Sal. The idea that we can't defeat pirates with naval power is contemptuous. It has been and will remain an issue of political will and determination.
Testify. Just because the principles of war are distilled over millennia of experience doesn't make them invalid. It makes them classic. Ignore them at your peril.
Well, I'd have argued at a point that we were using an economy of force to maintain a deterrent knowing full well China would exploit any situation we over commit to. Since Oct 7th I can't argue that to be what I see.
CDR - I believe it was the MOSKVA that the Ukrainians sunk with a Neptune ASCM, not the KIROV. Also, it is 27 June vice 27 July :-). Great column today!
I am constantly astonished that we REFUSE to acknowledge we are hip deep in a new Cold War and have been for a long time. Russsian sabateurs blowing up German factories, Houtis, Hezbollah, Hamas all proxy fighters blowing up Western people and assets. New axis of evil with Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.
During the last Cold War when Russia stepped over the line, we poked them sharply in the nose. Time to do so with Iran. For every attack by your proxy, we attack one Iranian facility starting with the Presidential palace and Parlament. You have less than 30 days to reign in your proxies, and you'll find out quickly if you haven't when that period ends.
We sank 1/2 the Iranian Navy in Praying Mantis. They pulled their horns in for a long time. Time to do it again. They only understand and respect force.
I think he trick is keeping Iranian internal division alive. Work on specific Revolutionary Guard targets and all means Iran has to export their war by sea. I would offer them no warning whatsoever.
Absolutely. While we should elimimate the Houthi threat, going after Iran is the way to put an end to it, as well as a host of other ME groups and problems. Why everyone wants to negotiate with Iran is beyond me. Any 8th grader can see the source of most of the problems in the ME... Why cant we just be realistic and act accordingly??
'Tis very simple, dear Phib. Those in charge do not WANT to antagonize Tehran or have any sort of military victory we could call our own. Pallets of cash in the last decade sent to the Mullahs, even more millions stolen from the U.S. taxpayer and dumped on them this spring to finance Hamas..... the traitors have chosen their sides. This goes from the White House down through both sides of Congress and the Armed Services Committees, and to the doors of the five-sided squirrel cage. We KNOW they do not want to antagonize their buddies (the Mullahs) by blowing Houthis out of the water. And to play target practice that way would be fine training for a new crop of sailors who missed all the fun of the Tanker Wars and the exclusion zones of the 1980s (when Ronaldus Magnus was not afraid to antagonize the mullahs),(*who were not his buddies). It's all part of a Navy that has forgotten its real mission.... to protect our shores and keep the sea lanes open. We know Biden couldn't find the Red Sea on a map if Dr. Jill pointed it out to him. We all have suspicions which team is really guiding this and catering to Tehran, and has been doing so for the better part of 20 years. Meanwhile, our Navy leadership is more watchful for future positions as paid fatcats to build nonsense that would send our sailors to the bottom of the sea than to ever learn from history and build and man what is needed now. They care about their futures, not the futures of the poor slobs who foolishly signed on the line. They should all be strung up for treason. Things haven't changed in 20 years. We cede hegemony in the Gulf there to Tehran at our own risk. /end rant
Query "Piracy" on the USNI homepage and get four pages of articles with good ideas on countering piracy and small sucess stories. It seems it is cheaper to do nothing. Losing a few cargos and sailors is OK with the peeps in charge. Looks like there is no "business case" for counter-piracy!
Political will. Iran. CDR Sal, your piece is spot on. Your piece earned (again, no doubt) at your Labatt ration on Canada Day and an unlimited supply of your choice of adult beverage on the 4th. Iran IS the problem...and, to you point, some good old-fashioned combined arms could certainly solve the problem in the near to medium term. I hope these high net worth pundits do "get off the fainting couch and start building ships and weapons." In a recent appearance at the Fires Symposium (Joint Fires Panel) at Fort Sill, I echoed the exact point to our Army, Marine, and Allied peers regarding our force design/generation shortfalls designed to quickly generate replacement and new firing units that we'll need in an inevitable shooting war and our utter lack of ammunition production/stockpiling. Back to your point (and our man Nimitz), if we don't plan the long game, we'll cede everything west of the IDL...among other areas. Carry on, Sir.
Brilliant exegesis on what is wrong. Reminds me of Wretchard's (Richard Fernandez) essay entitled "The Ten Ships". He pointed out how wise it was that in WW2 we didn't wage a war on Japanese Zeros but a war on the infrastructure that supported them (fleet carriers) and ultimately its infrastructure. https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2010/05/14/the-ten-ships-n189778
He was brought in from Ford by JFK to bring some order to the Pentagon especially in terms pf procurement and he had some success there.
But it was JFK who gave tacit approval to the removal of Diem and his brother and it was LBJ who used a nonevent in the Gulf of Tonkin to ask Congress for extraordinary powers to wage war.
McNamara did what his master asked him by lying to Congress about the true cost of the war among other things and he continued to do so long after he knew the situation was hopeless.
The recent crop of mediocre SECDEFs - Austin, Mattis, Ash Carter, Gates, Rumsfeld, etc. make me wonder what background does it take to do a good job?
Take the islands. Move ashore. Destroy everything. Support with massive airpower- multuple airwings, B-52s, whatever it takes. Keep going til the threats are dead. Then load back aboard the ships and leave before the fires are even out.
The more things change, the more they stay the same....fighting wars to NOT lose, as we've been doing for too damn long, ultimately leads to....................................losing. Just ask any dead American from those 'not to lose' wars.
My father, a WW II Pacific vet only made ONE comment about the Vietnam War before he died in '67. One night after the Cronkite news, he stated, to no one in particular: "Why are we fighting a war we don't want to win?" Now I'm the one asking the same question....
I appreciate the long form on your date, similar to my anniversary inscribed on my wedding ring. Handy in case age leaves me to forget, but also such they know down the road that the man that wore it didn't use some silly ass, new fangled BCE CE crap.
Porter was selected to get rid of the Caribbean Pirates 🏴☠️ n the 1820’s because he was a man of action. He killed them using unconventional naval tactics and finding them in shallow water using barges. He innovated.
Oh and TQL still stands for: They Quit Leading.
What may also be nice is a President Jackson-type giving an experienced pirate hunter-type, like John Downes, a directive to do what it in your country's best interest to ensure the safety of shipping in the waters around the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1928/january/commodore-john-downes
Broad orders and hands off in any way would likely work out better in many national endeavors so long as the picker understands who the picked person is and can do.
A fiends critique on TQL training in the 90's: "There's nothing wrong with the process; it's the GD people!"
True. Treating the military like Toyota is simply stupid. I also remember being ordered by XO to attend 7 Habits training when I was a CWO3. I laughed. Didn’t. Attend. I was pretty successful on my own merits and didn’t need Covey and his stupid talking stick.
Nice!
At root, a corporation, particularly public, exists to increase shareholder value (arguments can be made with respect to long and short-term benefits of ultimately destructive behavior to tweak share price).
The military, like security and insurance, are always in the expense column for a non-expansive empire. The calculations are totally different. Instead of "how much can I make with my Navy" it's "how much can I lose if my Navy is too small/ineffective?"
Thank you, Sal. The idea that we can't defeat pirates with naval power is contemptuous. It has been and will remain an issue of political will and determination.
Testify. Just because the principles of war are distilled over millennia of experience doesn't make them invalid. It makes them classic. Ignore them at your peril.
We have to think bigger. With cowards in the White House, anything is possible!
Well, I'd have argued at a point that we were using an economy of force to maintain a deterrent knowing full well China would exploit any situation we over commit to. Since Oct 7th I can't argue that to be what I see.
Andy: To avoid over committment would be prudent. However, to fail to commit, send mixed signals, or undermine the trust of allies is something else.
If only the cowards were afraid of treason. Sigh.
Thank you for resurrecting clear thoughts based on reality.
CDR - I believe it was the MOSKVA that the Ukrainians sunk with a Neptune ASCM, not the KIROV. Also, it is 27 June vice 27 July :-). Great column today!
Damn...what was I thinking...
Just, um, slightly ahead of your time...
Great words, indeed.
I am constantly astonished that we REFUSE to acknowledge we are hip deep in a new Cold War and have been for a long time. Russsian sabateurs blowing up German factories, Houtis, Hezbollah, Hamas all proxy fighters blowing up Western people and assets. New axis of evil with Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.
During the last Cold War when Russia stepped over the line, we poked them sharply in the nose. Time to do so with Iran. For every attack by your proxy, we attack one Iranian facility starting with the Presidential palace and Parlament. You have less than 30 days to reign in your proxies, and you'll find out quickly if you haven't when that period ends.
We sank 1/2 the Iranian Navy in Praying Mantis. They pulled their horns in for a long time. Time to do it again. They only understand and respect force.
I think he trick is keeping Iranian internal division alive. Work on specific Revolutionary Guard targets and all means Iran has to export their war by sea. I would offer them no warning whatsoever.
Absolutely. While we should elimimate the Houthi threat, going after Iran is the way to put an end to it, as well as a host of other ME groups and problems. Why everyone wants to negotiate with Iran is beyond me. Any 8th grader can see the source of most of the problems in the ME... Why cant we just be realistic and act accordingly??
"Why cant we just be realistic and act accordingly??"
Fear. Iran is just a symptom. What is their motivation?
'Tis very simple, dear Phib. Those in charge do not WANT to antagonize Tehran or have any sort of military victory we could call our own. Pallets of cash in the last decade sent to the Mullahs, even more millions stolen from the U.S. taxpayer and dumped on them this spring to finance Hamas..... the traitors have chosen their sides. This goes from the White House down through both sides of Congress and the Armed Services Committees, and to the doors of the five-sided squirrel cage. We KNOW they do not want to antagonize their buddies (the Mullahs) by blowing Houthis out of the water. And to play target practice that way would be fine training for a new crop of sailors who missed all the fun of the Tanker Wars and the exclusion zones of the 1980s (when Ronaldus Magnus was not afraid to antagonize the mullahs),(*who were not his buddies). It's all part of a Navy that has forgotten its real mission.... to protect our shores and keep the sea lanes open. We know Biden couldn't find the Red Sea on a map if Dr. Jill pointed it out to him. We all have suspicions which team is really guiding this and catering to Tehran, and has been doing so for the better part of 20 years. Meanwhile, our Navy leadership is more watchful for future positions as paid fatcats to build nonsense that would send our sailors to the bottom of the sea than to ever learn from history and build and man what is needed now. They care about their futures, not the futures of the poor slobs who foolishly signed on the line. They should all be strung up for treason. Things haven't changed in 20 years. We cede hegemony in the Gulf there to Tehran at our own risk. /end rant
And a very good rant it is!!
Query "Piracy" on the USNI homepage and get four pages of articles with good ideas on countering piracy and small sucess stories. It seems it is cheaper to do nothing. Losing a few cargos and sailors is OK with the peeps in charge. Looks like there is no "business case" for counter-piracy!
Political will. Iran. CDR Sal, your piece is spot on. Your piece earned (again, no doubt) at your Labatt ration on Canada Day and an unlimited supply of your choice of adult beverage on the 4th. Iran IS the problem...and, to you point, some good old-fashioned combined arms could certainly solve the problem in the near to medium term. I hope these high net worth pundits do "get off the fainting couch and start building ships and weapons." In a recent appearance at the Fires Symposium (Joint Fires Panel) at Fort Sill, I echoed the exact point to our Army, Marine, and Allied peers regarding our force design/generation shortfalls designed to quickly generate replacement and new firing units that we'll need in an inevitable shooting war and our utter lack of ammunition production/stockpiling. Back to your point (and our man Nimitz), if we don't plan the long game, we'll cede everything west of the IDL...among other areas. Carry on, Sir.
" Iran IS the problem."
Iran is a current problem. Like "Whack-a-mole", if we smack down Iran another similar problem will pop up.
What. An. Idiot.
Brilliant exegesis on what is wrong. Reminds me of Wretchard's (Richard Fernandez) essay entitled "The Ten Ships". He pointed out how wise it was that in WW2 we didn't wage a war on Japanese Zeros but a war on the infrastructure that supported them (fleet carriers) and ultimately its infrastructure. https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2010/05/14/the-ten-ships-n189778
Excellent article. Thanks for the link.
Agreed. I read Adams's book 2-3 years ago; it's good.
I too, despise McNamara.
He was brought in from Ford by JFK to bring some order to the Pentagon especially in terms pf procurement and he had some success there.
But it was JFK who gave tacit approval to the removal of Diem and his brother and it was LBJ who used a nonevent in the Gulf of Tonkin to ask Congress for extraordinary powers to wage war.
McNamara did what his master asked him by lying to Congress about the true cost of the war among other things and he continued to do so long after he knew the situation was hopeless.
The recent crop of mediocre SECDEFs - Austin, Mattis, Ash Carter, Gates, Rumsfeld, etc. make me wonder what background does it take to do a good job?
".....what background does it take to do a good job?"
It might simply be that the background needed is simply not the traits that are either available or more likely desired.
Where are the Marines?
Why haven't they occupied the islands off Yemen? Why hasn't every village on the coast been seized or razed?
The answer is the WH wants to fight a war without any casualties especially before an election.
In the end wars are won by boots on the ground.
Concur, but prefer razed to seized. No reason to become an occupying force.
seems like those offshore islands would be good training for USMC 2030.
Take the islands. Move ashore. Destroy everything. Support with massive airpower- multuple airwings, B-52s, whatever it takes. Keep going til the threats are dead. Then load back aboard the ships and leave before the fires are even out.
Scorched earth and go home.
The more things change, the more they stay the same....fighting wars to NOT lose, as we've been doing for too damn long, ultimately leads to....................................losing. Just ask any dead American from those 'not to lose' wars.
My father, a WW II Pacific vet only made ONE comment about the Vietnam War before he died in '67. One night after the Cronkite news, he stated, to no one in particular: "Why are we fighting a war we don't want to win?" Now I'm the one asking the same question....
Semper Fi!
I appreciate the long form on your date, similar to my anniversary inscribed on my wedding ring. Handy in case age leaves me to forget, but also such they know down the road that the man that wore it didn't use some silly ass, new fangled BCE CE crap.