I hope you'll ask your guest how and why, during his long career in proximity to those in power, the country today is not better prepared to face the challenges of an unfriendly world. Is it fair to charge him with failing to effect the changes he, you, and others here clearly recognize as essential to our national security?
In once sense this neglect I have always found odd. Unless we are going to war with Mexico or Canada any logistical movement will involve sealift. To deploy any sizable division level force will
mean hundreds of vehicles and the "iron mountain" of ammo, fuel, parts, mobile infrastructure and all else. I am sure the folks deployed would like some rations and a coffee maker to...8-) I dont see us doing this by airlifting two Abrams or Bradleys at a time on a C5 Galaxy being a winning stratagy.
The entire infrastructure of the United States needs reform not just the maritime portion which is dear to our hearts. The problems are mismanagement and a lack of money. What can you expect from political appointees who know nothing about the sectors of the economy that they are supposed to oversee? Do I really have to name names? Also, think about what could have been done with the trillions that were used to create Jeffersonian democracies in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Ukraine.
Unfortunately, Americans have forgotten that we are a maritime nation and that is the result of neglecting history, offshoring work that some find monotonous, tedious, and otherwise unpleasant. I remember growing up in a country with a sense of purpose and adventure. I remember playing on the docks and aboard the ships that called on our port. (No TWIC required back in the 60’s)
Life today is very sanitary. Milk comes from a carton. Food and clothing comes from a store. Remember all those great educational films? The ones sponsored and made by industry? Railroads, shipping lines, trucking companies, oil companies, airlines, Caterpillar, NASA, the Navy? Yes, those are the kinds of sparks that are missing today. There are a lot of ignorant, educated people out here in the world. They are ignorant for a few reasons, but one reason is that they have never been exposed to what some view as the unglamorous, gritty side of life. They just have no idea of what is out there beyond their own little bubble.
Our friends at gCaptain have been working to get the word out for years and I am even seeing some results out here locally on the Left Coast.
I'm replying again because I think its critical some folks understand just how MUCH these amounts are. I have done inventory in tech industries and in my miguided youth worked at a mid sized airport. One job was to drive the tanker truck out with my manager and refuel the airliners. After refueling a 737 I pondered that impressive number on the log sheet as we filled out the paperwork. As The Drill SGT observes...even a platoon of tanks uses even small quanities at GALLON sizes and I would assume these quantities come through a supply train that itself needs oil and fuel supplies to... Ships move this stuff...
forgive this Landsman's question, but how do they get that bulk hauler into the water?
I hope you'll ask your guest how and why, during his long career in proximity to those in power, the country today is not better prepared to face the challenges of an unfriendly world. Is it fair to charge him with failing to effect the changes he, you, and others here clearly recognize as essential to our national security?
In once sense this neglect I have always found odd. Unless we are going to war with Mexico or Canada any logistical movement will involve sealift. To deploy any sizable division level force will
mean hundreds of vehicles and the "iron mountain" of ammo, fuel, parts, mobile infrastructure and all else. I am sure the folks deployed would like some rations and a coffee maker to...8-) I dont see us doing this by airlifting two Abrams or Bradleys at a time on a C5 Galaxy being a winning stratagy.
The entire infrastructure of the United States needs reform not just the maritime portion which is dear to our hearts. The problems are mismanagement and a lack of money. What can you expect from political appointees who know nothing about the sectors of the economy that they are supposed to oversee? Do I really have to name names? Also, think about what could have been done with the trillions that were used to create Jeffersonian democracies in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Ukraine.
Unfortunately, Americans have forgotten that we are a maritime nation and that is the result of neglecting history, offshoring work that some find monotonous, tedious, and otherwise unpleasant. I remember growing up in a country with a sense of purpose and adventure. I remember playing on the docks and aboard the ships that called on our port. (No TWIC required back in the 60’s)
Life today is very sanitary. Milk comes from a carton. Food and clothing comes from a store. Remember all those great educational films? The ones sponsored and made by industry? Railroads, shipping lines, trucking companies, oil companies, airlines, Caterpillar, NASA, the Navy? Yes, those are the kinds of sparks that are missing today. There are a lot of ignorant, educated people out here in the world. They are ignorant for a few reasons, but one reason is that they have never been exposed to what some view as the unglamorous, gritty side of life. They just have no idea of what is out there beyond their own little bubble.
Our friends at gCaptain have been working to get the word out for years and I am even seeing some results out here locally on the Left Coast.
I'm replying again because I think its critical some folks understand just how MUCH these amounts are. I have done inventory in tech industries and in my miguided youth worked at a mid sized airport. One job was to drive the tanker truck out with my manager and refuel the airliners. After refueling a 737 I pondered that impressive number on the log sheet as we filled out the paperwork. As The Drill SGT observes...even a platoon of tanks uses even small quanities at GALLON sizes and I would assume these quantities come through a supply train that itself needs oil and fuel supplies to... Ships move this stuff...