Four Service Chiefs Vacant In DOD By End Of September, Conservative Snit Over Abortion Vs. National Security

This is what has happened to the modern-day Republican Party.

Before the current base of the Republican Party took control there was strong support for the defense department, FBI, and law enforcement among the party faithful.  With strident anti-government positions now running rampant through large swaths of the modern GOP, however, the nation is suffering from the impacts of partisan lunacy. As I write this afternoon the United States is without confirmed chiefs for three of its military services. The lack of substantive dialogue about the serious nature of what is happening from the once proud chest-beaters for all things military is a clear sign of the dereliction of elected officials to adhere to their sworn oaths when taking office. The national drama is to take yet another serious downward turn when Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley retires at the end of this month.

At the heart of this partisan absurdity is the outlandish tactic taken by far right-wing Senator Tommy Tuberville who decided in December 2022 that he would block all senior Department of Defense nominations due to his conservative snit over abortion.  That policy covers the travel costs of service members seeking abortions in states outside of where they are stationed if they are based in a state that bans the procedure.  Well, if the GOP had not harnessed themselves over the decades for fundraising purposes with the anti-choice crowd, and used the culture war issue solely for partisan gain, Roe v. Wade would not have been overturned and military members would not now need to seek ways to address their health care choices by traveling to another state. 

Over the decades we have all witnessed partisan tactics that seemed edgy or perhaps even smarmy.  But they did not place the national security needs in jeopardy.  There were times when one could argue that a pol was taking a darker road but the matter did not register national concern, but rather just another day in Congress. But not this time with Tuberville.

The Army, Navy, and Marines are without a service chief, and soon the Joint Chiefs will face the same situation.  Additionally, there are over 300  military officers whose promotions are stalled due to the hubris of one southern senator who has more regard for campaign cash than national security.

But this story is far more than about a buffoonish senator placing a blanket hold on a raft of DOD nominations and promotions. This story also speaks to the feckless and timid GOP senate caucus who will not stand up to Tuberville and call out his unacceptable power play. The allowance by the GOP to a politicization of the military nomination process is yet another symptom of the dysfunctional nature of our Congress. The degree to which the anti-government mood has seeped into the party is stunning to witness. The lack of regard for the four dead law enforcement officers from the January 6th insurrection when an attempt was made to undermine a presidential election, to the ripping at the FBI and the men and women who work tirelessly for law and order was stomach-turning to witness. But equally distressing is the degree to which the GOP will go to undermine our defense department’s ability to function in a world that is not setting aside dangerous plots and sinister agendas until we again have more than acting heads in most of our top military service offices.

If the likes of Tuberville desire MAGA-type culture war games they should limit them to their constantly aggrieved and resentment-prone white male base who desire to be perpetually angry. and not place the entire nation in harm’s way. If the majority of the GOP caucus further allows this behavior to go unchecked it alerts the nation not only how far the party has slipped from serious governance but also how deeply entrenched the unhinged part of the party has gained control.

Reflecting On Second Arrest Of Donald Trump, Service Member Puts It In Perspective

I was not yet a teenager in 1973 nor the next year when Richard Nixon resigned. But with a daily newspaper arriving in our mailbox, I sensed more than I understood at the time, though I was learning, for sure. But I still recall the drama and intensity of the mood from authoritative voices on radio describing events over the many months leading up to the fateful day in August 1974. Today, that same enormity of the moment landed with the second arrest of Donald Trump and its gravity was impossible to not recognize. The document case is not, in any way, a matter that could be dismissed or where one could pretend that the national security needs of the nation did not require address through a legal process.

What I thought of several times over the course of the news coverage on every major network was how Trump had to sit through it all without a single camera to play to for his national audience. It must have galled him to wait over 10 minutes in the courtroom for the arrival of the judge, knowing not a single image of him was caught by a camera. For an ego that lives for publicity, he must have been seething.

As I posted a comment on Facebook during the federal court proceedings a member of the military offered a reply. For all the snark I do offer and feel for Trump, I absolutely agreed with his words about how he viewed this situation. He messaged me with brevity regarding how his knowledge and awareness of military matters alerted him to how highly dangerous what Trump did with our nation’s highly classified documents. It was more than betraying the country, he said, because Trump also betrayed all the men and women who serve and wear the uniform of our armed forces. It was noted that Trump thought the events playing out in his world made for the “saddest day in our country”. The man in uniform through perhaps 9/11 would be better placed at the top for the day which made our nation cry. As I reminded my FB friend, the nation is always second to the needs of Donald Trump.

As a young person, I came to admire the famed Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, and I suspect if this story today were playing out when I was a teen it would be Jack Smith, the understated and highly-intelligent and skilled prosecutor who would impress me. It sure has that effect on me today as a 60-year-old man. Between history, legal analysis from the experts, and some recollections of decades long ago, there were many reasons to follow the events that played out at a federal courthouse in Miami. The bottom line is how awful this is for a nation that never should have been placed in this situation. But then, Trump has never placed the nation above himself.

Do Not Forget Cardinal Rule In Politics

A cardinal rule in politics and governing is that one’s opponent on an issue or policy yesterday will be an ally on a different policy or pressing matter today. While we may never really forget that fact, in the heat of politics and the heightened nature of our rhetoric, we too often set aside that working wisdom.  Over the past week, the back-and-forth of working alliances was again clearly demonstrated.

Pro-Ukraine think tankers on Monday brought Johnson to a private lunch in Dallas, Texas, to meet two dozen of the state’s leading conservative figures, including politicians, donors and captains of industry.

The message Johnson was there to deliver was simple: America must stay the course in Ukraine.

While I am an absolute and staunch supporter of the brave men and women of Ukraine and know Russia must be repelled from attacking a sovereign nation, my views of Johnson are, let us say, not very charitable. His lies that led to Brexit and his caddish personal lifestyle define the man.  But when it comes to the international goal of defeating Russia, we all can stand shoulder to shoulder with those who share our values against military aggression.  

“I just urge you all to stick with it. It will pay off massively in the long run”. 

The former U.K. prime minister flew to Texas as a growing number of conservative lawmakers, candidates and activists have started to question the size of the U.S. support package for Ukraine as it attempts to fight back against the invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022.

But Johnson told Texan Republicans on Monday: “You are backing the right horse. Ukraine is going to win. They are going to defeat Putin.”

The lunch was not the first time Johnson has lobbied U.S. lawmakers on Ukraine’s behalf. He visited Washington in January, where he publicly urged the U.S. administration to give Ukraine fighter jets, and privately met Republican lawmakers on the same trip.

This weekend I read that Russia wants to arrest South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham following his comments related to the fighting in Ukraine. Following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the conservative Republican described the U.S. military assistance to the country as “the best money we’ve ever spent’.

Photo via Reuters

There are many examples of Graham coming unglued and acting less than polished in the years following the death of his very good friend, John McCain, but once again the cardinal rule of governing applies concerning his work in Ukraine. On the matter of steadfastness with a policy to remove Russia from a sovereign nation the words and understanding from the senator allow us to be part of a larger group for a most justified conclusion.

The ever-moving series of alliances and working relationships in politics are often overshadowed by the bluster and desire to play to the base where money is raised and votes in elections are secured. That is easy enough to understand. But the work of governing demands that personal regards be put aside for the betterment of the people or the advancement of a policy. The cardinal rule of politics must always prevail. I am deeply pleased to see it working on behalf of Ukraine.

Senator Tammy Baldwin Has Nothing To Worry About With Anti-F-35 ‘Crowd’

Tuesday’s April 18th Wisconsin State Journal published a letter to the editor stating Senator Tammy Baldwin needed an anti-F-35 jet challenger in the 2024 statewide election. “Baldwin’s priorities are out of sync with Madison residents”, Steven Klafka wrote. Hardly, since I am a resident on the Madison isthmus, have heard the F-16s take off and land since becoming a homeowner in 2007, and strongly support the placement of the Air National Guard F-35s at Truax Field. Many in this city share an internationalist view, knowing we have a role to play in the world. It is the role of our nation to work in concert with our allies, and as a team fashion policy through our alliances, in order to meet the needs of our time. That can be achieved, in part, through our military might which includes F-35s.

Every single member of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation supported the placement of the F-35s at Truax. And for solid reasoning, ranging from military soundness and international concerns to the economic muscle that these jets along with the men and women associated with them bring to Dane County. I am never sure if the average person in Madison fully appreciates the amount of money that rolls into the local economy due to Truax.  Using 2020 data based on F-16s meant that this air unit employs 1,200 men and women. Nearly 500 of them are full-time employees, while 700 are traditional guardsmen.  The end result is a payroll of $62 million being pumped annually into our housing, auto, and so many other brick-and-mortar businesses in our local area.  Those who calculate such numbers have placed the economic impact in this region at $100 million.   Obviously, no elected official is going to spit on that powerhouse to our economy. Nor do the voters.

I have found in personal discussions since 2017 in relation to opponents of the F-35s there has been a constant theme. When digging a bit deeper into their reasoning it is soon discovered a strong antagonism exists about the military and a raft of policies of a military type our nation has engaged in. It does not matter that a military presence at Truax has proven to be a good neighbor for over 70 years. It does not matter that the men and women who work at Truax are on the local softball teams, our fellow church members, or are next to us at Brat Days on the Alliant Energy Center grounds. In one conversation a person opposed to the jets asked me, “Do you remember Guatemala?” (I had to look it up, as the CIA events in that nation took place in 1954!)

As I read the letter to the editor I thought back to a weekend news story last month about a Madison group marching in their attempt to thwart F-35 jets coming to Truax Field. I counted seven marchers. Not really enough to support a statewide senate candidate.

Pragmatism and the need of the international community must always be a part of the military placement of jets of this kind and the staffing needed to fly and maintain them. As such, when it comes to F-35 jets being stationed in Madison, there is only one side of the coin to be on—the same one as the 115th Fighter Wing. In the end, the F-35 jets will arrive at Truax, and the ones now fevered and fretting will move on to some other ‘diabolical’ plot that must be stopped.

Senator Baldwin made the correct call about the F-35s. The vast majority of the voters across Wisconsin support the decision.

Jack Teixeira Rooted in Christian Nationalism And White Supremacy

Jack Teixeira gets grouped with Bradley Manning (my second cousin) when it comes to the unacceptable act of releasing government documents. An online chat group site was where the Massachusetts Air National Guardsman placed highly classified material that very well might undermine war efforts in Ukraine regarding our efforts to thwart Russia. When I wrote about Wikileaks and before knowing Manning, (now Chelsea) was involved I stated, “it is imperative that candid assessments of political leaders and political movements in other countries not be open to the general public in this manner.”   When it comes to the national security of a far higher order in the midst of war there can be zero tolerance given to anyone who releases such documents.  Governments have secrets and should have the ability to secure those they deem important.  (One can make that clear statement about military documents and still rightly argue that government often uses classified markings to secure too many facts from the general public, but that is another topic.)

What we are learning of Teixeira, 21, is troubling and begs the question of how he ever received clearance for having access to highly classified military documents. It is reported he would sometimes show up to class at Dighton-Rehoboth High School wearing camouflage and carrying a “dictionary-size” book on guns and tanks.  The New York Post reported that students recalled that Teixeira displayed some alarming behavior in school, including making purportedly racist remarks, and once showing up to class in a T-shirt emblazoned with an image of an AR-15 a day after the deadly Las Vegas mass shooting in 2017.  

Leaking hundreds of sensitive documents about the war in Ukraine is astonishing in and of itself, but having access to such documents by one who, as the Washington Post reported, posted a video of himself wearing protective glasses and ear covers at a shooting range as he “yells a series of racial and antisemitic slurs into the camera, then fires several rounds at a target” is beyond the pale.

Jack Teixeira seems mired in a racist swamp where one can find many young white men, who then act dangerously. In his case he provided online group information and data about the war in Ukraine, the very type of documentation our government strived to keep away from the eager eyes in the Kremlin. That he is white and strongly associated with Christian nationalism and white supremacy (in his own words) fits a broader profile that is one which this blog often notes to be a problem in this nation. When we think of anti-Jewish rants the names of the Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers come to mind. The video of Teixeira in this regard is most telling.

Many have discussed how the racism and listing of grievances on right-wing media are aimed at the easily led demographics. A large segment of Fox News’ viewer base was lulled into Tea Party politics and then further down the hole with Donald Trump, autocratic actions, and even supporting the undermining of a presidential election.  So when we see the anger—and yes, releasing military secrets and documents is a very visible act of anger—the nation is looking at it with the knowledge that white males in America have lived on a rainbow, but still are angry.  The entire power and governing structure of the nation were designed, from the drafting of the Constitution, to accommodate white males. And yet they are angry.

Trying to figure out what spurred Jack Teixeira will doubtless take us to right-wing media, a source of vitriol where President Obama or Vice-President Kamala Harris are scorned, mocked, and far worse. While there is a long list of cultural issues or economic matters such as large banks and past bailouts and COVID funding and now of all things, (drag shows!) that stir the rage of these people, the heart of it is always about race.

After all, a white majority population in America is not the future.  The world is brown, and the trend lines have this country moving in the same direction.  And quickly.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Embracing what makes us diverse has always been the way to social progress, and it also allows for personal enrichment.  But it also allows for a certain segment to lash out and act in ways that society, or a democracy, cannot abide by.

The world of Jack Teixeira is about to be investigated nine ways to Sunday, as my folks might have termed it back home, and sadly, I suspect one of the legs of the stool will be racism that fed his hatred and then his treacherous actions.

Steep Price Must Be Paid For Gun Violence, $144 Million Settlement What America Needs To Face

I was pleased to learn from a radio newscast that the Department of Justice reached a tentative $144.5 million settlement agreement with the victims of the 2017 shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.  With the continuing list of mass shootings making headlines weekly, you can be forgiven for not recalling which mass shooting that happened to be.  So let me add here for the benefit of my readers it was the deadliest mass shooting in Texas. Well, as of this posting.

Former Air Force member Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire in November 2017, during a worship service which quickly resulted in twenty-six people being slaughtered while 22 others were injured. The $144 million settlement would resolve the federal government’s drawn-out legal battle with the families of the victims and survivors of the mass shooting after a federal judge found the government largely responsible for the attack.

The lawsuit has been interesting to follow for two reasons.  First, gun violence must carry a huge price tag so to demonstrate to the public what is at stake when constructive efforts are not undertaken to control the ‘old wild west’ mentality across the nation. If the dead bodies of school children will not move a nation to act, then perhaps the financial factor is what will resonate within people where morals once existed. Secondly, this case showcases the lack of accountability by those who knew or should have known the mass shooter’s previous domestic assault conviction. 

Kelly had attacked his former wife and baby stepson, and that alone showed what a weak man he was.  That information should have been planted in our national database, and if it had been so inputted there is a strong probability that the mass shooting may not have occurred.  An intervention might have prevented him from buying deadly guns from licensed dealers.  I had been heartened in this slow-moving legal case when a federal judge ruled that the Air Force was 60% liable for the mass shooting because they were negligent in placing data into the national system.  Adding to the justified anger the victim’s families can feel is the fact the Defense Department, when conducting an investigation into the case, discovered that the Air Force failed six times to follow reporting procedures during the shooter’s five-year service. 

I have stated umpteen times that given almost 400 million guns are loose in the nation, there will need to be laws and processes undertaken to stem the unacceptable level of gun violence.  But to learn such a blatant lapse in sound judgment and prudence from the Air Force regarding a clearly angry male, and knowing no steps were taken given the law already on the books(!) so to lessen his chances of committing further danger to others requires that a massive financial settlement now occurs.

Gun violence must result in a steep price to be paid.  If knowing children need to be scraped off school classroom floors after bullets from assault-style weapons (which were meant for war) obliterate their small bodies does not move the conscience of the nation, then we need to find what will move Americans. Since greed and selfishness, sadly, are factors that move a fair amount of them, I strongly concur with the large DOJ settlement and urge more such legal constructions in cases around the nation.

After all, a Steep Price Must Be Paid For Gun Violence

House Republicans Can Show Leadership With Defense Spending For Pacific Forces

The most memorable Christmas for many of us occurred in 1991 when the Soviet flag that had for decades flown over the Kremlin came down. I suspect every living room in the nation had a television set turned on and though muted with folks all about as the holiday unfolded, watched as the world changed. It was far more than symbolism as the flag slipped away.  It was further confirmation of the continuance of massive changes that would move faster and reshape a once superpower where millions of people were caught up in the darkness of totalitarianism. Many have looked at the collapse of the USSR and asked with hindsight what we missed when thinking long-term about the next global challenges to be faced after the collective emphasis on fighting the Cold War was removed.  We should have focused on China.

9/11 shook the foundations of the American psyche, it was obvious we were not an insulated nation from the storms of the world.  But then with recklessness, we misapplied our outrage with the absurdity of an invasion of Iraq. Terrorism was a real and thorny issue to deal with, but there must always be pragmatism built into the construction of foreign policy.  After all, there were many reasons that President Bush (41) did not remove Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein following his ouster from Kuwait.  Some argued that it would have run counter to UN agreements, others that the Arab allies would have left the coalition, but Bush and his advisors knew a vacuum of power in Iraq would prove highly troubling. What Bush knew then is what we all would come to agree with in the decades that followed. We spent so much time chasing the wrong goals for eight years under President Bush (43). We should have focused on China.

From the Cold War to the terrorism that consumed much of the bandwidth of some pols and state department staff there simply was not enough thinking about the next large global approach that needed to be considered.  The last (roughly) 500 years of Atlantic-dominated power from Western Europe to the Americas was giving way in varying ways and at varying speeds to the energetic and highly competitive nations and people of Southeast Asia. Over the years trade routes and supply lines and military threats have increased.  The interconnected nature of the world has increased, and with it has the threats to world economic stability should military strife occur. While President Obama was pivoting his administration to a new reality in that region, he was followed in the White House by a failure of monumental proportions in international relations at every turn starting in 2017. 

Over the past weeks, reports of a new emphasis on preparations for military assets and requirements designated for the Pacific forces have been coming from the Defense Department.  More of the details of what is being sought regarding defense funding caught my attention with a news report from Politico.

Alongside President Joe Biden’s budget request for next year, the Pentagon will submit a new $15.3 billion plan to fund Pacific forces, according to an unclassified version of the report obtained by POLITICO. That’s more than twice what DoD asked for last year, $6.1 billion, and a significant boost from what Congress authorized, $11.5 billion. The money will go toward buying missile defense systems, radars and space sensors, as well as increasing exercises and training.

The report warns of China’s rapid military buildup, and the increasing pressure on countries in the region to bend to its will. It follows a concerted push by the Pentagon in recent weeks to expand American military influence in the region, including a flurry of new deals with regional partners. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently traveled to Manila to announce an agreement with the Philippines giving the U.S. increased access to bases there, and the Marine Corps in January activated a new base on Guam.

The need for more defense funding is never a popular issue on my side of the political aisle. But alongside the correctness of trade agreements with other nations in the region (which also gins up misplaced angst from my side) and the strengthening of resolve from the US by aligning with nations for security deals we can and must send the correct message about the needs of the international community.  At a time when many scholars are asking if the mindset of the American Century is passing away it could be argued that with this new test of commitment and purpose, the US can renew its centrality to a world that needs a democratic-based adult on the world stage.

The question that will be answered, in part, by House Republicans who are blustering and threatening all sorts of things relating to our federal budget is if they will demonstrate our understanding of this global moment in Southeast East by placing our resources behind what we should have focused on since the Soviet flag came down from over the Kremlin. Last fall in the midterms, House Republicans had outlined a number of policy aims, with one being about investing in an efficient, effective military. What that meant was not outlined, but now might be the time for the House GOP leadership to commit to standing alongside liberal democracies and committing themselves to international law and rules of conduct.

Most Important News Photo From February 8th, 2023, The West Has Vested Interests In Defeating Putin

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy

While much of the nation ruminated over the disgusting rancor and deep embarrassment caused by some despicable Republicans at the State of the Union Address the international community was paying attention to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.  While conservative Republicans needed to explain away the truly monkey-like behavior from some of their caucus, the world was focused on Ukraine’s mission of “wings for freedom”. Leadership abroad and the severe lack of it within the GOP were on full display.

The pacing of sending the needed military weapons to the forces in Ukraine who are fighting with courage and success has been a concern on this blog for the past year.  There is no doubt that sending combat aircraft to help turn the tide against Russia’s offensive is a vital and essential aspect in the defense of a nation that underscores what can happen when the international order is threatened by an autocrat. Whatever reluctance remains to take that step with military aircraft, just as the case with top-grade tanks, must be removed sooner rather than later. 

I have been concerned with the stodgy process, as any reasoned person would be, regarding high-end military hardware getting to the places where it can do the best in reclaiming territory taken by Russian soldiers. While I applaud the promise from Britain to train Ukrainian fighter pilots to fly “sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets” I am mindful of the troubling end of that sentence being “in the future”.  As noted in this blog, the process of consideration and study within the White House and among the Western powers requires some modification to meet the real-time needs of the Ukrainian soldiers who are doing the work on the battlefield.

Our nation has a vested interest, a “national interest” using the parlance from the days of my youth when the Cold War was raging, to use our international power to help defeat Russian President Putin’s efforts to re-vision the geo-political map.  I recall the words from my history teacher who fled Europe for these shores as Hitler came to power.  She made it clear that President Franklin Roosevelt did not beef up his moves on Europe due to a real threat to our homeland, but his awareness of what happens due to a real threat to the destruction of the liberal order of governments and world order should tyrants’ rule.  I suppose my views opposing illiberal moves that now are seen in places from Italy to Hungary, etc., started in that classroom with those real-world conversations.  

Our national interest today, as we stand with Ukraine is to defend a sovereign nation against a military threat from a thug who would not stop at the destruction of one nation.  And with that destruction is the dagger that would rip into the heart of the liberal world order.  Ukraine must have the military jets they need to fight today, so to prevent a larger disaster upon the world.