Category Archives: U.S. Armed Forces

The Nuclear Shakes?

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Jim Wheeler

The AP news item about nuclear missiles leapt off my computer screen this morning like some anachronistic flash-back to the Cold War. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force stripped an unprecedented 17 officers of their authority to control — and, … Continue reading →

Posted in U.S. Armed Forces | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Sledge Hammers and Fly Swatters

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

George Will usually will not use a simple word when a larger one is available, but in his column today he heads directly into common sense and becomes the first (so far as I can tell) to draw a significant strategic … Continue reading →

Posted in Terrorism, U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Navy | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Stayin’ Awake

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

News of seven air controllers falling asleep on the job recently causes me to reflect on my sleep-deprived Navy career.  Going with too little sleep is par for the course in the Navy, part necessity and part tradition.  Running a … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, U.S. Armed Forces | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Military Culture and Behavior

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

The scandal over Captain Owen Honors of the USS Enterprise causes me to reflect on how things have changed in the US Navy since I was a young Midshipman.  I entered the US Naval Academy in 1955, graduating in 1959, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, Culture, Ethics / Morality, Submarines, U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Navy, USNA | 11 Comments

Cookie Diplomacy

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Sometimes one hears a story that sticks in the memory because it is profound.  That happened to me several decades ago when a naval-officer friend of mine, we’ll call him “Ron”, told me a true story about himself.  He was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics / Morality, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Navy | Tagged | 11 Comments

Left Behind?

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

In a recent speech at Lincoln University 34-year Congressional veteran and long-time military champion Ike Skelton, D-MO, expressed a concern that as 9/11 fades in the American consciousness, “It could come to pass that the American military could become isolated … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghan war, Armed Forces, Ethics / Morality, Foreign Policy / War, U.S. Armed Forces, War | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Heroism – What Is It?

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

In trading blog posts with me recently, fellow blogger Captain Anson Burlingame used the phrase, “heroic military leadership”, and he mentioned possibly applying it to General Franks, a man who planned and executed the invasion part of the Gulf War … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, U.S. Armed Forces, War | 13 Comments

Obama’s Wars, A Book Report

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Bob Woodward’s book is the most remarkable non-fiction work on politics and war that I have ever read. In this remarkable narrative filled with direct quotes and statements backed by documented sources President Obama comes through as a strong leader … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, Terrorism, U.S. Armed Forces, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Is the CIA Reading My Blog?

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Now, maybe we’re getting some progress in this Afghan “war”, or at least a ray of hope. CNN online today (9/22/10) references a new book by reporter Bob Woodward and reports some interesting stuff.   First of all, the CIA has “. … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Policy / War, U.S. Armed Forces, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments