Comments on: Gates Says “Money Spigot” Closing; Refuses to Endorse FCS http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/ Online Defense and Acquisition Journal Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:50:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Clydehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5177 Clyde Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:33:28 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5177 BOOMER, you are man after my own heart! I love that combined sniper box-never thought of that! But in a lot of the OPFOR we play, sniper fire is hard to simulate, so, I guess our thoughts don't go much into sniping, at all. And absolutely-low tech can win over hihg tech, if properly deployed-because insurgents have the initiative and can always pick their battles and change their tactics. Tactics are cheap-high tech isn't. trouble is, there aren't a lot of tactical thinkers. Over the past 6 years, only one group that we confronted even flanked our ambush! The rest just sat in the kill zone: a big exercise in "how fast can we get off the truck". I keep harping at my guys to put out flank security and the Army makes a fool out of me, every time, but one! Put all the technology you want in these guys hands and all you'll get is a pile of fried silicon chips. The right technology, like the unmanned drones, yeah-if it fits into a tactical doctrine. But I don't see the emphasis on counter insurgent doctrine. I'm sure that we do it, but the emphasis isn't on it. It's on acquiring new "stuff", in an era when it's all been done-teh turbine and piston engine arne't going to give anymore horsepower per pound wihtout a lot of money, there aren't any "new" rocket fuels, nothing, until someone figures out how to warp space or some other Star Trak thing, and the DoD research programs, with all the security, have pretty much destroyed the sort of scientific community that generated the atomic bomb. As for the insrugents, however, I believe that they have ambush and raid in their cultural heritage, and that's why they are so good at it. Most of these tribes couldn't support a large, standing army in the field for any length of time, so, they bushwack, go home, milk the goats, and wait until the warlord calls another raid or ambush together. It's cheap and they cultivate people who become really good over the centuries. We have to train that sort thing, and it can be done, but it's intensive, since we don't have that sort of life style. However, there is just no amount of high tech that's ever going to make counter ambush and raiding into a push button game. Spend the money we've spent the oSprey program to train up as many soliders as we can in bushwhacking, and I'd bet Iraq would have been over, years ago. We need troops who know where the action is, lay an ambush, be ready for the ambush, raid safe houses, and just keep wearing them down evey time they try to get something together. And frannkly, i don't think that we're that good at it, at least, not good enough. Not that we couldn't be, there's nothing that's really incomprehensible about it, but it is a lot of work, and our people need to focus on it, rather new MRAP maintainance manuals. imagine-the rag rappers have started buring MRAPS! I should have thought of myslef-that's right out of British 1940's "how to stop a tank"-if you can't blow it up, blow the wheels off and torch it. You got to hand it to them! They've got our generals out smarted! Damn! Up armored HMVs, 5 tons, then MRAPS, and what next, to defeat a can of gasoline. Who pays for that? Go out into the sticks and do them like they do us. Anyone who thinks that they are going to drive to work in the FEBA might better,,,,,,, BOOMER, you are man after my own heart!
I love that combined sniper box-never thought of that!
But in a lot of the OPFOR we play, sniper fire is hard to simulate, so, I guess our thoughts don’t go much into sniping, at all.
And absolutely-low tech can win over hihg tech, if properly deployed-because insurgents have the initiative and can always pick their battles and change their tactics.
Tactics are cheap-high tech isn’t.
trouble is, there aren’t a lot of tactical thinkers.
Over the past 6 years, only one group that we confronted even flanked our ambush! The rest just sat in the kill zone: a big exercise in “how fast can we get off the truck”. I keep harping at my guys to put out flank security and the Army makes a fool out of me, every time, but one!
Put all the technology you want in these guys hands and all you’ll get is a pile of fried silicon chips.
The right technology, like the unmanned drones, yeah-if it fits into a tactical doctrine.
But I don’t see the emphasis on counter insurgent doctrine.
I’m sure that we do it, but the emphasis isn’t on it. It’s on acquiring new “stuff”, in an era when it’s all been done-teh turbine and piston engine arne’t going to give anymore horsepower per pound wihtout a lot of money, there aren’t any “new” rocket fuels, nothing, until someone figures out how to warp space or some other Star Trak thing, and the DoD research programs, with all the security, have pretty much destroyed the sort of scientific community that generated the atomic bomb.
As for the insrugents, however, I believe that they have ambush and raid in their cultural heritage, and that’s why they are so good at it. Most of these tribes couldn’t support a large, standing army in the field for any length of time, so, they bushwack, go home, milk the goats, and wait until the warlord calls another raid or ambush together. It’s cheap and they cultivate people who become really good over the centuries. We have to train that sort thing, and it can be done, but it’s intensive, since we don’t have that sort of life style.
However, there is just no amount of high tech that’s ever going to make counter ambush and raiding into a push button game.
Spend the money we’ve spent the oSprey program to train up as many soliders as we can in bushwhacking, and I’d bet Iraq would have been over, years ago.
We need troops who know where the action is, lay an ambush, be ready for the ambush, raid safe houses, and just keep wearing them down evey time they try to get something together.
And frannkly, i don’t think that we’re that good at it, at least, not good enough.
Not that we couldn’t be, there’s nothing that’s really incomprehensible about it, but it is a lot of work, and our people need to focus on it, rather new MRAP maintainance manuals.
imagine-the rag rappers have started buring MRAPS!
I should have thought of myslef-that’s right out of British 1940’s “how to stop a tank”-if you can’t blow it up, blow the wheels off and torch it.
You got to hand it to them! They’ve got our generals out smarted! Damn! Up armored HMVs, 5 tons, then MRAPS, and what next, to defeat a can of gasoline. Who pays for that?
Go out into the sticks and do them like they do us.
Anyone who thinks that they are going to drive to work in the FEBA might better„„„,

]]> By: BOOMERhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5067 BOOMER Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:41:46 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5067 Clyde, I'm with you on every aspect except the one you pointed out. But ambush and raids is the norm in unconventional warfare for the US as well, that is how small units effectively engage and demoralize larger forces.Combined sniper teams is another good example of unconventioal warfare, unlike the norm where one sniper hits his target and disappears the combined teams set up a box, when the enemy think they know where the shot came from and start an offensive "BANG" from another direction that trhrows them off again, then before they can gain composure, "BANG" from another direction. you can keep them pinned down and unnerved for hours before slipping out. We have taught these tactics to others as well, wasn't my ideal and never liked it or thought it was a good ideal, just following orders. and it has come back to haint us more than once. We wound up fighting troops we trained in el salvador and now we are fighting troops we trained in afganistan when we were trying to forge an alegence. High tech is needed but should not be depended upon solely we both agree. But low tech can usualy overcome high tech in combat when properly deployed. sniper teams could put sensors and radars out of operation ( 50 cents vs one million ) you cant pinpoint thier location to use a million dolloar smart bomb, but you could sure as heck carpet bomb the area low tech style and most likely get him. low cost low tech should not be put on a shelf for cool toys, collateral damge is a fact of war, it still happens with the high tech toys as well. The troops need better training, they need to train against unconventional forces and not text book foes played out like a movie script. ( put your people here and die loudly when we counter attack ). If properly trained they will realize they dont need as many gadgets as they thought they did. It's as easy as this, you set up an ambush, you know the first thing in conventional strategy is to lay down cover fire and flank thier position, but in unconventional warfare you know this so you keep some of your people back and quiet so they can ambush the flankers, it works every time and the conventional guys never seem to catch on or change thier tactics because its not in the manual to watch out for this tactic. They are not trained to expect the unexpected, something that is not written in a manual some where. Proper training can negate some of these high dollar programs in the works. Clyde, I’m with you on every aspect except the one you pointed out. But ambush and raids is the norm in unconventional warfare for the US as well, that is how small units effectively engage and demoralize larger forces.Combined sniper teams is another good example of unconventioal warfare, unlike the norm where one sniper hits his target and disappears the combined teams set up a box, when the enemy think they know where the shot came from and start an offensive “BANG” from another direction that trhrows them off again, then before they can gain composure, “BANG” from another direction. you can keep them pinned down and unnerved for hours before slipping out. We have taught these tactics to others as well, wasn’t my ideal and never liked it or thought it was a good ideal, just following orders. and it has come back to haint us more than once. We wound up fighting troops we trained in el salvador and now we are fighting troops we trained in afganistan when we were trying to forge an alegence. High tech is needed but should not be depended upon solely we both agree. But low tech can usualy overcome high tech in combat when properly deployed. sniper teams could put sensors and radars out of operation ( 50 cents vs one million ) you cant pinpoint thier location to use a million dolloar smart bomb, but you could sure as heck carpet bomb the area low tech style and most likely get him. low cost low tech should not be put on a shelf for cool toys, collateral damge is a fact of war, it still happens with the high tech toys as well. The troops need better training, they need to train against unconventional forces and not text book foes played out like a movie script. ( put your people here and die loudly when we counter attack ). If properly trained they will realize they dont need as many gadgets as they thought they did. It’s as easy as this, you set up an ambush, you know the first thing in conventional strategy is to lay down cover fire and flank thier position, but in unconventional warfare you know this so you keep some of your people back and quiet so they can ambush the flankers, it works every time and the conventional guys never seem to catch on or change thier tactics because its not in the manual to watch out for this tactic. They are not trained to expect the unexpected, something that is not written in a manual some where. Proper training can negate some of these high dollar programs in the works.

]]> By: Clydehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5062 Clyde Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:34:14 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5062 I agree with BOOMER in al respects except about us teaching the rag heads about what to do against the Soviets in the 1980's. The Eastern concept of war is somewhat the reverse of ours-ambush and raids are the norm. : holding ground is pretty a minor consideration. The Mujihideen pretty much beat the Soviets on their own, until the Soviets learned to use rotary wing retaliation to good effefct, and then, the Stingers did make the nut over the RPG 7 volley method of helicopter destruction. That aisde, however, the military is way tooo focussed on technology rather than training troops in their art. Lots of Reserve Army go to FTX without even an OPFOR. Pathetic! Large, standing peacetime armies are also just an invitation to institutionalization-with the nuts in charge. Too many amateurs crying "what if" and then running blank checks up the flag pole, singing the anthem of patriotism and saving kids lives. Truth is, as Coln Powell points out, conscritps vastly improved the army, in his day. What we need, is a small general staff of intelligent, dedicated professionals, on the von Moltke model, who can field a cadre of professionals over a conscript army, who haven;t had all their initiative bled out by beurocracy. That's the western ticket to victory. Save your money until you know what you'r up against, and believe that contractors will alsways be there for the buck, if you even need it. We're entering an age when every increae in speed, capacity or firepower is exponentially expensive. Nothing new since the diesel engine, turbine engine and smokeless powder, really. A little art in maneuvre is a lto cheaper, unless you're talking about the bomb, in whcih case, it doesn't matter who wins. I agree with BOOMER in al respects except about us teaching the rag heads about what to do against the Soviets in the 1980’s. The Eastern concept of war is somewhat the reverse of ours-ambush and raids are the norm. : holding ground is pretty a minor consideration. The Mujihideen pretty much beat the Soviets on their own, until the Soviets learned to use rotary wing retaliation to good effefct, and then, the Stingers did make the nut over the RPG 7 volley method of helicopter destruction.
That aisde, however, the military is way tooo focussed on technology rather than training troops in their art. Lots of Reserve Army go to FTX without even an OPFOR. Pathetic! Large, standing peacetime armies are also just an invitation to institutionalization-with the nuts in charge. Too many amateurs crying “what if” and then running blank checks up the flag pole, singing the anthem of patriotism and saving kids lives. Truth is, as Coln Powell points out, conscritps vastly improved the army, in his day. What we need, is a small general staff of intelligent, dedicated professionals, on the von Moltke model, who can field a cadre of professionals over a conscript army, who haven;t had all their initiative bled out by beurocracy. That’s the western ticket to victory. Save your money until you know what you’r up against, and believe that contractors will alsways be there for the buck, if you even need it. We’re entering an age when every increae in speed, capacity or firepower is exponentially expensive. Nothing new since the diesel engine, turbine engine and smokeless powder, really. A little art in maneuvre is a lto cheaper, unless you’re talking about the bomb, in whcih case, it doesn’t matter who wins.

]]> By: BOOMERhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5056 BOOMER Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:45:09 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5056 Willie, I agree with your insight and also disagree. I worked at ARDEC for a number of years overseeing products and while there are some Col's. and Gen's in the chain of command, the 14's and 15's are making most of the decisions and reporting to the military monthly. I know we soloicit data from the field but it is normaly ignored in favor of research funded projects. Such as The infamous M16/ M4 quality issues, Having not only served active duty for 24 yrs, I also worked in the ammo feild and know that the reason these weapons have malfunctions and loss of accuracy is because the ammo guys stopped chamfering the case mouths to save tooling costs since it was not a requirement and now when the projectile is inserted into the case it shaves the jacket which lodges into the rifleing of the barrel and cloggs up the gas tube, Ive seen barrels foul up and loose acuracy after only 700 rds on the test range. So what did they do, a million dollar study to decide the troops need to clean thier weapons more often to help eliviate this problem rather than fixing the actual cause. As for the guy that said we need to study what the rag heads as he called them are doing; They are only doing what we taught them to do against the Russians during the 80's. technology is good if practical, we need better satalite telemitry and coms gear, strike vehicles and such but we need to know how to act when they are not available or dont work. I ran into a unit in the sand box that had been roaming around lost for two days because thier GPS was not working and not only did no one have a lensatic compass, when we offered them one they werent sure how to use it. They were too dependent on technology as our whole society has become. Technology to protech our selves is good, technology to copy luke skywalker and look cool will get us killed. Willie, I agree with your insight and also disagree. I worked at ARDEC for a number of years overseeing products and while there are some Col’s. and Gen’s in the chain of command, the 14’s and 15’s are making most of the decisions and reporting to the military monthly. I know we soloicit data from the field but it is normaly ignored in favor of research funded projects. Such as The infamous M16/ M4 quality issues, Having not only served active duty for 24 yrs, I also worked in the ammo feild and know that the reason these weapons have malfunctions and loss of accuracy is because the ammo guys stopped chamfering the case mouths to save tooling costs since it was not a requirement and now when the projectile is inserted into the case it shaves the jacket which lodges into the rifleing of the barrel and cloggs up the gas tube, Ive seen barrels foul up and loose acuracy after only 700 rds on the test range. So what did they do, a million dollar study to decide the troops need to clean thier weapons more often to help eliviate this problem rather than fixing the actual cause. As for the guy that said we need to study what the rag heads as he called them are doing; They are only doing what we taught them to do against the Russians during the 80’s. technology is good if practical, we need better satalite telemitry and coms gear, strike vehicles and such but we need to know how to act when they are not available or dont work. I ran into a unit in the sand box that had been roaming around lost for two days because thier GPS was not working and not only did no one have a lensatic compass, when we offered them one they werent sure how to use it. They were too dependent on technology as our whole society has become. Technology to protech our selves is good, technology to copy luke skywalker and look cool will get us killed.

]]> By: gatodelsolhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5055 gatodelsol Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:52:59 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5055 Future Combat Systems needs to die. It is largely notional technology that has limited near-term employment. Yes, it provides lots of nice defense worker employment, but it is unproven overall and relies too heavily on electronics for basic vehicle protection. The robotic aspect of it is the most employable aspect of it, but you cannot or should not rely on a family of like "armored" vehicles to fit multiple roles. It can't be a tank, an APC, and HMMWV, and self-propelled artillery and do them all well with the limited armor suite assigned to it. RPV helicopters I can see, most of the rest is just technological window dressing that doesn't critically fit the types of future wars we will (hopefully not) have to fight. We can't afford it, it doesn't have forseeable future use, and Robert Gates is just telling it like it is. Future Combat Systems needs to die. It is largely notional technology that has limited near-term employment. Yes, it provides lots of nice defense worker employment, but it is unproven overall and relies too heavily on electronics for basic vehicle protection. The robotic aspect of it is the most employable aspect of it, but you cannot or should not rely on a family of like “armored” vehicles to fit multiple roles. It can’t be a tank, an APC, and HMMWV, and self-propelled artillery and do them all well with the limited armor suite assigned to it. RPV helicopters I can see, most of the rest is just technological window dressing that doesn’t critically fit the types of future wars we will (hopefully not) have to fight. We can’t afford it, it doesn’t have forseeable future use, and Robert Gates is just telling it like it is.

]]> By: Clydehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5047 Clyde Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:01:10 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5047 About Time! This whole Military-Indutrial Complex is a problem child born of the WWII Manhattan Project. AND, the lesson of the ensuing Cold War is, you can't keep a technological edge on anybody without going broke. There are no secrets anymore. Furthermore, none of the SuperPowers are going to war-nobody wants a REAL, Global Holocaust. I can tell you how make VX, GD or a nuclear bomb, and I don't have any security clearances. But look at the mess the military has made of nerve agents and nuclear power, and, never used it (besides Hiroshima) The military has becaome so focussed on "technical edge" that they have forgotten their art and profession. I've trained with soldiers who don't even know basic, counter ambush. A few rag heads have pretty much put our whole, expensive military apparatus to shame with just Aks, RPG 7s, and IEDs. Why not study what they did, learn from it, and keep our wallets in our pockets. War is actually a game requring intelligence, not hihg priced transformer toys that we have to scrap on a regular basis and go make more. About Time!
This whole Military-Indutrial Complex is a problem child born of the WWII Manhattan Project.
AND, the lesson of the ensuing Cold War is, you can’t keep a technological edge on anybody without going broke.
There are no secrets anymore.
Furthermore, none of the SuperPowers are going to war-nobody wants a REAL, Global Holocaust.
I can tell you how make VX, GD or a nuclear bomb, and I don’t have any security clearances.
But look at the mess the military has made of nerve agents and nuclear power, and, never used it (besides Hiroshima)
The military has becaome so focussed on “technical edge” that they have forgotten their art and profession. I’ve trained with soldiers who don’t even know basic, counter ambush. A few rag heads have pretty much put our whole, expensive military apparatus to shame with just Aks, RPG 7s, and IEDs. Why not study what they did, learn from it, and keep our wallets in our pockets.
War is actually a game requring intelligence, not hihg priced transformer toys that we have to scrap on a regular basis and go make more.

]]> By: Williehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5043 Willie Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:21:00 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5043 Continued....Covert operations to help determine the threat as well as input/data provided by E-1's through Captain in the field to aid determining the threat and to report on how effective and how well our systems function against our enemies weapons and weapons systems.Someone on this thread mentioned that our QA specs need to be given more latitude...I agree with that 100%. Add DOD employee Contractor liaisons to that and make the higher ups back the decisions those employees make and actions they take against a contractor when a contractor fails to perform IAW specified requirements. That means no contractor crying and whimpering to a QA specs or Contractor Liaisons supervisor or higher up because a line has been shut down for noncompliance. Continued.…Covert operations to help determine the threat as well as input/data provided by E-1’s through Captain in the field to aid determining the threat and to report on how effective and how well our systems function against our enemies weapons and weapons systems.

Someone on this thread mentioned that our QA specs need to be given more latitude…I agree with that 100%. Add DOD employee Contractor liaisons to that and make the higher ups back the decisions those employees make and actions they take against a contractor when a contractor fails to perform IAW specified requirements. That means no contractor crying and whimpering to a QA specs or Contractor Liaisons supervisor or higher up because a line has been shut down for noncompliance.

]]> By: Williehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5039 Willie Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:17:56 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5039 Boomer, very well said. E-1's through Captain's in the field should and do report circumstances, situations and incidents to aid in determining which projects move forward; and that works very well. One of the areas that gets us into trouble and over budget is in accepting and funding unsolicited contractors proposals for weapons systems of the futre that no one has ever conceived of...those need to looked at much more closely and compared against the real threat.The problems with that is that in order to save lives on our side, the threat must be assessed before we meet it and it is used against us in the field. Covert operations to help determine the threat are necessary.Unfortunately, determining the threat requires higher ups reviewing data to determine which systems are most needed to counter a threat. Program managers are not GM-14's and GM-15's; they are usually high ranking military officers or Senior Executive Service civilians. Civilians work for the military, not vice versa. You may see a 14/15 issuing orders to action officers, but those orders came from much higher up. (sorry gotta go eat dinner..wife is chewing on me) Boomer, very well said. E-1’s through Captain’s in the field should and do report circumstances, situations and incidents to aid in determining which projects move forward; and that works very well. One of the areas that gets us into trouble and over budget is in accepting and funding unsolicited contractors proposals for weapons systems of the futre that no one has ever conceived of…those need to looked at much more closely and compared against the real threat.

The problems with that is that in order to save lives on our side, the threat must be assessed before we meet it and it is used against us in the field. Covert operations to help determine the threat are necessary.

Unfortunately, determining the threat requires higher ups reviewing data to determine which systems are most needed to counter a threat. Program managers are not GM-14’s and GM-15’s; they are usually high ranking military officers or Senior Executive Service civilians. Civilians work for the military, not vice versa. You may see a 14/15 issuing orders to action officers, but those orders came from much higher up. (sorry gotta go eat dinner..wife is chewing on me)

]]> By: Dekkerhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5036 Dekker Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:57:07 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5036 It's true that defense spending has gotten wildly out of control. But some of these projects really are good National Security investments, such as the LCS, the F35, and perhaps key parts of the FCS. But if these projects cant stay on budget, there's really no point in going forward with them. It’s true that defense spending has gotten wildly out of control. But some of these projects really are good National Security investments, such as the LCS, the F35, and perhaps key parts of the FCS. But if these projects cant stay on budget, there’s really no point in going forward with them.

]]> By: BOOMERhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5034 BOOMER Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:35:25 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5034 Rhyno327, They were part of the many open purchased or confiscated weapons in our arsenal. and you are right, possibly the best weapon ever built and cost 1/4 of the cost of an M4, although any collecter that has one in his inventory is asking a premium for it these days ( used to buy them for 300.00 now over 1,000.00 for a used civilian model. ), I agree in this type of enviroment and enemy the IDF has the most experience and you can see the dificulties they are still having. But back in the 80's we were fighting different kind of conflicts in the jungles of central America, I'm taking it that now you can watch these untold stories on the military channel they cant come after me for saying anything. and with Hugo Chavez these days we might be covertly back there again, or look at what is happening in the congo right now, a good chance Obama will send us in there soon as he can get us out of Iraq. so we cant focus on urban warfare solely, and in Afgahnistan it's taking place in valleys and wide open areas. we have to be versitile but we have a habbit on focusing on one type of fighting at a time. Logisticly 6.8 wont happen, best we can hope for is 7.62mm since Lake City Army Ammunition Plant already has the equipment and capability to keep making it in large numbers. Hold back is we convinced everyone else to switch to our ammo and weapons from thier FN and H&K 7.62mm weapons they were happy with. US has to admitt they were right to start with and you know our politicians dont like to addmitt ever being wrong. Rhyno327, They were part of the many open purchased or confiscated weapons in our arsenal. and you are right, possibly the best weapon ever built and cost 1/4 of the cost of an M4, although any collecter that has one in his inventory is asking a premium for it these days ( used to buy them for 300.00 now over 1,000.00 for a used civilian model. ), I agree in this type of enviroment and enemy the IDF has the most experience and you can see the dificulties they are still having. But back in the 80’s we were fighting different kind of conflicts in the jungles of central America, I’m taking it that now you can watch these untold stories on the military channel they cant come after me for saying anything. and with Hugo Chavez these days we might be covertly back there again, or look at what is happening in the congo right now, a good chance Obama will send us in there soon as he can get us out of Iraq. so we cant focus on urban warfare solely, and in Afgahnistan it’s taking place in valleys and wide open areas. we have to be versitile but we have a habbit on focusing on one type of fighting at a time. Logisticly 6.8 wont happen, best we can hope for is 7.62mm since Lake City Army Ammunition Plant already has the equipment and capability to keep making it in large numbers. Hold back is we convinced everyone else to switch to our ammo and weapons from thier FN and H&K 7.62mm weapons they were happy with. US has to admitt they were right to start with and you know our politicians dont like to addmitt ever being wrong.

]]> By: Rhyno327http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5031 Rhyno327 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:10:36 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5031 Wow, where did ya get the Galil's? The Israeli's rifle is head and shoulders above the AK, and comes in different sizes. I think there are plenty of options out there, the 6.8mm being my choice. Yes, I have fired Bushmasters version and it is a good compromise between 5.56 and 7.62. As far as urban warfare goes, setting charges to go house to house, avoiding the street is an Israeli tactic. The M-4's gotta go. Wow, where did ya get the Galil’s? The Israeli’s rifle is head and shoulders above the AK, and comes in different sizes. I think there are plenty of options out there, the 6.8mm being my choice. Yes, I have fired Bushmasters version and it is a good compromise between 5.56 and 7.62. As far as urban warfare goes, setting charges to go house to house, avoiding the street is an Israeli tactic. The M-4’s gotta go.

]]> By: BOOMERhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5027 BOOMER Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:54:58 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5027 Cole, What you are defending is the same thing I have been talking about. I mentioned we had support units and security availability during operations. And what you are describing is still conventional forces which I am all for. Yes when you go in with small unit strike forces you rely on speed and superior firepower, anyone standing or percieved as a threat is taken out. But the same thing happens with mechanized units as well. What I am debunking here is all the money being spent on exotic stuff like remote operated combat robots. millions are being spent on this program instead of on what the troops are asking for. as for your comments about IED's, just as we warned them in the beginning, you make it public we are putting armor on vehicles and they will just make more and bigger IED's and they have, so we in turn build vehicles too big and too heavy for practicle use to counter them again so the IED's are getting bigger again. Yes we did go up against tanks in Serbia, Kosovo, desrt Storm, and now, for a short period and did extremely well, no one could have done it better. But we get hit hard in the urban arena. better training is being conducted but it is still lacking in a lot of areas, mostly because the equipment which worked well in the open is too much of a henderance in urban warfare. No I don't like the M4 you mentioned me depending on, I carried a Galail ARM 7.62mm (improved Ak variant) got a but chewing from a Col. about me trying to start an international incident with my guys carrying Isreali weapons to kill muslims. and yes I would rather carry a ruck full of compact LAW rockets than try to manuver over walls and under obsticles quickly with the oversized heavy modern stuff. I am not implying that only SPECOPS people will be fighting future wars, our guys (everyone in the military) are capable of carrying out these duties once properly trained and equipped with out having to be spec ops trained. Bottom line is E-1 to CPT. should be the ones deciding what projects need to go foward and which ones need to be scrapped, not the Cols and Gens and GS-14 & 15's sitting in program manager seats. The QA reps at contractors facilities need to be held more accountable and given more authority, if they say the product is non conforming then so be it, it should not go over his head or behind his back to get it accepted into the supply system so schedule can be met. Stop preparing for the 25th century till we have what we need to defend the 21st. Cole, What you are defending is the same thing I have been talking about. I mentioned we had support units and security availability during operations. And what you are describing is still conventional forces which I am all for. Yes when you go in with small unit strike forces you rely on speed and superior firepower, anyone standing or percieved as a threat is taken out. But the same thing happens with mechanized units as well. What I am debunking here is all the money being spent on exotic stuff like remote operated combat robots. millions are being spent on this program instead of on what the troops are asking for. as for your comments about IED’s, just as we warned them in the beginning, you make it public we are putting armor on vehicles and they will just make more and bigger IED’s and they have, so we in turn build vehicles too big and too heavy for practicle use to counter them again so the IED’s are getting bigger again. Yes we did go up against tanks in Serbia, Kosovo, desrt Storm, and now, for a short period and did extremely well, no one could have done it better. But we get hit hard in the urban arena. better training is being conducted but it is still lacking in a lot of areas, mostly because the equipment which worked well in the open is too much of a henderance in urban warfare. No I don’t like the M4 you mentioned me depending on, I carried a Galail ARM 7.62mm (improved Ak variant) got a but chewing from a Col. about me trying to start an international incident with my guys carrying Isreali weapons to kill muslims. and yes I would rather carry a ruck full of compact LAW rockets than try to manuver over walls and under obsticles quickly with the oversized heavy modern stuff. I am not implying that only SPECOPS people will be fighting future wars, our guys (everyone in the military) are capable of carrying out these duties once properly trained and equipped with out having to be spec ops trained. Bottom line is E-1 to CPT. should be the ones deciding what projects need to go foward and which ones need to be scrapped, not the Cols and Gens and GS-14 & 15’s sitting in program manager seats. The QA reps at contractors facilities need to be held more accountable and given more authority, if they say the product is non conforming then so be it, it should not go over his head or behind his back to get it accepted into the supply system so schedule can be met. Stop preparing for the 25th century till we have what we need to defend the 21st.

]]> By: Williehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5026 Willie Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:35:06 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5026 Russia IS a threat to the USA...their jaunt through Georgia was just a trial run...a testing of the waters. They will attack the U.S. via Alaska...(do they want Alaska...No...they want the oil in Alaska and the oil in the Arab countries....and...they want to split our forces) while they are simultaneously pounding Israel with their buddy Iran and whomever else they can recruit from middle East. Nuclear war? Nope...they are to afraid that we will use ours.We "gallivant" around the world fighting or policing (whatever anyone wants to call it) so that we wont have to fight a war on our soil. I dont know about anyone else, but I prefer the U.S. fight it's wars in someone elses country other than our own.Killing someones Father, Brother, Mother, Sister, wife, uncle, cousin etc...does work...we need to keep killing them until either there is no one else to kill or those who remain give up or quit. We did'nt start this, they did. We should be like Israel, We need to kill 1000 of them for every one of us that they kill, and continue to do it until they run out of people or they quit killing us. To hell with precise strategic bombing. We Should line our planes up wing to wing and blanket bomb every city they have...then send in the troops to kill what ever is left over...including their goats, donkeys, camels, dogs, cats...whatever moves. Leave 100 woman of child bearing age 50 men so we cant be accused of genocide.Diplomacy is not an option with people who Hi-Jack airplanes and crash them into U.S. buidings on U.S. soil...My God! People want to attempt to be diplomatic with animals like that? Thats like attempting to talk to the school bully while he has you flat on your back with your arms pinned down puching you in the face with both fists....."Oh, uh...lets talk this over...we can work our differences out". Russia IS a threat to the USA…their jaunt through Georgia was just a trial run…a testing of the waters. They will attack the U.S. via Alaska…(do they want Alaska…No…they want the oil in Alaska and the oil in the Arab countries.…and…they want to split our forces) while they are simultaneously pounding Israel with their buddy Iran and whomever else they can recruit from middle East. Nuclear war? Nope…they are to afraid that we will use ours.

We “gallivant” around the world fighting or policing (whatever anyone wants to call it) so that we wont have to fight a war on our soil. I dont know about anyone else, but I prefer the U.S. fight it’s wars in someone elses country other than our own.

Killing someones Father, Brother, Mother, Sister, wife, uncle, cousin etc…does work…we need to keep killing them until either there is no one else to kill or those who remain give up or quit. We did’nt start this, they did. We should be like Israel, We need to kill 1000 of them for every one of us that they kill, and continue to do it until they run out of people or they quit killing us. To hell with precise strategic bombing. We Should line our planes up wing to wing and blanket bomb every city they have…then send in the troops to kill what ever is left over…including their goats, donkeys, camels, dogs, cats…whatever moves. Leave 100 woman of child bearing age 50 men so we cant be accused
of genocide.

Diplomacy is not an option with people who Hi-Jack airplanes and crash them into U.S. buidings on U.S. soil…My God! People want to attempt to be diplomatic with animals like that?
Thats like attempting to talk to the school bully while he has you flat on your back with your arms pinned down puching you in the face with both fists.….“Oh, uh…lets talk this over…we can work our differences out”.

]]> By: Colehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5024 Cole Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:45:13 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5024 Boomer, today I coincidentally watched overhead video of Strykers cordoning an Iraqi complex, insurgents jumping a wall without being able to get away, one insurgent hiding on the roof with a suicide vest but was taken out by Stryker infantry. The insurgents preceded to hide in an outlying building of the complex. Presumably UAV video informed the unit where they were hiding. A Stryker 105 mm gun disposed of the problem. Result: 6 dead insurgents and no dead civilians.Now lets take it from a small highly trained basically armed team standpoint. You come in the middle of the night, blow down a wall or door for entry and simultaneously take out a family sleeping against that wall because you couldn't see through that wall with tech you didn't have. Grandpa thinks the Shiites are after him and shows up with weapon in hand only to have your boys blow him away. The five insurgents hop the wall and get away because your team was too small and had no armor to surround the complex. Maybe you see the runners and get off some rounds and they end up in the same exterior building. Is your LAW going to ruin their day with the same effect as two 105mm rounds...let alone an FCS 120mm round?I also read about lots of small elite teams turning very brave, but also very desperate because they were wandering around Afghanistan mountains...and bit off far more than they can chew. Sure would be nice to have some quick access to fire support and airpower. Like your idea about fast dune buggies...until you hit an IED or leftover Russian mine.Finally, not sure where you derive that all combat since Vietnam has been insurgency. Seems like we fought Army's with armor and other far-more-than-hybrid systems in both Serbia and Iraq...twice. Did not Georgia recently involve armor? Care to explain how effective your small highly trained, basically armed team would be taking on Russian tanks with just your LAWs, M4s, and a prayer? Boomer, today I coincidentally watched overhead video of Strykers cordoning an Iraqi complex, insurgents jumping a wall without being able to get away, one insurgent hiding on the roof with a suicide vest but was taken out by Stryker infantry. The insurgents preceded to hide in an outlying building of the complex. Presumably UAV video informed the unit where they were hiding. A Stryker 105 mm gun disposed of the problem. Result: 6 dead insurgents and no dead civilians.

Now lets take it from a small highly trained basically armed team standpoint. You come in the middle of the night, blow down a wall or door for entry and simultaneously take out a family sleeping against that wall because you couldn’t see through that wall with tech you didn’t have. Grandpa thinks the Shiites are after him and shows up with weapon in hand only to have your boys blow him away. The five insurgents hop the wall and get away because your team was too small and had no armor to surround the complex. Maybe you see the runners and get off some rounds and they end up in the same exterior building. Is your LAW going to ruin their day with the same effect as two 105mm rounds…let alone an FCS 120mm round?

I also read about lots of small elite teams turning very brave, but also very desperate because they were wandering around Afghanistan mountains…and bit off far more than they can chew. Sure would be nice to have some quick access to fire support and airpower. Like your idea about fast dune buggies…until you hit an IED or leftover Russian mine.

Finally, not sure where you derive that all combat since Vietnam has been insurgency. Seems like we fought Army’s with armor and other far-more-than-hybrid systems in both Serbia and Iraq…twice. Did not Georgia recently involve armor? Care to explain how effective your small highly trained, basically armed team would be taking on Russian tanks with just your LAWs, M4s, and a prayer?

]]> By: Acshttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5021 Acs Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:00:44 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5021 Nuclear War is not an option. Until I see a Chinese frigate off the coast of San Diego I won't be changing my mind. We hear so many people screaming about protecting American, god bless etc, but the only way to do that is to protect our home front, not by gallivanting around the world policing. I'll go anywhere i'm ordered to but the might of our military can only conquer armies not people. If the USA wants to be safe from foreign aggression diplomacy is the only options. Marines have been in Iraq for six years, and we still don't have complete control of that tiny sand box. Killing someones brothers and father doesn't make them want to surrender, it makes them fight back. The cost of these wars is far to high both in dollars and lives. So as i said before, give the soldiers Ballistic bat suits, and get the politician's to think before they send us into perpetual war zones. Nuclear War is not an option. Until I see a Chinese frigate off the coast of San Diego I won’t be changing my mind. We hear so many people screaming about protecting American, god bless etc, but the only way to do that is to protect our home front, not by gallivanting around the world policing. I’ll go anywhere i’m ordered to but the might of our military can only conquer armies not people. If the USA wants to be safe from foreign aggression diplomacy is the only options. Marines have been in Iraq for six years, and we still don’t have complete control of that tiny sand box. Killing someones brothers and father doesn’t make them want to surrender, it makes them fight back. The cost of these wars is far to high both in dollars and lives. So as i said before, give the soldiers Ballistic bat suits, and get the politician’s to think before they send us into perpetual war zones.

]]> By: BOOMERhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5020 BOOMER Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:40:01 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5020 Once again there are good points here, I never said I don't see a need for high tech in some areas but when it comes down to unconventional warfare, low tech man with the weapon is what gets things done. I personaly killed a milloin dollar bot a 300 yds to prove my point to engineers but it didn't stop the program, bomb bots are good but you cant always wait, I took out quite a few in country with a 12 ga BRI round. Why would I working in a small covert unit want to carry a large heavy rocket launcher when I can accomplish the same thing with a NAM era LAW ( as the Marines have started using again for the same reason. ) Surgical strikes or OK at times but in a combat zone during a fire fight as long as it's not me or my buddies I don't care who gets hit, we employed as low tech as you can get in country taking with us a number of different cammo patterns, if you didnt look like us you got shot ( we always knew where our support units and rear security were to prevent friendly fire, they were almost always outta sight and outta mind unless we were in a hurt locker. ). Better training, and better small arms and equipment for fast striking forces is needed as well. Also I do not wish to offend anyone working fro a defense contractor who is honestly trying to do his best, but I have had a number of run ins with the big three over product being delivered that should have been in the trash bin. Also on the Govt side a lot of young people have been hired with no ideal what they are working on outside of thier portion of an end item, ( tail fin guy has no ideal what the body or warhead guy is doing ) ammo engineers that have never seen a real M16 let alone fired one. Bottom line is always in the final numbers so everyone looks good on paper. Sorry but that's simply the way it is until there is a reportable incedent then they say why didnt someone tell me that was possible. Once again there are good points here, I never said I don’t see a need for high tech in some areas but when it comes down to unconventional warfare, low tech man with the weapon is what gets things done. I personaly killed a milloin dollar bot a 300 yds to prove my point to engineers but it didn’t stop the program, bomb bots are good but you cant always wait, I took out quite a few in country with a 12 ga BRI round. Why would I working in a small covert unit want to carry a large heavy rocket launcher when I can accomplish the same thing with a NAM era LAW ( as the Marines have started using again for the same reason. ) Surgical strikes or OK at times but in a combat zone during a fire fight as long as it’s not me or my buddies I don’t care who gets hit, we employed as low tech as you can get in country taking with us a number of different cammo patterns, if you didnt look like us you got shot ( we always knew where our support units and rear security were to prevent friendly fire, they were almost always outta sight and outta mind unless we were in a hurt locker. ). Better training, and better small arms and equipment for fast striking forces is needed as well. Also I do not wish to offend anyone working fro a defense contractor who is honestly trying to do his best, but I have had a number of run ins with the big three over product being delivered that should have been in the trash bin. Also on the Govt side a lot of young people have been hired with no ideal what they are working on outside of thier portion of an end item, ( tail fin guy has no ideal what the body or warhead guy is doing ) ammo engineers that have never seen a real M16 let alone fired one. Bottom line is always in the final numbers so everyone looks good on paper. Sorry but that’s simply the way it is until there is a reportable incedent then they say why didnt someone tell me that was possible.

]]> By: John Tisuehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5019 John Tisue Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:38:17 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5019 Maybe it's time we really thought about bringing everyone home from Europe. Build our Nuke deterent,and use it every time someone pushes us to far. No foriegn aid, no foriegn entanglements. Maybe it’s time we really thought about bringing everyone home from Europe. Build our Nuke deterent,and use it every time someone pushes us to far. No foriegn aid, no foriegn entanglements.

]]> By: Steve Khttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5015 Steve K Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:57:42 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5015 My two cents.Eddie, Gates mentioned LCS as a program in trouble so he's looking at ALL the services.Chartryll, I'm sure you thing the israelis bombed the WTC also. Russia's economy is in the tank and they can't even afford to send their navy to sea. Their ships are old and poorly maintained. Still I'm sure they could put up a fair fight for a short time. But they don't want Alaska. You might as well say they're going to invade Canada. And you're nuts if you think they will work with China as a block. Russia has been invaded by China too many times to go all in with them.China's not going ally thenselves with N Korea in a war. Why? NK can't even put up lights in it's cities let alone fight a major war with Japan, Phillipines and Australia. They would just be a burden on China. Besides, China is much more interested in reunification with Taiwan, whether by force or diplomacy, to think about the other island states. They would rather build up their trade with those countries taking over as the dominant trading partner from the US. That's real power.Iran/Iraq will be interesting when we get out of Iraq but we will have a presence in the area for years that will keep Iran from getting too out of control. With a big US presence in Afghanistan on their border we would become a second front they could not handle.Boomer, Re LCS - they're designed to operate in ten foot depths so that is definitely coastal but not brown water. The navy is redeveloping it's riverine forces and is acquiring the boats and weapons for them. But you're right that we do need to get rid of non-performing people. However, it is just as much in the rank and file as it is in the top management. It's virtually impossible to get rid of someone who is doing a crappy job for the government. There are also, I think, a lot of abuses in the contracting world - in the awarding of the contracts and in the management of the results - but I think just as much we are trying to do too much high tech in the wrong areas.We are fighting asymmetrical wars and we will for a long time ahead. We already have the best all out conventional fighting force in the world and don't really need to get more firepower. What we really need to do is learn to do is deny the enemy the ability to achieve their goals. We already know how to blow stuff up. We don't know how to keep the enemy from using things like IEDs and car bombs but we can learn to mitigate their effects so the enemy doesn't achieve the intended results. And mostly those are low tech solutions. Hardening transportation and buildings. Better personal armor. Traveling different routes every day so attacks can't be scheduled. Being unpredictable.But this is about acquisition and I'll tell you who one of the biggest culprits is - Congress. Congress has it set up so that bad programs get spread out over many districts and states so that lots of reps and sens benefit their constituents when they vote to approve those programs. Who's going to vote against a crappy product when it brings money to their district or state? And even one congressman can get special projects rammed through that are essentially useless but gets money to their district. I've seen it where I work (naval engineering facility) more than once. Being a congressman's friend can make you rich. My two cents.

Eddie, Gates mentioned LCS as a program in trouble so he’s looking at ALL the services.

Chartryll, I’m sure you thing the israelis bombed the WTC also. Russia’s economy is in the tank and they can’t even afford to send their navy to sea. Their ships are old and poorly maintained. Still I’m sure they could put up a fair fight for a short time. But they don’t want Alaska. You might as well say they’re going to invade Canada. And you’re nuts if you think they will work with China as a block. Russia has been invaded by China too many times to go all in with them.

China’s not going ally thenselves with N Korea in a war. Why? NK can’t even put up lights in it’s cities let alone fight a major war with Japan, Phillipines and Australia. They would just be a burden on China. Besides, China is much more interested in reunification with Taiwan, whether by force or diplomacy, to think about the other island states. They would rather build up their trade with those countries taking over as the dominant trading partner from the US. That’s real power.

Iran/Iraq will be interesting when we get out of Iraq but we will have a presence in the area for years that will keep Iran from getting too out of control. With a big US presence in Afghanistan on their border we would become a second front they could not handle.

Boomer, Re LCS — they’re designed to operate in ten foot depths so that is definitely coastal but not brown water. The navy is redeveloping it’s riverine forces and is acquiring the boats and weapons for them. But you’re right that we do need to get rid of non-performing people. However, it is just as much in the rank and file as it is in the top management. It’s virtually impossible to get rid of someone who is doing a crappy job for the government. There are also, I think, a lot of abuses in the contracting world — in the awarding of the contracts and in the management of the results — but I think just as much we are trying to do too much high tech in the wrong areas.

We are fighting asymmetrical wars and we will for a long time ahead. We already have the best all out conventional fighting force in the world and don’t really need to get more firepower. What we really need to do is learn to do is deny the enemy the ability to achieve their goals. We already know how to blow stuff up. We don’t know how to keep the enemy from using things like IEDs and car bombs but we can learn to mitigate their effects so the enemy doesn’t achieve the intended results. And mostly those are low tech solutions. Hardening transportation and buildings. Better personal armor. Traveling different routes every day so attacks can’t be scheduled. Being unpredictable.

But this is about acquisition and I’ll tell you who one of the biggest culprits is — Congress. Congress has it set up so that bad programs get spread out over many districts and states so that lots of reps and sens benefit their constituents when they vote to approve those programs. Who’s going to vote against a crappy product when it brings money to their district or state? And even one congressman can get special projects rammed through that are essentially useless but gets money to their district. I’ve seen it where I work (naval engineering facility) more than once. Being a congressman’s friend can make you rich.

]]> By: Karen Kelthttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5013 Karen Kelt Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:46:35 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5013 I do not pretend to understand the technical end (weapons, etc). I do know as a WWII AF Pilots child and a retired DOD employee that common sense will tell you that "Secrets" detrimental to our country need to be kept secret (The Media today is ignorant of the truth). Secondly, the de-regulation of the government from Reagan Admin. and worsening by Clinton Admin. have caused the lack of follow-up on contractors being hired without the bidding process. There apparently has been no bidding for the lowest "High Quality" Contractor's. We can also thank the idea that "Micro managing worked". It did not, not to mention that too many non english speaking are both managing and paying contractors. There has been entirely too much flagrant spending and buying for the last 18 years much less having a workforce that does not have to even stay the "Pledge of Allegiance" and mean it. All I do is "fume" and pray. Does that make me stupid? This may be simplified but it comes straight from the heart. I am genuinely concerned about our freedom and our future as a country. God Bless America and our "Armed Forces". Thank you whom truly give for our freedoms, present, past, and future. I do not pretend to understand the technical end (weapons, etc). I do know as a WWII AF Pilots child and a retired DOD employee that common sense will tell you that “Secrets” detrimental to our country need to be kept secret (The Media today is ignorant of the truth). Secondly, the de-regulation of the government from Reagan Admin. and worsening by Clinton Admin. have caused the lack of follow-up on contractors being hired without the bidding process. There apparently has been no bidding for the lowest “High Quality” Contractor’s. We can also thank the idea that “Micro managing worked”. It did not, not to mention that too many non english speaking are both managing and paying contractors. There has been entirely too much flagrant spending and buying for the last 18 years much less having a workforce that does not have to even stay the “Pledge of Allegiance” and mean it. All I do is “fume” and pray. Does that make me stupid? This may be simplified but it comes straight from the heart. I am genuinely concerned about our freedom and our future as a country. God Bless America and our “Armed Forces”. Thank you whom truly give for our freedoms, present, past, and future.

]]> By: Acshttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/27/gates-says-money-spigot-closing-refuses-to-endorse-fcs/#comment-5012 Acs Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:42:55 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3961#comment-5012 Traditionally I believe in peace first, war later. However, sometimes war is the only option. Russia is not a threat to the United States, and historically it really never has been. Americans simply fear nuclear war, not the Russian army. Nether Russia or Iran are strong conventional military threat. Without nuclear weapons both countries could be subdued, readily, which is why it is imperative we strengthen alliances with the ever unstable Russia, and prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons at all costs. China on the other hand is a direct threat. Iran and Russia may talk tough, but they don’t have the resources to be a global, without nuclear arms. China not only posses a huge amount of wealth, it has a huge population that is mostly male. China could have a 500 million man army if they wanted. Within the next 50 years China will retake Taiwan, and we need to be ready for a large multi national war.As a college student and USMCR the FCS seems like the coolest thing ever, however when it comes down to urban close combat with nonconventional enemies, I’d take a ballistic bat suit and a ferfrans S.O.A.R. and 12 gauge pump. Instead of producing million dollar bots that only a few specially trained technicians will have access to in the field, give us soldiers better body armor. Stop spending hundreds of billions of dollars on new jets when the jets they are replacing haven’t been declassified yet. A multi-billion dollar jet won’t stop the carnage in Iraq or Afghanistan. Give use, the soldiers, better gear, packs that don’t tear open, uniforms that keep use warm at night and cool during the day, a side arm that doesn’t suck, P226 > M9. That kind of work is hands on man to man wet work.Obama may be out sourcing the contracts but the DoD is out sourcing war. A robot will never will be able to do what a marine can do in such little time for such little cost. Give us better armor, give us better guns, and we’ll take care of the problems out there. Traditionally I believe in peace first, war later. However, sometimes war is the only option. Russia is not a threat to the United States, and historically it really never has been. Americans simply fear nuclear war, not the Russian army. Nether Russia or Iran are strong conventional military threat. Without nuclear weapons both countries could be subdued, readily, which is why it is imperative we strengthen alliances with the ever unstable Russia, and prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons at all costs. China on the other hand is a direct threat. Iran and Russia may talk tough, but they don’t have the resources to be a global, without nuclear arms. China not only posses a huge amount of wealth, it has a huge population that is mostly male. China could have a 500 million man army if they wanted. Within the next 50 years China will retake Taiwan, and we need to be ready for a large multi national war.

As a college student and USMCR the FCS seems like the coolest thing ever, however when it comes down to urban close combat with nonconventional enemies, I’d take a ballistic bat suit and a ferfrans S.O.A.R. and 12 gauge pump. Instead of producing million dollar bots that only a few specially trained technicians will have access to in the field, give us soldiers better body armor. Stop spending hundreds of billions of dollars on new jets when the jets they are replacing haven’t been declassified yet. A multi-billion dollar jet won’t stop the carnage in Iraq or Afghanistan. Give use, the soldiers, better gear, packs that don’t tear open, uniforms that keep use warm at night and cool during the day, a side arm that doesn’t suck, P226 > M9. That kind of work is hands on man to man wet work.

Obama may be out sourcing the contracts but the DoD is out sourcing war. A robot will never will be able to do what a marine can do in such little time for such little cost. Give us better armor, give us better guns, and we’ll take care of the problems out there.

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