Midrats

What is the role of organizations with mission statements that include phrases such as, "... investigat(e) ... corruption, misconduct, and conflicts of interest (to) achieve a more effective, accountable, open, and ethical federal government. "?

Where do they exist in the media ecosystem of traditional media, new media, think tanks, and advocacy organizations?  Why are they needed, and how do they shape the debate?

Join Sal from the blog "CDR Salamander" and EagleOne from "EagleSpeak" for the full hour with Mandy Smithberger, investigator with the Project on Government Oversight (POGO).

Mandy joined POGO as a Picker intern in 2006 and became a National Security Investigator in 2008.  She has worked on investigations into multiyear procurement of the troubled F-22A Raptor, federal contracting in response to Hurricane Katrina, inherently governmental functions, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and the Department of Interior's Royalty-In-Kind program.  She has also written about the federal government's collection of oil and natural gas drilling royalties for the Multinational Monitor,  been quoted on National Public Radio, and spoken at an international conference on the subject. 

Ms. Smithberger received a B.A., magna cum laude, from Smith College in 2008, where she also won the Dawes Prize for the best undergraduate work on political science.

Like many of my generation - my father came of age in the Korean War Era.  In tribute to my father, his friends and the millions of the Forgotten Generation who served in the Forgotten War, we are going to replay Episode 22 with our guests, holder of the Medal of Honor from the Korean War CAPT Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., USN (Ret.), and author of SUCH MEN AS THESE, David Sears.

We will cover the role of Naval Aviation in the Korean War.

When the average person thinks of the role of Navy Air in the Korean War, they think of James Mitchner's novel and movie THE BRIDGES OF TOKI-RI. As usual, the real story is better than fiction. We will talk to CAPT Hudner about his and his shipmates experiences - and will finish up with David Sears exploring what he discovered in researching his book on what happened in the skies over Korea in the early 1950's.

At a time when already small NATO defense budgets shrink while it is actively engaged in two combat operations decades after the Soviet treat faded into history - what is NATO and where does it stand?  Is NATO "transforming" - and if so in to what?

From the ashes of the former Soviet Union - Russia and its near abroad are starting to re-establish their identity - what are the implications?

Join Sal from the blog "CDR Salamander" and EagleOne of "EagleSpeak" with their guest for the full hour, CAPT Thomas Fedyszyn, (Ph.D.), USN (Ret.) - Professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College and Chair of the Europe-Russia Studies Group.

Almost a decade of involvement in two land wars in Asia combined with a series of costly and ill timed shipbuilding programs that have yet to produce ships anywhere near promised cost and performance has brought our Navy to the growing budget crisis in a delicate position. 

The national security arena suffers from SeaBlindness about the critical requirements of seapower to the long term economic and security needs of a maritime, mercantile republic.

Sunday, June 5th at 5pm EST, using their work at The Heritage Foundation, Thinking About a Day Without Sea Power:Implications for U.S. Defense Policy as a starting point, join hosts Sal from the blog "CDR Salamander" and EagleOne from "EagleSpeak" with their returning guests Mackenzie Eaglen and Bryan McGrath for the full hour to discuss the long view on the future direction of our Navy and Marine Corps team.

This Memorial Day weekend, I can think of few shows we have had that fit better.  Going back to September, our guests will be Eddie LeBaron and Lanier Phillips. Though known as four-time Pro-Bowler, quarterback for the Washington Redskins in the 1950s, Tom Landry's first quarterback in Dallas, and Don Meredith's mentor; he was also a USMC lieutenant in the Korean Conflict; decorated with the Purple Heart and awarded the Bronze Star. Our second guest will be a trailblazer for all Sailors. In October of 1941, at the age of eighteen, Lanier joined the Navy. He was a survivor of the February of 1942 sinking of the USS Truxton. He was not just any Sailor though, he later took a step with confidence like he did during the shipwreck that put him in an raft - he asked to be treated as an equal and was the first black Navy sailor to become a sonar technician.

Never in our history have we fought a war where law, lawyers, and layers of legalese have impacted all levels of the war, Political, Strategic, Operational, and Tactical.

Why do we find ourselves here and in what direction are we going?  

From Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and even domestically, the legal definition of the use of military power is evolving.

To discuss the impact of Lawfare for the full hour with Sal from the blog "CDR Salamander" and EagleOne from "EagleSpeak" will be David Glazier, CDR USN (Ret.).  

David is a Professor of Law at Layola Law School in Los Angles.  Prior to Layola, he was a lecturer at the University of Virginia School of Law and a research fellow at the Center for National Security Law, where he conducted research on national security, military justice and the law of war. He also served as a pro bono consultant to Human Rights First.

Before attending law school, Glazier served twenty-one years as a US Navy surface warfare officer. In that capacity, he commanded the USS George Philip (FFG-12), served as the Seventh Fleet staff officer responsible for the US Navy-Japan relationship, the Pacific Fleet officer responsible for the US Navy-PRC relationship, and participated in UN sanctions enforcement against Yugoslavia and Haiti.

Glazier has a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law, an MA from Georgetown University in government/national security studies, and holds a BA in history from Amherst College.

This week the Army decided to transfer all of its Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) to the Navy - effectively taking out the "Joint."

For such a small ship with such a humble mission - JHSV continues to bring a lot of interest.  Why?

As its all a Navy show now, why do we need JHSV, what requirement does it meet?  How is the program from a manning, shipbuilding, and development perspective viewed?

To discuss for will be our panel hosted by Sal from the blog "CDR Salamander" and EagleOne from "EagleSpeak" with John Patch, CDR USN Ret., Associate Professor of Strategic Intelligence at the US Army War College's Center for Strategic Leadership, and "Leesea" a former SWO who has managed sealift ships for the Military Sealift Command since 1980 to include the original charter of the HSV WestPac Express.

Happy Mothers' Day!  We are not live today, but are having a pre-recorded best-of focused on China.

 

She's big - she's growing - she's confident - and everyone wants to talk about her. For the full hour we will discuss China with our experts Dr. Donald Henry and Dr. James Kraska.

Dr. Henry attended Harvard College earning a degree in economics. After working for a year in the National Security Division of the Congressional Budget Office, he attended Stanford University for two years earning a Ph.D. in economics. He worked for the Rand Corporation for 18 years with a three year and a half year break for active duty Navy Service. Most recently, he served in the Office of Net Assessment in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for eight years as a political appointee. He is a Captain in the Navy Reserve and an intelligence officer. He has been studying China and Asian security affairs for more than twenty-five years. While working in the Pentagon, he was a key player in drafting the Pentagon's annual China Military Power Report.

Dr. Kraska is a Commander in the U.S. Navy, and serves as the Howard S. Levie Chair of Operational Law at the U.S. Naval War College, and holds appointments as a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and as a Guest Investigator at the Marine Policy Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. He holds both a research doctorate and professional doctorate in law, having earned a doctor of juridical science from the University of Virginia and a doctor of jurisprudence from Indiana University, Bloomington. Commander Kraska also earned a master's of international law from the University of Virginia, Masters of Arts in defense and foreign policy from Clarement Colleges and a diploma from the College of Naval Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College.

How do you intellectually prepare combat leaders?  If you are given a young man or woman at 18, how do you best educate that person so they have the cultural, ethical, technical, and historical knowledge to make the right decisions for the right reasons, and lead others to do the same?

What are unchanged, timeless fundamentals, and what new things are coming over the horizon that today's Ensigns and Second Lieutenants need to have inculcated in to their intelect so they have the best foundation to become this nation's Admirals and Generals for the mid-21st Century?

Join milbloggers Sal from "CDR Salamander" and EagleOne from "Eaglespeak" and their two guests this Sunday to discuss this critically important subject.

Their guest for the first half of the hour will be Vice Admiral Michael H. Miller, USN, the 61st Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.

For the second half of the hour we will have Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, PhD, author, professor, nationally syndicated columnist, and the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

I hope all are having a great Easter weekend.  We are having a best of this Sunday with a repeat of the wide ranging discussion last June with three present or former Navy and Coast Guard Commanding Officers on the nature of Command.  Our guests will be; CDR E. A. Westfall, CDR, USCG, Commanding Officer of the USCGC ESCANABA (WMEC 907). CDR James H. Ware, Commanding Officer, VAQ-135. CDR Michael Junge, USN, former Commanding Officer of the USS WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD 41).