Tags
Air Force Pilots, antifa, BLLM, diversity and inclusion, January 6, Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, Major General Ed Thomas, recruiting for gender and race, SEAC Ramon Colon-Lopez, SOCOM, STEM disciplines, Tucker Carlson, USAF
In SOCOM Intersectionality, I wrote about the appointment of the first ever “Diversity and Inclusion Chief” in SOCOM, our military’s Special Operations Command, the unit responsible for our SEALS, Delta Force, Air Force and Marine special operators and others. SOCOM is now “investigating” the new chief’s particularly nasty and non-diverse and inclusive social media presence, but rational people know diversity and inclusion only work one way. I linked to the transcript of Tucker Carlson’s March 26, 2021 show, where he discussed that issue, and others, such as:
A man called Ramon Colon-Lopez was called in to tell the troops why they were wrong. Colon-Lopez is the Senior Enlisted Adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. These questions, he conceded, are ‘coming from every echelon that we’re talking to. Some people may think that, ‘All right, so the events of 6 January happened. How come you’re not looking at the situation that was going on in Seattle prior to that?’’
Yeah, exactly. Kind of an obvious question. Well Ramón Colón-López has an answer. Actually, it’s more of a threat.
‘I am concerned about the way that some people are looking at the current environment and what they are thinking, they can do and act upon based on their personal beliefs,’ he said.
In other words, if you ask questions like these obvious ones, you are, by definition, dangerous.
I’m sure you, gentle readers, would be concerned if our military members, officer and enlisted, weren’t asking that kind of question. But not the woke leadership of our contemporary military:
Colón-López said he was working hard to, ‘make sure that military members understand the difference between Seattle and Washington, D.C.’ What are those differences exactly? Here’s one: BLM, he explained, is a, ‘social injustice organization,’ and therefore not extreme. Also, ‘When the military was called upon to go ahead and support an effort [in Washington], we did. We never got called for the law enforcement issue that was happening in Seattle.’
Oh. So the mayor of Seattle never called the National Guard to put down Antifa. Therefore, Antifa isn’t an extremist organization. That’s ludicrous, obviously. In fact, it’s not even true. In fact, the National Guard did deploy to Seattle during the riots last year. But whatever. Colón-López’s job isn’t to make sense. It was to send a political message from the Biden Administration: we’re in charge now.
Colón-López, due to his advisory position, is the senior enlisted man in our armed forces—all of them. He’s a Pararescueman, among the elite of USAF combat forces. His service record appears to be genuinely high speed, low drag—truly distinguished, but of what use is that kind of combat record if he has sold out to the forces of woke, forces used and manipulated by our enemies? Forces bent on the destruction of the Constitution and America? For Colón-López’s benefit, I’ll explain the difference between January 6 and what happened, and continues to happen in Seattle and elsewhere. On January 6, mostly Normal Americans when to the capital to make their petitions peacefully heard. There were a small number of anarchists, almost certainly people manipulated, or at least used, by Congressional D/S/Cs to their advantage to attack normal, honorable Americans. For a few hours, they disrupted the operations of the Congress and did a little damage, then they left. Their worst crime was they dared come to the workplace of our self-imagined elite, and some got rowdy. The Congress, after a few hours, was able to go about its business.
Not so in Seattle and elsewhere, where Antifa and BLM, whose leaders have proclaimed themselves trained Marxists, and whose organizations seek the violent destruction of the Constitution and America, have caused billions in damage, destroyed the businesses and livelihoods of thousands of honorable Americans who wanted nothing more than to be left alone. They’ve committed arson, assaulted hundreds of police officers, even committed multiple murders. In those cities, with the willing glee of city “leaders,” they’ve destroyed the rule of law and made those places all but unlivable, a process of crime and sedition that continues today.
SEAC Colón-López, the problem isn’t that AF troops don’t understand the difference, it’s that you don’t, or you’re pretending you don’t. I’m not sure which is worse or more destructive to America and the Constitution you swore to uphold and protect. Carlson continues:
Just last month, Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, the commander of the Air Force Education and Training Command, made it explicit. He acknowledged that the Air Force was recruiting candidates with a private pilot’s license. That might seem like a wise course — flying planes is what the Air Force does –but to Lt. Gen Brad Webb, no, that’s systemic racism:
‘LT. GEN. BRAD WEBB: One of the other areas in line with that has been aptitude tests. In fact, the chief mentioned that one as well in his talk the other day. But we are deep underway, updating pilot tests and also officer candidate tests that, at its root, you know, you get a weighted score … if you have a private pilot license. Well, that’s a socioeconomic influencer. In other words, if you’re rich enough to afford to have private pilot time, you can get a license. That ought not be weighted in such a way that you exclude, you know, various ethnic groups.’
It’s hard to express how alarming this is. USAF pilots have, until now, been among the most stringently vetted people in our military. They need, at minimum a bachelor’s degree, and get positive points for degrees, including advanced degrees, in aeronautical engineering, hard sciences, math and related fields. They must be in top physical condition, able to withstand the stresses of high-g flight, and they must be unusually psychologically stable. Obviously, anyone with a civilian pilot’s license should, if they qualify in every other way, get preference. That training will help lower costs and training time, and should check a number of vetting boxes. Pilots are, with some exceptions, officers, and even after their initial vetting, some don’t make it through Officer training school, and more fail pilot training. No one incapable of high-level math is going to pass pilot training, and our schools aren’t turning out many of those. No race is denied the opportunity to qualify for these slots, and no woman is denied–by regulation and law.
How exactly does General Webb plan to ensure the right—left–gendered and colored people become pilots? There is only one way: dramatically dumb down or falsify qualifications. Back to Carlson:
In October, the head of Air Force recruiting office, Major General Ed Thomas, published a piece on Yahoo entitled, ‘86% of Air Force pilots are [W]hite men. Here’s why this needs to change.’
You have to wonder what the families of the thousands of American White pilots who have died defending this country over the last hundred years think of that. Ed Thomas wants them to know their husbands and fathers and sons shouldn’t have been flying in the first place, because they were the wrong color.
We called Ed Thomas after his piece came out to ask about this, and he was kind enough to talk to us. We had a long conversation, but he never explained the only thing that matters: How his race-mongering was supposed to make the country safer. He obviously didn’t care. He clearly hadn’t even thought about it. How did someone like that get power in the U.S. military? There are a lot of generals like that.
I’m sure, like me, gentle readers, you’d be good with the change General Thomas seeks if it can be done by replacing some of those dangerous white supremacists with equally qualified and capable non-white supremacists. Unfortunately, considering no one is denied the opportunity, we’re back to General Webb’s “solution.” This is from the Yahoo linked piece:
Before I even took command of my service’s recruiting efforts this spring, Air Force leadership made it clear to me that improving diversity would be on the top of my to-do list. And recent national events only serve as an accelerant as we take aim and tackle this vexing issue.
Pentagon leaders didn’t need to explain the why, although Gen. David Goldfein, our former chief of staff, did that in calling diversity ‘a war-fighting imperative.’ It’s been clear for some time that our progress in better reflecting the society we serve has been too slow.
That should scare the hell out of all of us, gentle readers. Racial and gender quotas are “a war-fighting imperative.” No, No, No! Fighting and winning wars requires the absolute best, most capable war fighters. If not, untold numbers of Americans die unnecessarily, and America may fall. Gender and race are irrelevant—they must be–but not anymore. General Thomas again:
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the first African-American to lead any branch of the military, has called on us to accelerate change or risk losing ground to Russia and China, both of which are integrating potential game-changing technologies like artificial intelligence and hypersonic flight. We need both the best technologies and the best people to win. Improving our diversity falls squarely in Brown’s mandate.
My God. China has implemented a program to masculinize its military. It is actively experimenting with genetic manipulation to produce “super soldiers.” And these dimwits wearing stars think we’ll lose ground to our enemies if we don’t fill the ranks of our pilots with people whose primary qualification is their gender or skin color!? In case anyone doubts my respect for truly qualified and capable people of the sort about which Thomas speaks, go here, and here. Back to Thomas:
The competition to attract the best and brightest recruits is getting tougher all the time, and our connection with society grows more fragile every day. Survey data shows that only one-quarter of American youth between the ages of 17 and 24 are qualified for military service for a variety of reasons, which include aptitude, chronic health conditions, obesity or drug use. The pool is ever shrinking: In 1995, 40 percent of Americans ages 16 to 24 had a parent who served in the armed forces. Today that number is 15 percent. The result is that only about 1 in 10 young Americans say they are interested in serving in the military.
We simply can no longer afford for significant segments of our society to be underrepresented in our U.S. Air Force or our newest branch, the U.S. Space Force.
Uh-huh. So the solution is to lower standards to include unqualified members of a dwindling pool of candidates? Regular readers know how concerned I am with too many of our failing public schools. We’re more concerned with making our war fighters look like a woke hallucination of America than finding those that will fight like Americans have historically fought when allowed to win?
While we are meeting or exceeding nearly all demographic targets in our enlisted ranks, inside our cockpits is where we have the greatest disparities and opportunities for improvement. In all, 86 percent of our aviators are white males. Less than 3 percent of our fighter pilots are females. This is why we established a detachment within Air Force recruiting two years ago charged with improving diversity for those who wear flight suits. The mission of Detachment 1 is to bring a singular focus to recruiting qualified women and minorities who have not always felt they belonged.
Our goal is to get in front of every demographic group in America and show them someone who wears a flight suit every day they can look up to and say, ‘That could be me.’
Yes it could, if they have the character, determination, and drive necessary to meet the actual qualifications of a pilot. These are the kinds of kids who, at a young age, are determined to fly, so they study hard, excel in everything they do, and single-mindedly pursue their goals. If they don’t have those qualities, they’re not going to have the education in STEM disciplines, and they’re surely not going to work three jobs to pay for a pilot’s license and flight time, not that a pilot’s license and experience will matter if they’re white, and particularly, male.
Our pilots are flying the most advanced aircraft ever to take to the skies, and one day, they’ll be flying the most advanced spacecraft. The abilities necessary for piloting those machines are ever increasing, not decreasing to meet gender and racial quotas–for now. People like Webb and Thomas are building a self-perpetuating cycle of destruction. When truly qualified candidates can’t get a slot because they’re white or male, that kind of lunacy is not going to be lost on the enlisted and non-piloting ranks of the Air Force, which is most of the force. Why join an organization that will deny you promotion because you’re capable, white and male? Why join a military branch where you know among the least capable people are going to be in positions of command over you, the kinds of people that are going to get you seriously dead in real combat, which you won’t be prepared for in any case because you’re too busy being force fed Critical Race Theory rather than actually training? And of course, the money for simulators, weapons, ammunition, parts and fuel will be spent on diversity, inclusion and fighting climate change anyway.
Obama’s emptying of the ranks of military leadership of war fighters is bearing social justice fruit. Joe Biden—actually his handlers—learned that lesson well. The true best and brightest considering military careers are also learning it, all too well, and running as fast as they can in the opposite direction.
Our enemies are learning too–and fast, very fast–and this isn’t going to end well, for America, western civilization, or the world.
Smart aircraft don’t need smart pilots. (sarc)
We are going to have our asses handed to us in a shooting war.
We seem to always start every war a step behind.
Barry managed to purge most of the warriors in the military upper ranks, or they retired in disgust, and this is what we’re left with.
Peripherally related…Sarah Palin was excoriated for flying while pregnant. Now we want maternity flight suits?
See hear:
https://zfacts.com/zfacts.com/p/1041.html
Instead of having this superwoman for Vice President, we have Harris whose womb is as barren as her brain.
Dear Jeffrey:
No one is arguing that qualified female pilots should not have appropriate clothing while they are medically able to do their jobs, but that’s not the point of people like Biden and his handlers.
Nailed it!!! Damn those b@$$Turds.
I did it in high school. My dad was a salesman and not rich. I spent every dime I made paying for flying time. I washed airplanes, worked in a hospital diet kitchen, and sacked groceries. Two days after I turned 17, I got my license with 100 hours of flying time. So F??K those stupid generals.
Well, a couple items (maybe a couple more than a couple).
1. Tucker Carlson is not an authority, or any sort of credible source on anything. The fact that Trump-loving Conservatives think his swill should be carved in granite as wisdom of the ages doesn’t change the reality. If Carlson believes his nonsense then he is an idiot… which is obviously my own opinion. Strangely, my opinion seems to be shared. Last September it seems a libel suit brought against Carlson and Fox ended up being dismissed for the following “logic”…
“Just read U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil’s opinion, leaning heavily on the arguments of Fox’s lawyers: The “‘general tenor’ of the show should then inform a viewer that [Carlson] is not ‘stating actual facts’ about the topics he discusses and is instead engaging in ‘exaggeration’ and ‘non-literal commentary.’ ”
This suggests Carlson’s FOX presence is pure “schtick”.. and if so, then Tucker is pretty damned smart creating value and worth from hogwash a large segment of the viewing public visits Fox to watch.. creating wealth for the network. Limbaugh was in the same context… und Hannity.
2. Quite obviously you are not an idiot and while our politics significantly differ.. such is the diversity of man and makes for a few frustrating exchanges for both of us. Which leads me to comment that your rendition between the events in Seattle and those of the Capitol on Jan. 6th is pretty far from any reality, although follows mainstream Conservative denial bombast.
3. I agree with you from the standpoint that the military needs the talent it requires to operate.. and not to simply compromise requirements for a strong national defense to meet social trends. This diversity “thing” seems to be trying to make the military “kinder, gentler”. The idea that someone of military authority has to “explain” political events to the rank-in-file as some sort of “context manipulation”… whether it’s bombast or some level of accuracy, it shouldn’t matter. Kinda reminds me of the “political officer” assigned to a Soviet fighting unit.
4. It’s been my observation through life that the military tends to be reluctant in absorbing social issues into its ranks, hence the military somewhat lags in taking on social change. In spite of having civilian leadership per the Constitution, the Pentagon doesn’t take kindly to civilian “meddling” in its general operations regarding the rank-in-file… be it challenges to the UCMJ, recruitment policies, etc. I’d be willing to guess that behind the scenes at the Pentagon any general “cooperation” might be more on the surface, and quietly diminished over time. If they appear to be welcoming this diversity program it might be considered an enlistment tool to help crank up the quality of enlistees.
But, hey.. what do I know. Yet another mass shooting.. btw.
Dear Doug:
Awww, and recently you’ve been working and playing so well with others. Sigh.
I’m not sure where your animus toward Tucker Carlson originates. I’m certainly not deifying him, or any media figure or politician, nor is anyone commenting here. I’m also unaware of the court case you cite, but I’m sure you know dicta arising in any such case proves nothing and sets no precedent.
As to my rendition of January 6 events, I’m sure you’ve been seeing reports from multiple media sources, presumably even some you might consider credible, that that government has overcharged, and is going to have to dramatically roll back it’s expectations? The former primary prosecutor involved is even under internal investigation for his unethical blathering on 60 Minutes. You might wish to visit this article which quotes Politico: https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/03/politico-biden-admin-will-be-embarrassed-when-most-capitol-hill-insurrectionists-receive-no-jail-time/
I would also suggest that any attempt at “diversity” can by definition and practical application, have nothing to do with finding quality enlistees, quite the opposite, since such things are always a rejection of merit and exaltation of discrimination.
Actually… I never did have that problem, not playing well with others. BUT, since you are a former educator… I do recall quarterly report cards where I had those check marks in “Fails to accept responsibility” and “Difficulty completing assignments”.
To your ;last paragraph I agree.. no argument. My reference that maybe the Pentagon might find some recruitment value was pure speculation on one of likely many ways they are putting all this together.
This is the quote from your link from that (deeply) Conservative website…
“My bet is a lot of these cases will get resolved and probably without prison time or jail time,” said Erica Hashimoto, a former federal public defender who is now a law professor at Georgetown.”
“My bet is this will happen”… by a former fed PD turned college prof is your basis to attempt to shine doubt on the 400+ insurrection case charges? I will agree that in those numbers will very likely be some dismissed cases, plea deals, yada, yada. But regardless… until the gavel falls justice applied is all speculation.
As for that 60 Minutes interview.. seems Sherwin revealed certain sensitive on-going case work. Dunno how that in itself rises to some grand level of Biden-inspired corruption or other digression. “DOJ investigation” could end up being a slap on the wrist. If anything, given the DOJ was investigating, then it sounds like the Biden administration is not adverse to policing itself.
Dear Doug:
My police experience gives me a very good idea how those January 6th cases are going to work. It’s going to be rather hard to sustain trespassing convictions for people who simply walked through open doors into the Capital–a building that is commonly open to citizens–particularly if the police invited them in and covered politely with them without telling them to leave. From everything I’ve seen, trespassing is the only potentially applicable charge for most of those involved.
Sherwin went a bit father than that by making charges he couldn’t sustain, which is not only unethical, but embarrassing to his superior and the entire DOJ. Again, I provided a single link. The blogosphere is full of articles about the DOJ having to dramatically walk back there absurd charges, judges releasing people on their OR the government claimed were akin to Charles Manson, and judges giving federal prosecutors well deserved grief for behaving unethically and misleading the courts.
As I’ve previously said, those that cross the link between peaceful protest and crimes should be punished appropriately, not politically. We both know that’s not happening in much of America, and for political reasons.
Off topic for your post here.. but you mentioned justice. What’s your take on the Floyd trial so far?
(Your new post.. nice “nobody listens to us/you better listen to us or else” rant there.)
Dear Doug:
I’ll be doing another post on the Floyd trial, probably next Wednesday. Generally, it’s a backward trial. Actually, the newest post is more a “please don’t go there, because here’s what’s going to happen if you do” matter.
An ultimatum. I see.
Dear Doug:
Nope. A prayer for backing away from an unnecessary and destructive confrontation.
That was a prayer? One reason I shy away from religious discussions.
Mike, Doug infers that Floyd was murdered in cold blood.
Enough said. Why the trial then?
Don’t be surprised about Doug, Mike. Remember
what the scorpion said to the frog; Doug inevitably
will be Doug.
Jeez. You know, I have no issue with the degrading bromide metaphor as that’s the field we all play on in here and it’s expected. To the other display of cognitive ignorance on your part.. ah nevermind.
Doug,
what did Saul say that was wrong about you? Play nice for a
while, then Mike “rants”? You just don’t like being exposed for
what you are. Your type is pretty clear: you bullied little kids
on the playground, and failed to “take responsibility” to daddy.
Apparently we are all exposing ourselves for what we are.
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