Feral Jundi

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Technology: So How Safe is GPS?

Filed under: Technology — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 12:13 PM

   Thanks to several readers for sending me this one, and this is certainly an important story.  For one, I certainly hope the Obama administration will review it’s policies on GPS, and infuse the necessary funding to make this thing solid and secure.  We should not be reading stories about GPS possibly breaking down by 2010 or whatever, and this bogles my mind on how this is even a concern.  Bottom line, GPS is a vital and life saving technology, and should be treated as such. –Matt

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Global Positioning System: Significant Challenges in Sustaining and Upgrading Widely Used Capabilities

GAO-09-325 April 30, 2009

Summary

The Global Positioning System (GPS), which provides positioning, navigation, and timing data to users worldwide, has become essential to U.S. national security and a key tool in an expanding array of public service and commercial applications at home and abroad. The United States provides GPS data free of charge. The Air Force, which is responsible for GPS acquisition, is in the process of modernizing GPS. In light of the importance of GPS, the modernization effort, and international efforts to develop new systems, GAO was asked to undertake a broad review of GPS. Specifically, GAO assessed progress in (1) acquiring GPS satellites, (2) acquiring the ground control and user equipment necessary to leverage GPS satellite capabilities, and evaluated (3) coordination among federal agencies and other organizations to ensure GPS missions can be accomplished. To carry out this assessment, GAO’s efforts included reviewing and analyzing program documentation, conducting its own analysis of Air Force satellite data, and interviewing key military and civilian officials.

(more…)

Monday, March 30, 2009

Pakistan: Is Pakistan the New ‘Laos’ of this War?

Filed under: Laos,Pakistan,Vietnam — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 10:24 PM

     I am not going to give much attention to the latest attack in Lahore, Pakistan. It is tragic, but what was more tragic is that the defense and security of crucial institutions over there, is given so little attention. And how much money have we given this country over the course of the war? Billions, and this little police academy does not have any weapons or security set up? pffft. How many wake up calls will it take there Pakistan?  

    Lahore is the target, and the enemy will do all they can to destabilize it. So far, they are doing pretty damned good.  Maybe along with this money and US oversight, the Pakistanis can insure that police stations and training facilities are actually protected and armed?  Just a thought, seeing how the police are crucial to maintaining stability and they are the first responders to attacks like this.

     The other aspect of this that I would be very curious about, is the possible contracts that might come out of this latest funding? Obama has said, no US troops in Pakistan. But he did not mention anything about contractors.  I know there are US advisors there, but in no real substantial numbers.  Perhaps, and I am just furthering the Vietnam analogy, maybe Pakistan will become our new Laos?  

    During the Vietnam war, we also fought a war in Laos, and contractors were a huge component of that war.(Air America comes to mind)  If that were the case, things could become kind of interesting over the years, and I will keep my eyes open.  I just keep thinking, how the heck are we supposed to depend on the Pakistanis to destroy Al Qaeda?  Are we going to keep throwing drones and money at the problem, to destroy the enemy, because that certainly has not worked.   –Matt

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 Air America Bell 205’s in Long Tieng, Laos. 

 

Obama to Propose $2.8 Billion in Military Aid to Pakistan

That money would be in addition to the civilian aid — $1.5 billion a year for five years — that the president called for Friday. 

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Friday, March 27, 2009

Afghanistan: Obama Unveils Strategy for Afghanistan, Pakistan

Filed under: Afghanistan,Pakistan — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 10:37 PM

Obama Unveils Strategy for Afghanistan, Pakistan

By Kent Klein 

The White House

27 March 2009

Pres. Obama, flanked by Sec. of State Clinton, Defense Sec. Gates, announces new strategy for Afghanistan, Pakistan, 27 Mar 2009

President Barack Obama has announced his plan to send about 4,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and increase diplomacy with Pakistan. He said his strategy has a clear and focused goal.

“To disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future. That is the goal that must be achieved. That is a cause that could not be more just. And to the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: We will defeat you,” said the president.

Mr. Obama said, for Americans, the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan is “the most dangerous place in the world,” where those who planned the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States are plotting further attacks.  

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Monday, January 5, 2009

News: President-Elect Obama Picks Panetta for CIA Post

Filed under: News — Tags: , , — Matt @ 1:15 PM

     President-Elect Obama has just announced that he has picked Democrat Leon Panetta for Director of the CIA. Leon served as White House Chief of Staff to Bill Clinton, and before that was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1976 to 1993. Panetta took part in the 2006 Iraq Study Group. –Matt

Wikipedia for Leon Panetta here.

 

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Industry Talk: NAF Report in the News

Filed under: Industry Talk,Publications — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 1:49 AM

     I wanted to post the first little bits of reaction towards the NAF Report. You can see how the report is starting to be used by the various media outlets. At least the Air Force Times article seemed to be more balanced and gave both sides of the issue. –Head Jundi

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Obama urged to review use of private firms in war 

Reuters, Saturday November 15 2008

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WASHINGTON, Nov 14 (Reuters) – The Obama administration should move away from using private contractors in active battle areas in Iraq and Afghanistan and dramatically step up oversight, a Washington think tank urged on Friday.

The U.S. military has long used private contractors in fighting its wars, but Washington’s reliance on non-uniformed civilians has sharply increased over the past five years, the New America Foundation said in a new report.

It said the ratio of military personnel to private contractors is now around one to one, and some experts believed there are more contractors than troops in Iraq, compared to 50 to one during the 1991 Gulf War, according to the report. (more…)

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