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Vic Socotra

Author: Vic Socotra

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August 23, 2020 Vic Socotra

Arrias: Modern Major Generals

Editor’s Note: Eight for Brunch! No singing, social distancing, masks optional! Lovely day in the country! Arrias was with the Warriors! – Vic Modern Major Generals I spent this past week with some real professionals – 15 guys who are seasoned members of one of those DOD organizations that doesn’t exist, and 3 guys who […]

August 22, 2020 Vic Socotra

Editor’s Note: I was going to muse about the notion of “trust” and some peripheral issues related to public lies this morning. I don’t know about you, but I find myself in a position where I no longer trust anything I hear from anyone. We are apparently supposed to believe in “light” as guidance for […]

August 20, 2020 Vic Socotra

Swamp Postcard: The Scandal de Jour

It is easier to predict the next scandal, which is determined by what day it is, than to try to sweep up the de jours of the last week of political maneuverings. Great fun, and thoroughly enjoyable. The State of New York continues it’s battle with the Federal Government. The valiant defenders of liberty have […]

August 19, 2020 Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Are you positive?

Editor’s Note: Did you watch the convention last night? The magnificent spectacle of the 2020 election continues, an affirmation that the old United States is behind us now. We touched on the information campaign line-up yesterday, and while amusing, it just isn’t quite a funny as the great events unfolding before us deserve. This morning, […]

August 18, 2020 Vic Socotra

The INFO Campaign

Just a quick one today as the election looms. The information campaigns from both sides deserves a quick update. It is grand fun. I offer this synopsis only as a snapshot for what both sides hope will work as we line up for the dramatic conclusion. The “mostly peaceful protests” is still a chip in […]

August 17, 2020 Vic Socotra

Operations Planning

Big strange year, isn’t it? I almost died near the beginning of it, then struggled with recovery amid the rational planning and lunacy of the pandemic response. All of it with politics in the background, slowly swelling to a continuous level of hysteria that is fun to follow. My fellow veterans already have a taste […]

August 16, 2020 Vic Socotra

Arrias: In Defense of Defense, and Social Security

The tentative Democratic Platform proposes $1.2 trillion in Defense cuts over the next ten years (nearly a 20% cut). In one article on the subject the author commented that “nearly half of all US discretionary spending goes to national security.” Hmmm… Meanwhile… Things are getting sporty in Belarus; President Lukashenko, who received 80% of last […]

August 15, 2020 Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Destiny

Editor’s Note: All the people I knew who were confronted by the prospect of being ground up in the invasion of Japan’s home islands are gone. Dad’s class at Pensacola were weeks away from having the Wings of Gold pinned on their Aviation Green uniforms and line up for transportation to the Far East. Our […]

August 14, 2020 Vic Socotra

Swamp Postcard: The Show Goes On!

The circus continues with wild abandon just up the road from Refuge Farm. Peace may be breaking out in the Middle East as the UAE makes nice with Israel. The echoes of all of the global events bounce off the unremitting and insistent downpour of rain. It is pretty neat. Earlier in the week, former […]

August 13, 2020 Vic Socotra

Point Loma: Death of the Ready Room

Editor’s Note: Point Loma has some thoughts on identity in the institution we served. There is nothing more personal than your name, right? One of the most important characteristics in the culture of Naval Aviation was the re-naming that new arrivals in operational squadrons received. In no small part it was the establishment of an […]