Category: History

Pringles, Putin, And More

I’ve been wanting to do an update on the Coup That Hasn’t Ended, but life has been interesting. I particularly wanted to do a link-filled bit of info, but that day is not this day, even if I am not quite typing one handed anymore. Call it 1.2 handed, as I am limited as to how much and how I can use the right hand and arm.

If you are believing anything in corporate media, drop as much as you can to my fundraiser as I have a bridge for you! As I noted earlier, if you think the fat lady has sung, I’m not sure she’s even in the building yet, much less warming up. Even by Russian mores, this is the most bizarre coup in history. It makes the Kornilov affair seem straightforward. And I do recommend looking that over to better understand what is going on now.

Short version as I have to go to the doc this morning: as noted before there were silent partners in the Wagner revolt. For reasons I’m not completely sure of myself, I find myself loving the nickname “Pringles” for Prigozhin so get used to me calling him that. Pringles would not have launched his “revolt” if not for those silent backers, which included much more than some of the Russian generals. We are talking major players at the highest levels.

Kamil Galeev was the first to speculate that Vladimir may have been the lead silent backer, but I’m not sure even he believed it but was just raising a posibility. Is it possible? Yes. If true, it is the worst miscalculation by a major player since Kornilov. Vladimir’s internal and external reputation is damaged; the idea that the military senior leadership is corrupt and incompetent has found new and eager audiences (and is spreading rapidly) amongst the population; and, it has further eroded the concept of Russia as a major military power. None of which put Vladimir firmly in the driver’s seat.

The number of key players that were late showing back up to things is astounding, and telling. That some still haven’t really shown up is also telling (never count video footage of someone somewhere that can’t be verified). To say the Russian power structure is off balance is an understatement, and many have clearly lost a step or three in the dance.

All the more interesting is that Pringles and company, if they truly were guests of Luka, were almost immediately back in Moscow. If you want some fun, track Pringle’s favorite jet. Initial reports were that he and key associates were in Moscow concluding negotiations for the truce just a day after allegedly seeking asylum. Then there were talks of other talks. Today, even the BBC is reporting Luka as saying Pringles is in St. Petersburg.

Which tends to suggest that Vladimir was either one of the silent partners, or he’s so weak that he can’t do anything about it. I admit, given what all is going around in Russia, going after Pringles would tend to do Vladimir more harm than good immediately, as it would legitimize what Pringles has been pumping out non-stop about incompetence and corruption. Long term, that’s a different story.

Before I forget, there are rumors that the families of Wagner leaders and troops were used as hostages to stop the coup. If so, I’m surprised as the plan as seen was well developed, and clearly not developed on the fly at the last minute. Using families against “enemies of the state” goes back to times before Moscow was formed. Rape, torture, imprisonment, and death are typical for such. If any of the families were indeed left open, it says quite a few things about competence and cold-bloodedness.

The coup, if it was indeed such, is far from over. There are still a LOT of pieces missing. About the only thing I feel safe saying right now is that I will be surprised if Vladimir is still in power in a year. I will also note that the likely replacements (as currently standing) are not people we will enjoy. All of them, including jailed media darling(s) are even more ultranationalists and devoted to Russkiy Mir than Vladimir.

One can write a book on what is going on, but I’m not yet up to that. In fact, I have to run to the doctor’s as we may be changing wound treatment protocols given an area that has done funny post surgery. Between that and some issues the last few days that put me back on full pain protocol, and I’m glad to get this much up.

Oh, for those who don’t want to dig, Kornilov did indeed take care of some issues. The affair, however, ended up throwing open the gates to the Bolshevik Revolution.

More soon.

Oriana Fallaci

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

This morning I bored you with my tales of woe, mostly focused on the short-term issues. This afternoon, I am going to bore you with something aimed at helping the long-term memory issues.

I actually need to thank Glenn Reynolds for sparking a memory moment with this post on the passing of Barbara Walters where he mentioned she was no Oriana Fallaci. It actually triggered several memories, but one stood out. Been meaning to write this post, but kept forgetting to put it on the list…

One of the great things about having Daryle Feldmeir as head of the journalism program is that the man had the personal and professional connections to bring in guest speakers others could only dream of getting. Mike Royko was one, but the most interesting out of all of them (and they were all interesting and notable) was Oriana Fallaci.

She was a striking woman, with a personality that made her seem larger than she was. There is much written about her, but some quick highlights include being a member of the resistance in Italy before and during WWII, interviewing some of the most notable leaders and artists in the world, and an interview style that is not wrong to be described as an interrogation. It is worth noting that after interviewing Kohmeni that her criticisms of Islam brought howls of protest and accusations of Islamophobia.

She, like Daryle and Les Brownlee, was a bulldog for the truth, and I honestly think she would be disgusted with the state of corporate journalism today. In fact, I could easily see her with the bloggers and others like Project Veritas and the New Journalism start-ups.

Her talk that day was amazing. It covered a lot of ground, as she talked about some of the people she had interviewed, why she interviewed the way she did, and why those she knew were hiding things were given no mercy. It got into some of her other work (she covered Vietnam in person) and her other writing. When she talked about having a servant tie her to a chair and not let her out until she had written so many words on a book, my eyebrows probably ended up well past the crown of my head.

She did get a little into journalistic ethics and the Canons of Journalism. It was not her job or ours to make people comfortable. It was our job to make them uncomfortable, to dig for what was hidden, and to hold leaders of all stripes accountable. If you could do it with style, all the better. Be truthful above all. There was more, but that’s about all I can pull up right now.

Between her unscripted speech, and the question and answer session, we learned a lot. About the only thing off limits was her love life, other than that she had one. Active even. As for with who and when, that was off limits. Got some good tips on writing, and on journalism. I even have an autographed copy somewhere of one of her books, as she gave them out to our class.

I remember an energy and intensity to her that was distinct. It is hard to describe, but it would be hard to imagine her as hesitant or scared. She was passionate on a number of issues, and that came through loud and clear. What she would think of my politics today, I don’t know, but the one thing I am sure of is that we could and would talk. It might get loud, it might get passionate, but there would be genuine discussion, unlike so many today.

As with all real people, she was complex. There are things where I agree with her fully, and parts where I disagree. The fun is in discussing the differences.

I do wish I could have sat down with her again before she died. Thing is, had any one of us in that class contacted her, I think she would have. She would have wanted to know what we did, were doing, etc. Most of all, were we doing our job as journalists and making the right people uncomfortable.

Thank you Glenn, for sparking that memory cascade. Maybe some more of it will surface, but for now I have an amazing memory of a remarkable person restored.

Miss Lois And the DC-3

Over on Twitter, a conversation with Rocket brought up Beege Welborn’s love of DC-3s. It also brought a grin to my face as I remembered Miss Lois and our plans to buy and renovate a DC-3. Plans that I seriously suspect my Dad prayed would be thwarted.

First up, my Dad did not like to fly. Given an experience or two back in the 1930s, much less a couple in WWII, I can see why it would not be a favorite thing to do. In fact, I think he may only have flown twice in his life after WWII. Me, I loved aviation, space, and flight, and Dad did a lot to encourage me in that — so long as he never had to go up. Particularly after he heard from my mother about my coming in for a landing sideways — had to crab as the instructor had killed the engine a mile or so out from the airport and told me to make it. I did.

Which made his dating Miss Lois a bit amusing for me. She was the baby sister of one of his best friends growing up, and she was also one of the early women pilots in the U.S. A respectable girl from a respectable family, she fell in love with planes early in life, and approached the man running the local flight school to find out how much it would cost to learn to be a pilot. His answer stunned her.

Nothing.

He made her an offer. He would teach her for free, and let her practice for free, with one proviso: anytime over a town or group of people, she had to fly low and wave. Lean out and wave even. His take was that all the boys (and some men) would come out and pay to learn so that a girl didn’t show them up. According to Miss Lois, he was right, and he made bank while she increased her skills for free.

Suitably chaperoned, Miss Lois even took part in some of the competitions of the day, mostly in Georgia if I am remembering correctly. Enough so that when the U.S. started recruiting pilots, both the early ferry work and the later operations once the war began, she was approached both times to be a part. I think one of the few regrets she had in life was that both times saw her caring for a relative, and literally being the only one available to give that care. She indicated that it was hard to say no when Jackie Cochran personally asked her to be a part of the WASPs.

I don’t remember all the details, but along the way Miss Lois Wynn got married and became Mrs. Lois Pryor. Her husband died somewhere around the time my mother died. A year or two later, she and Dad met at a community event for the community where they grew up, and developed an interest in each other. At a certain point, my Dad drove from Macon, Georgia, to Huntsville where I was a contractor for NASA to ask my permission to date Miss Lois. Permission granted.

Miss Lois and I had a good time talking aviation and space. We also ended up double-teaming Dad when he had some strokes and needed some help. During that time, I attended a continuing education event for pilots at a small regional airport not too far from Macon. At that airport was a DC-3 and it was for sale. Not just any DC-3, it was reported to be the one used in the film Hatari! and sported the special paint job it had been given for that movie.

At that point, Dad got worried because Miss Lois and I started playing the lottery with the aim (on the dim chance we won) of buying the plane, fixing it up, and setting off on some grand adventures with him in tow. Our plan was to install an updated version of the original galley, four sleeping berths, four or five seats, and otherwise make sure we were set for landing anywhere. Miss Lois was going to be engineer, a female pilot I knew was qualified on the DC-3 (still want to get that story!) and would be pilot, and I would take Co. Go see the world, haul some small cargos and use that to defray the costs.

We never won, but we sure did have fun discussing the plan. Even if part of that fun was making Dad squirm a bit. I still wouldn’t mind doing it, though it would not be the same.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Veteran’s Day 2022

To all who have served: A good and happy Veteran’s Day to you! If you know a veteran, go nod and smile, wave, thank them, or just wish them a good Veteran’s Day depending on circumstances and their desires. Today is the day to honor the living, while we can. Please do so.

And if anyone knows where Hardy is (far left in the photo), please buy him a glass of goat’s milk for me. Before him I’d never met a troop who would turn down free beer for some goat’s milk, but to each his own.

May it be a good day for each and every one of you who has served.

Conventions, Conventions

Today brings us a guest post by Romulus Wolf, looking at the confusion between the Geneva and Hague Conventions, and the confusion over which treaties to which we (United States) are signatories. It does make a difference, especially with so many, ah, enthusiastic voices this, that, and the other to be a war crime. So, enjoy the food for thought brought to you by our much appreciated guest author.

The Hague and Geneva Conventions, universally agreed upon treaties that govern much of the laws of war… Well, not so much, at least where “Universally agreed upon” is concerned.


Ratification of individual provisions is often spottier than one might expect.
And not always in the ways one might expect either. After all, it’s one thing for the landlocked nation of Chad to simply not bother to enter into 1907 Hague Convention VII. Chances are that they’re not going to be converting many merchant ships into warships. It’s another thing entirely when a major naval power not only doesn’t ratify, but actively objects to that particular convention, on the grounds that t banning such conversions would put something of a crimp in their ability to flood the seas with (legally authorized) commerce raiders1. For the moment, the US is the only serious naval power that ISN’T party. All because we took the possibility of using private warships seriously as late as 1907(2). While the US is the only major naval power of the 20th and 21st centuries to not be party, not all of our company among those not party to the treaty consists of landlocked nations such as Chad, Nepal, or Mongolia. We also share company with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and South Korea, all of whom have at least some potential for benefit from merchant ship conversions. Not that party to this treaty ever stopped anyone, as both Britain and Germany used merchant ship conversions as Q-ships in WWI and WWII.

Ah, but surely, as I have been informed by countless internet denizens, the ban on “Dum-dum” or expanding bullets in the Geneva convention has universal, or near universal adoptions? Well, to start with, that one is part of the 1899 Hague Conventions, Declaration IV,3, and it turns out that the adoption of this one is even more spotty. The map isn’t too dissimilar here, albeit with the very notable disappearance of all of Latin America – with the exception of Mexico – from the list of parties. For the most part, concerns about expanding bullets would seem to be a Eurasian phenomenon. The Americas, Africa, and Oceania are mostly not party to this particular treaty. So, unless you’re getting involved in a land war in Eurasia, don’t expect the bullets to be non-expanding – or, more accurately, don’t expect the laws of war to be the reasoning for non-expanding bullets, as most nations use standard ball ammo, regardless of whether they’re party to the treaty or not3.

Now, the Geneva Conventions do have rather better adoption – everyone worth noting is party to Geneva Conventions I-IV, but the additional protocols do get interesting. Additional protocol I, which does a lot, supposedly relating to the protection of victims of international conflict, has very broad adoption, but the list of non-parties is certainly quite interesting. The US, Iran, and Pakistan have signed, but not ratified it (and signature without ratification has no force), and notable non members include Turkey, Israel, India, and Indonesia. It’s sometimes easy to speculate why a nation may or may not have entered into a treaty when the treaty only limits a single or small number of actions, but with the Additional Protocols I and II of the Geneva convention, there is so much going on that figuring out anyone’s reasoning about why is probably fruitless – although it does bear noting that much of Additional Protocols I and II is duplicates of something already a part of the laws and customs of war, such as the prohibition on Perfidy (redundantly even within the protocol). The highlights of what Additional Protocol I does include bans on “works and installations containing dangerous forces”, a ban on “methods or means of warfare” that will cause “widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment”, a ban on conscription of those under the age of 15, and ensuring that mercenaries are not given protection as legal combatants (note, the definition used is quite narrow – for example, citizens of belligerents, and residents of territories under the control of belligerents are not covered by the definition of mercenary, nor is anyone not taking direct part in hostilities). 

Of course, if we leave the realm of the Hague and Geneva Conventions for other treaties, things tend to be even spottier. Earlier this year, there were people getting the vapors over the fact that both Ukraine and Russia were using cluster munitions – not in the specifics of how they were used, which absolutely could have been war crimes (and probably were in at least some instances), but the fact that they were used at all – when neither nation is party to the treaty. In fact, given how spotty adoption of that particular treaty is, chances are that if a war starts up somewhere, at least one of the belligerents will not be party to the treaty.

So, why are international treaties on the subject of war lacking in universal adoption? How can nations such as the US, opt out of major chunks of both the Hague and Geneva Conventions? Well, to oversimplify how international law works, think of nations as individuals with Dissociative identity disorder (and frequently a good chunk of the rest of the DSM for flavor), who can only be bound by rules that they agree to, and each individual personality gets a vote. You can persuade, guilt trip, bribe, and use economic coercion, but in the end, some treaties simply won’t get signed without violence, or a credible threat of it 4. They can also sign with reservations, . And even when everyone involved is party to the treaty consider that in 1914 Germany, Britain, France, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey were party to 1899 Hague Declaration IV,II, which banned projectiles “the sole object of which is the diffusion of asphyxiating or deleterious gases”, and we all know how THAT turned out. So, for anything beyond the basics, and especially for more technical items, take claims of it being illegal under international law with a grain of salt, especially if they can’t tell you which treaty5 it came from, and definitely have low expectations where actually following the treaty is concerned.


Sources:
https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/Treaty.xsp?documentId=D9E6B6264D7723C3C12563CD002D6CE4&action=openDocument

https://archive.ph/qDqpc

https://archive.ph/sIKqA

https://archive.ph/FxpDg

https://www.clusterconvention.org/

9/11

Normally I don’t post on Sundays. Maybe one day I will get back to doing scheduled posts of photos, but it is a day of rest and more. Today, however, is a special day.

On this day, oh so many years ago now, I got to work early as was my want, got settled in, and began my morning check of the news. I was looking to see if anyone had mentioned our program or it’s commercial partners, along with other bits of news. I saw the flash of the first plane hitting, and I admit my mind jumped back to the B-25 hitting the Empire State Building. In short order, however, it was clear that this was not an accident.

I watched the second plane hit. I was on the phone to my NASA boss (veteran) telling him the United States of America was under attack even before the aftermath of the Pentagon hit the screen. I made the other calls duty required, and then, like so many, all I could do was watch. I kept my boss updated as best I could, as we all waited to see what happened.

I still get a chuckle out of one thing that happened. My NASA boss had been EWO ready back in his Air Force days, which made things easier as I could use shorthand, if you will, in talking with him. At one point, having had to go downstairs, I saw him across the lobby and let him know that the President was airborne in AF1, which was also now the National Airborne Emergency Command Post. Using shorthand, I simply let him know by using the phrase ‘the President is NEA-Capped’ which led to one other NASA person having the idea someone had gotten to the President and broken his knee cap. Clearing this up gave one and all a much needed laugh.

Then, we waited. Across the nation, burn and trauma centers stood to, and the Nightingales crouched in ready alert upon their pads. They waited, and their wait was in vain.

Then, later, I was there in NYC, after a flight that saw me teach an impromptu and off-the-books course on self-defense to the cabin crew before boarding. Funny how many of us in those days found ways (sometimes with the help of the crew) to put ourselves in places such that we could be between potential trouble and the cockpit. Locking the barn after, admittedly, but it was the mood of the moment, and people having tantrums on flights didn’t happen for a while there as fellow passengers put a stop to such immediately and, er, firmly. And, officially, nobody saw nuthin in such cases.

That first visit was officially for other things, but I spent one day in a series of interesting meetings and tours. I was at Ground Zero, and watched the searchers do their work even as the boots melted off their feet. With the fires and compression heating, in the early days they would often have to change out boots multiple times a day. The streets of lower Manhattan were still thick with the grey dust that was all that was left of the Towers and the people within them, and the smell of baked lime and burnt sweet pork still hung in the air.

I visited the ferry, and talked a bit with some of the people who got it up and running so fast. I met with leadership high and low, and even with the little men upon the stair who were not there. Got asked if I wanted to spend a little time on river patrol, which I did — like everyone else who signed up to work Ground Zero, that stayed with FDNY. Investigated a report of a body that thankfully turned out to just be a log. Still remember one of the crew pointing at the Statue of Liberty and saying to take a look while it was still there — yeah, we expected more would happen.

Over time, I think I visited every “temporary” emergency command post they had up until the current “permanent” one came online. This time, the politicians listened to them and while I’ve not been there, I was assured (with a degree of happiness I can’t truly get across) that it was nowhere near a target and done right.

I also learned about so many that day who did what they could, even at the cost of their own life. If you don’t know the story of Rick Rescorla, you should. Look it up. There’s a reason for the music above. There were more. The NYPD LT who was my guide/contact/minder that first time almost died twice that day, both times running to the sound of the drums.

Between that and some other events where I was a part of things as they unfolded, I’ve learned a lot about disaster preparedness and emergency management. I’ve even done all the coursework to be a federally-approved on-scene commander (need the practicums to finish). And I think that the current federal system is a mistake, as it is fed-way or the highway and only federally approved contractors can take part (including outside NGOs and the like). Just look at “Day Four, when the federal authorities took over ” for a clue. I guarantee you that this approach will take a minor event and turn it into a major disaster sooner, rather than later.

That story, however, is for another day. Today, sing the song of Rick Rescorla and all the others who died helping ensure others lived. Raise it to the heaven’s and let it shake the foundations of the temples of complacency and power. And remember the lesson that had they yielded to petty and bureaucratic authority, thousands more would have died in NY alone. Raise the song of all those who did perish, and those injured, that horrible day.

*****

If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts (please see previous post), feel free to hit the tip jar in the upper right or the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

An Era Ends

The Queen is Dead! God Save The Queen.

For all that I am glad I don’t live under any monarchy, I liked Queen Elizabeth II; I admired a number of aspects about her; and, I respected even more. She was a better friend to the U.S. than many may ever know or realize. From all accounts she would be the first to admit she wasn’t perfect, but she set a standard few can measure up to.

For me, you gotta love that as a teenager facing the Blitz, she learned to shoot Winston Churchill’s tommy gun; reportedly received rather extensive weapons training as both she and her father said no to leaving in the face of invasion (rumor has it the initial response was rather pithy, and the public statement was a bit more diplomatic but also blunt). In addition, she learned car repair/mechanics and drove an ambulance during the blitz. When not driving, she worked on said ambulances. Fearless is one of the descriptors used in regards her driving, again rumor suggests a few others were applied as well. She reportedly retained a keen interest in both the military and intelligence throughout her life, possibly to the dismay of certain prime ministers. She also had a quick way with people who, er, got on her bad side. Personally driving the Saudi monarch around on a tour after that gentleman had made some comments in public about women drivers was just one of them. There is more I could say, but for now, I will simply say:

God Bless Queen Elizabeth II! May God have mercy on the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and all those who morn her passing. We will not see her like again anytime soon.