Thread: More Mike sparks

Originally Posted by M21Sniper

All of a sudden mike is not approving my comments for his airborne equipment site.

Go figure...

He doesn't realize that he is his own worst enemy. If he made an argument to uparmor the M113s in the boneyards for light infantry units rotating through Iraq, I'm sure he actually gain some traction. You don't gain allies by alienating everyone you possibly can.

As an interesting sidenote, two weeks ago I attended the American Enterprise Institute's symposium on "The Future of the US Army." I recognized this guy in a suit that looked very familiar. When I finally saw him close up, I figured out that it was MG Hendrix, who had been the Chief of Infantry when I was a LT, and he his nametag stated that he was working for United Defense (M113). I wonder what Mike Sparks' take on that is. Is there corruption there since the US Army has contracts for M113A3s?

Personally, as long as there is no "revolving door" conflict of interest decisions made while in uniform, then I see no issue with greensuiters moving on to defense contractors. Thus, I see no problem with MG Hendrix's decision to work with UDLP. However, I don't think you can make the argument one way and not the other.

The army is actually uparmoring and upgunning some M-113A3s currently.

No idea on the numbers involved, but it is a current program.

Personally, i don't think ANY ex military should be allowed to work in sales positions for defense contractors. None whatsoever. The potential for abuse is simply too great.

Did you respond to this request sir?

"We're wondering what those of you with first-hand Stryker knowledge and/or experience have observed about the vehicle. How is it performing in Iraq?

-Eric Miller (email Eric at defense@pogo.org, your anonymity will be protected unless you explicitly state otherwise)"

Originally Posted by M21Sniper

The army is actually uparmoring and upgunning some M-113A3s currently.

No idea on the numbers involved, but it is a current program.

Personally, i don't think ANY ex military should be allowed to work in sales positions for defense contractors. None whatsoever. The potential for abuse is simply too great.

Did you respond to this request sir?

"We're wondering what those of you with first-hand Stryker knowledge and/or experience have observed about the vehicle. How is it performing in Iraq?

-Eric Miller (email Eric at defense@pogo.org, your anonymity will be protected unless you explicitly state otherwise)"

I had a big presentation yesterday for my "War in the Modern World" class and an Italian test tomorrow, so I haven't gotten around to posting. I do plan on posting; however, I'm not sure if I fully trust POGO's agenda, so I want to take my time on crafting what I want to say. It's sad that this is the case, but I want to make sure that any comments I make cannot be construed in any other way than the way I want them. For example, I think that the RWS should have the improvements made. However, if make a statement like that, then it leaves it open that maybe I mean the RWS sucks and is bad. As I've pointed out before, the M2 or MK-19, both area weapons, are effectively point weapons when mounted in an RWS that is stationary (using the example of my XO's driver splitting an insurgent in half with the M2/RWS combo) - this is a better M2 capability than anywhere else in the Army minus the XM107 in a well-trained sniper's hands The color display, zoomable thermal, and stabilization will take it to the next level.

I had read that they were uparmoring M113s, which is a good thing. I think that these are to create a rotational set of M113A3s for units that normally have M113A3s, although I'm sure about that. I had actually heard that they are going to mount slat armor on them. That's great for the troops as it will provide pretty good RPG protection - makes me wonder how Mike Sparks is going to spin his way out of that subject - adopting something that the Stryker is using?!? That's sacreligious!

BTW, I'm going to buy some bad plaid jackets so I can be truly qualified to teach economics when I retire (my MA will be strategic studies with an economics specialization). No defense contracting for me - too much work.

"All of a sudden mike is not approving my comments for his airborne equipment site."

Kicked me off his mail group a few weeks ago... I was great until I pointed out IDF M-113 losses, and that basically the M-113 is not everything proof...

"That's great for the troops as it will provide pretty good RPG protection - makes me wonder how Mike Sparks is going to spin his way out of that subject - adopting something that the Stryker is using?!? That's sacreligious!"

He'll call it the wrong move and rail about the Army trying to turn the worlds greatedt TAFV into the Styker TRUCK, and then something about egos, throw out the word deathtrap a couple times...

An M-113 in Iraq...

Originally Posted by troung

"All of a sudden mike is not approving my comments for his airborne equipment site."

Kicked me off his mail group a few weeks ago... I was great until I pointed out IDF M-113 losses, and that basically the M-113 is not everything proof...

"That's great for the troops as it will provide pretty good RPG protection - makes me wonder how Mike Sparks is going to spin his way out of that subject - adopting something that the Stryker is using?!? That's sacreligious!"

He'll call it the wrong move and rail about the Army trying to turn the worlds greatedt TAFV into the Styker TRUCK, and then something about egos, throw out the word deathtrap a couple times...

An M-113 in Iraq...

Wow! A KBR honey bucket. Brings back fond memories of Iraq. NOT! Of course, the honey buckets were a nice luxury after piss tubes and the plywood shanty shitters with the cut 55 gallon barrels (thank God I never got any splinters in the ****!), so I guess I shouldn't complain. It did make for some colorful language, as the CSM's favorite statement was that it was "time for the extra duty folks to man the metal oar" (using a long picket to stir the mogas/diesel/poo mixture - it was smart to be on your best behavior).

Colorful words and all, maybe I am FOBish but I have no idea what you just wrote....

Yep, that's one of the up-armored -113s. Check out the bolt-on applique' armor and the 'chicken shield' for the ma duece mount.

Troung, he was talking about the port-a-potty in the picture you posted, lol.

"As I've pointed out before, the M2 or MK-19, both area weapons, are effectively point weapons when mounted in an RWS that is stationary (using the example of my XO's driver splitting an insurgent in half with the M2/RWS combo) - this is a better M2 capability than anywhere else in the Army minus the XM107 in a well-trained sniper's hands"

The M1A1 remote .50 cal mounts were pretty cool too, but they did away with them in the M1A2SEP. :(

Originally Posted by troung

Colorful words and all, maybe I am FOBish but I have no idea what you just wrote....

I'll try to translate from Armyese

You'll notice the Kellogg, Brown, and Root (KBR, subsidiary of Haliburton) stamp on the porta-potty (honey bucket is an actual brand name of porta-potty, obviously, a satirical name - it is often used as a generic name as well for porta-potties).

Piss tubes are PVC pipe that is buried into the ground so that you don't have guys pissing all over the place. Plus, they aren't too many trees that you can designate as the piss tree in the desert.

Without a porta-potty, you essentially build a plywood outhouse and use a 55 gallon drum that is cut down to about 10" and then handles are welded on. Once they are full, then some poor soul has to remove them from under the seat and then add in mogas (to get the fire going) and diesel (to keep the fire going since it burns slower), and stir the mixture so that the poo will all burn away. Warning: avoid being downwind when this occurs. "Manning the metal oar" is an effective deterrent to those soldiers who like to push the rules. 1SG always wins!

Originally Posted by M21Sniper

"As I've pointed out before, the M2 or MK-19, both area weapons, are effectively point weapons when mounted in an RWS that is stationary (using the example of my XO's driver splitting an insurgent in half with the M2/RWS combo) - this is a better M2 capability than anywhere else in the Army minus the XM107 in a well-trained sniper's hands"

The M1A1 remote .50 cal mounts were pretty cool too, but they did away with them in the M1A2SEP. :(

You're talking about the manually controlled remote mount? If so, I got to fire it as a cadet. Pretty cool, but it wasn't Nintendo-like, so it wouldn't be as useful for Gen-X soldiers. While I'm being somewhat facetious here, it actually is interesting to know that the Bradley and Abrams main gun controllers are basically like Atari joysticks and the RWS controller has a pad like a Nintnedo controller. Any vehicles out there equipped with a Pong-like controller?

Thanks, in fact until you guys pointed out the KBR I didn't even notice it...

"Any vehicles out there equipped with a Pong-like controller?"

You mean like a speed dial? Hmmm....not that i know of.

Oh, forgot to mention, POGO is definitely politically motivated, so you'll be doing well to couch your words carefully when you respond to them.

Originally Posted by M21Sniper

"Any vehicles out there equipped with a Pong-like controller?"

You mean like a speed dial? Hmmm....not that i know of.

Oh, forgot to mention, POGO is definitely politically motivated, so you'll be doing well to couch your words carefully when you respond to them.

I broke him already. Ranting and raving within hours of my post. Not even original enough to come up with another name, using "Friend of Carol" as if it were a letter to Ann Landers. Nothing like discrediting yourself.

Victor by unaminous decision: Shek