defense death spiral

A neverending story: DoD’s attempts to stop cooking the books

“The Pentagon’s $1 Trillion Problem“, Scot Paltrow, Portfolio.com (May 2008) — An excellent article, well worth reading in full.  However, note the reporter’s implied assumption that DoD’s leaders want accurate accounting, but somehow new systems never seem to work. Excerpt: The size of nearly 28 football fields, with a facade of alternating red stucco and …

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DoD Death Spiral – the US Navy version

The following article not only provides an excellent example of the Defense Death Spiral (see here for a description), but also illustrates other important points. (1)  The mainstream media report these problems in the perky, amnesiac fashion of a fool — as if each time they discover the problem it is an original insight.  Since …

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Another cycle down the Defense Death Spiral

It is fascinating to see how problems with our defense apparatus periodically surge into prominence.  Articles in the major media relate ominous quotes by a host of concerned experts.  Of course, no serious action results.  Soon the Washington and media elites slump back to indifference, until their self-interested torpor is roused by the next crisis.  The Army’s increasing difficulty …

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