Defense and Security Archives

Welcome to the Rogue’s Gallery

By Bill Clontz June 13, 2023 June 13, 2023 3 Comments

Six “Winners” Who Merit Our Disdain

Highlighting a Few People That Are Disappointments to Civilization

As we all know, the world has at least its share of less than laudable souls walking the Earth. We might even feel that we are way over our quota of such people in recent years.

Still, even in this category of n’er-do-wells some people stand out as exceptional wastes of oxygen. Today, we call out six of them worthy of our highest scorn and our lowest esteem.

The Latest Trump Indictment Gives Us Two Such Individuals

One,

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Two Rather Different Thoughts on Memorial Day

By Bill Clontz May 30, 2023 May 30, 2023 3 Comments

How We View This Day Depends Greatly on What Experience We Bring To It

A Lot is Written and Spoken About Memorial Day

As well it should be. This is about as solemn a memorial service as we have for this country, and it deserves our attention. Still, as a veteran with more than a little bit of combat experience, I have always been a bit cautious about the day.

Seeing people who never served make pompous and bellicose speeches does not ring my bell. Neither do the machinations of those I think of as “professional veterans,” who seem unwilling to turn the page in life,

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Three Conspiracies, Three Observations

By Bill Clontz April 24, 2023 April 25, 2023 Leave a Comment

Six Unrelated Thoughts to Share

First, the Conspiracies

We live in an era of unbridled conspiracy theories. Fanned by alienation, fed and spread by social media, they are like barnacles on the ship of society. They make it ever harder to unite as a people or to find common ground, even in finding truth.

But hey, it seems everyone has one and they have fun with them, so today – my turn. Here are three conspiracy theories that occur to me as entirely logical and at least somewhat likely. See what you think. I know,

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The Ides of March are Upon Us

By Bill Clontz March 6, 2023 March 7, 2023 2 Comments

A Few Things to Contemplate in This Time of Warning

Beware the Ides

Most of us, even those who were not literature majors nor regular readers of Shakespeare, remember the phrase “Beware the Ides of March.” Well, that time on the calendar is almost here. Let’s look at a couple of things that are indeed worthy of our wariness.

The Havana Syndrome

A report is in from an interagency intelligence task force on the mysteries set of symptoms that have beset American diplomats and others overseas with a baffling and debilitating set of medical problems.

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Watch for Big Stuff Coming Soon

By Bill Clontz February 27, 2023 February 28, 2023 1 Comment

Be on the Lookout for Major Outcomes

What’s Up?

As always, a lot is on the horizon, much of it important. What follows is not the definitive list by any means, but the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I think about the following issues and potential outcomes. I would be major outcomes on the following items in the next 4-6 months, for better or worse.

International

Ukraine: The war is, unfortunately, not likely to end in this short time frame, but my sensing is that the expected Russian Spring offensive is not going to amount to much.

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Thoughts on 3 Countries, 1 Forest – and a Jar

By Bill Clontz January 31, 2023 January 31, 2023 3 Comments

January 31, 2013 – The New Year is Already a Month Old and Full of News

New Zealand

Like many people around the world, I was disappointed and saddened to learn of the resignation of NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. She had justifiably caught the world’s attention as a bright, bold leader, a young female just starting a family and while she was at it, dealt with a deadly plague and terrible gun violence effectively.

Her departure could be a complicated set of rationales – hard to tell what was most important. She no doubt felt that as a female leader and a young leader,

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Six Views for Your Consideration

By Bill Clontz January 17, 2023 January 17, 2023 6 Comments

Security, Books, Pizza, and More

Securing Classified Documents

We have heard in recent days, and will hear a lot more, about classified papers on the loose at the presidential level. There are elements yet to be resolved on the Biden end; we know the story on Trump. Still, we know enough overall to call out the following essential elements.

Both cases involve mishandling of classified data. That is serious and has to be treated as such. As noted below, there are important differences in these two cases, but appointing a Special Prosecutor for both has its merits.

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Turning the Page

By Bill Clontz January 9, 2023 January 10, 2023 5 Comments

No, This is Not About Politics or Philosophy; It’s About Music (Mostly…)

What May Seem Small Can Count a Great Deal

I have attended two classical music concerts in recent days and watched one on Youtube. All three reminded me that seemingly small contributions can have great value and are worthy of our attention.

In this case, I speak of the humble Page-Turner (that is the actual title of such an individual), the individual who stands next to a performer playing an instrument, turning the page on the sheet music at the right moment.

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