zenpundit.com

Late last year, after years of solo blogging, I invited Charles Cameron to become a permanent member of Zenpundit.com. That has worked out so well that I am bringing aboard another blogger who, like Charles, can bring his own insights, interests and considerable expertise in aspects of national security affairs to bear here for the enrichment of the blog and enjoyment of the readers.

 I would like to formally welcome J. Scott Shipman to Zenpundit.com.

To introduce  Scott more fully than the line from previous guest posts…” he is a self-employed consultant, speaker, writer (and now “blogger”), avid reader, autodidact, father, and husband. Scott has a wide variety of interests including; fractal geometry, complexity theory, philosophy, history, management theory, systems theory, cognitive psychology, neurology/neuroeconomics, design theory, literature, international relations, politics, law and legal theory, the ideas of the late Colonel John Boyd, strategy, Calvinist-lite theology, mind maps, geography, fishing for smallmouth bass on the Potomac river, and golf.

Scott is the owner of SHIPMAN Federal Services, Inc., a consulting firm he established in 2004 that specializes in the application of John Boyd’s leadership strategies in the workplace. Scott provides his customers with unique insight on issues of leadership, organizational culture, and strategic planning, using what he calls “an uncommon-common sense approach.”

Previously, Scott served at BAE Systems, which he joined in October 1996. During his years at BAE Systems Scott led the Strategic Planning and Nuclear Safety group, and was integral in the planning of the first two TRIDENT II D5 submarine Backfits. In addition he was Division Head of Integrated Test Programs, with responsibility for shipyard testing and performance analysis of all navy submarine Strategic Weapon Systems, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. Scott was responsible for six other field facilities located adjacent to naval shipyards and naval installations. Scott concluded his service at BAE Systems as Director of Business Development with responsibility for the naval undersea warfare business area. While on active duty, Scott served at sea on the commissioning crew of USS PENNSYLVANIA (SSBN-735) and in USS VON STEUBEN (SSBN-632), and ashore in various commands. In his final tour of active duty Scott served for five years at the On-Site Inspection Agency an arms control inspector and deputy mission commander enforcing the INF and START treaties. In this capacity, Scott traveled throughout the former Soviet Union and the Republic of Korea in support of international arms control agreements and humanitarian missions.
J. Scott is married to his lovely wife and business partner, Kristen. They have four children, two dogs, and two cats and reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Welcome aboard Scott!

I have a post up at Chicago Boyz on Pakistan:

Pundita’s Good Advice to the House of Monstrosities that is called Pakistan

Pundita is spot on. If anything, she’s too nice about making her point ( must be mellowing).

I will be more blunt; Pakistan is an unfixable horror show and an enemy of the United States by any rational metric that can be applied. Worse than Iran. North Korea is a toss-up. We need to disentangle ourselves from a nation hell-bent on provoking a nuclear war with it’s giant neighbor, India and that plots terrorism against us with the intent of killing US citizens.

Fabius Maximus has uncovered a satirical gem from the Marine Corps Gazette:

The Attritionist Letters (Archives)

In 1942 the English author, C.S. Lewis published a novel in epistolary style titled “The Screwtape Letters.”  The novel took the form of series of letters of advice from an experienced devil named Screwtape to his young nephew Wormwood. His protégé was having a difficult time in tempting and ruining souls.  The novel is a thinly veiled postulation of faith and morals.  We have had a group of Marines, who I have allowed to remain anonymous, compile epistolary articles they have titled ” The Attritionist Letters.” They write provocatively about what they see as the ongoing clash between maneuver warfare advocates and attritionists.  It is our hope that they will engender a spirited debate over the next several months as we publish their letters.  I do not agree with every thing that they assert, but they also make points that are valid and well worth considering.  One of the most important points I discovered soon after becoming the editor of the Gazette was that you will have the opportunity to publish points that you may or may not agree with and hope that the readers will take up the debate.