Think Progress

Fox military analyst/consultant for F-22 contractor shills for F-22 while discussing pirates.

Last year, the New York Times revealed that numerous cable news “military analysts” never disclosed their ties to military contractors. Yesterday, Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney appeared on Fox News to discuss the Somali pirates situation, and managed to use it as an opportunity to shill for the F-22:

McINERNEY: I’d put F-22s and combat air patrol out there, two of them, with tankers. … The reason I’d put the F-22s is because they can go 1.6 to mach 2, and they have a very quick reaction time and a 20 millimeter canon.

Gawker flagged the appearance and noted that McInerney, conveniently, worked as a consultant to Northrop Grumman, a major contractor for the F-22. Watch it:

“It doesn’t take an Air Force general to see how bizarre McInerney’s military reasoning is,” Gawker’s Ryan Tate writes, noting that the F-22 — an exceedingly expensive fighter jet designed for air combat — could do nothing to solve the current problem.



207 Responses to “Fox military analyst/consultant for F-22 contractor shills for F-22 while discussing pirates.”

  1. noseeum says:

    McINERNEY: … “The reason I’d put the F-22s is because they can go 1.6 to mach 2, and they have a very quick reaction time and a 20 millimeter canon.”

    This is extremely important when combating wooden boats with outboard motors.


  2. Bozo The Neocootiebug says:

    these republican whores would sell their own mothers for a buck.


  3. herecomestheangst says:

    Even if they had a fleet of Raptors from Battlestar Galactica, the Somali pirates would still be there.

    Maybe Glenn Beck should go shoot all the pirates in the head as our counter-response! He sure can’t go down and do it at Gitmo now.


  4. noseeum says:

    “Red Leader to Gold Leader, did you see anything?”

    “Gold Leader to Red Leader… negative sir, but I think we’re over Australia by now, perhaps we should double back…”


  5. krazeeinjun says:

    Yes — let’s use a $360 million dollar aircraft to chase some rag-tag “pirates” scooting around the Gulf of Aden in rickety wooden boats with outboard motors. What a brilliant idea!

    Maybe it’s that kind of thinking which explains why the General is no longer a General and is now a resident Fox know-nothing preaching to the rubes.

    Just saying . . .


  6. Megaloptera McWars says:

    Even though the defense budget proposal is a net increase in spending, it has a great transformative appeal.

    The defense dept. is 1 of 15 executive depts. It should be equally subject to changes that eliminate waste-fraud-abuse.

    Republicans have been doing to the DoD what they’ve been claiming dems want to do on domestic programs, throw more money at the problem. Just increase the budget amt. year after year with no end in sight.

    Republicans, the department of defense is not your baby. If Defense Secretary Gates believes that 187 F-22s is enough, then the program should be capped.


  7. barkleyg says:

    “This is extremely important when combating wooden boats with outboard motors.”

    This is the Republican “Chicago Mouse”(EBERT accreditation) idea of what it takes, in life, and to Destroy wooden Boats.

    The Bigger the Cannon, the Surer the Results.

    I didn’t say it works, but that is their Theory of Life!


  8. noseeum says:

    barkleyg Says: “I didn’t say it works, but that is their Theory of Life!”

    Apparently so. They had Osama bin Laden holed up in a cave in Afghanistan and then invaded Iraq as a way of flushing him out…


  9. Don of Cali says:

    Clearly we need to develop a new class of space-based particle beam laser weapons to combat this new foe. There is no alternative. America must prevail in the War On Pirates!


  10. Crymeariver says:

    LOL, they have to disclose that they are contracters for GOVERNMENT JOBS not tv jobs…another lame attempt to juxtapose statements to make it appear that Fox is doing something wrong…wow.


  11. Megaloptera McWars says:

    Speaking of waste, on January 1st 2007 Congress passed an increase in military retired pay for generals, lifting the executive level pay cap determining maximum base pay & awarding additional percentage points of base pay for service over 30 years in calculating retired pay.

    This comes on the heels of the retired pay reforms of the last decade, where servicemembers retiring at 20 years now receive only 40% of their base pay (down from 50%) if they enlisted or were commissioned after September 6th 1980. This was done as a cost-cutting measure, but Congress’ actions in 2007 defeat that purpose.

    Mind you, the generals who now mostly benefit don’t need the increase. They regularly sit on boards and work in other capacities picking up huge sums post-retirement. It all flies in the face of logic.


  12. Ape-Man says:

    Man these Industrial Military Complex guys are going to have to wait. I’m sorry to tell them, but the coffers are getting low. Come out of your bubble and smell the I.E.D.s Sarge. Break out the armor vests and armored vehicles and the head injury doctors, lots of brain injury doctors, not F-22s.


  13. pete says:

    That’s, what’s the word? Ah yes. That’s INSANE!

    We have an entire carrier fleet full of airplanes designed to hunt/kill boats/ships, not to mention the smaller vessels with helicopters, and this maroon wants to wear out the most expensive fighter planes in the world chasing ghosts?

    Maybe we could also expend our B-2s, at two billion a pop, for surveillance over the Mexican boarder?


  14. RandomChaos says:

    Crybaby, you really take this WHAAAAAAAAAAA crap to heart.

    pathetic


  15. Eugene atrax robustus Debs says:

    Crymeariver Says:

    LOL, they have to disclose that they are contracters for GOVERNMENT JOBS not tv jobs…another lame attempt to juxtapose statements to make it appear that Fox is doing something wrong…wow.
    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

    FOX IS doing something wrong idiot. If you have someone commenting on ANYTHING they might have a conflict of interest on you DISCLOSE that connection. That is journalistic ethics 101. I knew that when I was editor of my high school newspaper. I am not suprised anything having to do with ethics is beyond your comprehension. Any real journalist KNOWS this however.


  16. Megaloptera McWars says:

    There’s a huge conflict of interest PERIOD, Crybaby.

    If you’re on TV shilling for a government program, you need to disclose your personal stake. Not doing so gives the viewer the false impression that your assessment is objective.


  17. Ape-Man says:

    Crymeariver Says:

    Crymeariver always misses or deflects the point. he’s like a living fun house mirror.

    Has he ever actually articulated a concern we could help him address?


  18. dixie blood says:

    I wouldn’t expect anything less from Fux nOoze or anyone who appears on their channel. C0ck-sucking liars all of them.


  19. Ape-Man says:

    Ya, it’s called “full disclosure”


  20. RandomChaos says:

    disclosure = something trolls do not comprehend


  21. pete says:

    BTW. The F-22 has never flown a combat mission and, despite that, has an abysmal serviceability rate of 62%. Doing a little quick math, that would require 12-15 planes for round the clock coverage. More like 20 if we wanted the option of reinforcing the two-plane patrols.

    Plus, I seriously doubt that there’s an airfield within range that can handle the maintenance on this plumbers nightmare, even if we were willing to take the risk of espionage in a hostile theater.


  22. Crymeariver says:

    ——————————————————————————–

    Eugene atrax robustus Debs Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    Crymeariver Says:

    LOL, they have to disclose that they are contracters for GOVERNMENT JOBS not tv jobs…another lame attempt to juxtapose statements to make it appear that Fox is doing something wrong…wow.
    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

    FOX IS doing something wrong idiot. If you have someone commenting on ANYTHING they might have a conflict of interest on you DISCLOSE that connection. That is journalistic ethics 101. I knew that when I was editor of my high school newspaper. I am not suprised anything having to do with ethics is beyond your comprehension. Any real journalist KNOWS this however.

    LOL, you are about as dumb as a box of rocks. OMG, every analyst or guest of Rachel or Herr Olbermann is shilling for something. They bring them ON for the very purpose that they have expertise in the field…You are WAY out there on this one. You think every guest on every show has to disclose ALL OF THE PROJECTS OR EMPLOYERS THEY HAVE EVER WORKED FOR??? lol, no, you didnt know “that” as editor of your high school newspaper fool because it doesnt exist. Please.


  23. ShadowBoxer says:

    Crymeariver says:

    “LOL”

    again.

    Just fu(in say it. We don’t care if you are LingOL or CingAR.

    Or SOtD. Oh wait, that’s Daryll.


  24. Xisithrus says:

    Do you know how wide a turn a plane makes at that speed?


  25. Xisithrus says:

    An A-10 would be much better as it flys slower and can make much quicker turns…and it has a cannon too!!


  26. conniptionfit says:

    Because we really need the US Air Force out there potting at civilian craft, just in case they might be pirates.


  27. Ape-Man says:

    The more disclosure the more honesty. there is less discloser at FREAX NEWS than any other network.


  28. noseeum says:

    Xisithrus Says:
    “Do you know how wide a turn a plane makes at that speed?”

    Without the pilot blacking out?
    ;)


  29. Ape-Man says:

    So who was really pitching for the F-22s now [idiots] besides pitch man McIntyre there? That would be disclosure.


  30. Eugene atrax robustus Debs says:

    Crymeariver Says:

    You are just a bone ignorant moron. I mean stupid beyond human comprehension. I dont care who shills for what. They all have an ideology. A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS ANOTHER THING. Yes if they worked for a company that would make money off of their suggestion they ABSOLUTLY should disclose it. Just because you are flat out too stupid to even comprehend the concept of ethics doesnt mean they dont exist. Just that you are VERY stupid. This IS journalistic ethics 101

    http://blog.lib.umn.edu/umdjour/journalismatumd/2008/06/_how_journalists_avoid_conflic.html

    According to the Anti-Corruption Resource Center Web site: “A conflict of interest arises when an individual with a formal responsibility to serve the public participates in an activity that jeopardizes his or her professional judgment, objectivity and independence. Often this activity primarily serves personal interests and can potentially influence the objective exercise of the individual’s official duties

    If he is shown on the air as a commentator his primary responsibility is to objectivly inform. IF he has any financial stake in what is being said that MUST be disclosed. This is simple even a moron like YOU ought to be able to understand it


  31. Xisithrus says:

    -CMAR Said: LOL, you are about as dumb as a box of rocks. OMG, every analyst or guest of Rachel or Herr Olbermann is shilling for something. They bring them ON for the very purpose that they have expertise in the field

    I have no doubt the guy knows the F-22s abilities. But whats the point of going Mach 2 when the ship and pirates are going much slower? If this is the best scenario this guy can come up with for buying a very expensive….then we dont need them.


  32. Eugene atrax robustus Debs says:

    Using F-22s to fight those low tech pirates would be like using a military laser to cut your butter.


  33. MapleStreet says:

    I sell books. These rectangular objects are especially well suited to dropping on pirates. Especially novels.


  34. pete says:

    Believe me, or not, no Air Force General would allow the F-22s to be used for this purpose. I don’t give a rip who McInerney works for, he should identify himself as a freakin idiot.


  35. Ape-Man says:

    The military getting into politics is a conflict of interest. In fact it’s a most dangerous one. whole countrys fail over that one. Even big ones.


  36. pete says:

    We could put a squad of heavily armed Marines on every merchant vessel on the planet for the cost of one F-22.


  37. Xisithrus says:

    We are talking asymmetrical warfare here, not a high tech battle with other equally high tech planes.

    But hey lets build some even more expensive spaceships with hyper drives, Warp factor 9, dylithium crystal powered, faster than the speed of light craft and show those poor pirates a lesson!!

    Even better lets use Reagans super expensive Star-Wars weapon system to blast the pirates out of the water!


  38. 5th Estate says:

    xisithrus..sun , you’ll never get that promotion if you make more sense than the general!

    Oof course even if McInerney had susggested the A-AIO instead,it would still be stupid–just less stupid. But at least it would then be a genuine suggestion.


  39. noseeum says:

    “These rectangular objects are especially well suited to dropping on pirates.”

    Perhaps George Dufous B. might unload a few copies after all….


  40. MapleStreet says:

    36. Eugene,

    Please watch a few more episodes of Tim, the Toolman Taylor, and you’ll understand ! ;-)

    On another topic as posted by 11. Dr. Moth Matt – Dow up for 5 weeks is now back to the level of the day Obama was sworn in. Here, Lutkemeyer (R-MO) is on TV talking about how bad the economy is and that we can’t have any effect on it. Why wasn’t it so bad in the Bush years ?


  41. Ape-Man says:

    McInerney is a IMC zombie, willing or not. Stupid or not. Zombies take talking points from somewhere…


  42. Megaloptera McWars says:

    Strawman alert — #26

    Make that a HUGE strawman.


  43. KayInMaine says:

    I’m sure he’s got F-22 brochures inside his coat so he can whip it open at any time of the day to sell these planes. LOL What a schmuck.


  44. Xisithrus says:

    Xisithrus Says: “Do you know how wide a turn a plane makes at that speed?”

    Noseeum Said: Without the pilot blacking out?
    ;)

    Or the wings snapping off? =P


  45. Xisithrus says:

    5th Estate Said: xisithrus..sun , you’ll never get that promotion if you make more sense than the general!

    But but its not a conflict of interest!!!

    /snark


  46. Eugene atrax robustus Debs says:

    MapleStreet Says:

    Yeah thats something he would do. Pretty sure it wouldnt be at taxpayer expense though.


  47. RantingTommy says:

    this cryingariver pansy is hilarious

    please tell me you’re a parody, nobody could really be that stupid


  48. tombaker says:

    I’m no Admiral here or anything, but wouldn’t it be cheaper to put guns on the ships, so they could, like, shoot the pirates and/or repel them and whatnot?

    But hey – if those guys wanna spend a bajillion dollars and still not catch the pirates, I guess that’s their prerogative.

    Sure hope they don’t “waste” any Republicans’ tax money on it though – they’re very, very touchy about that.


  49. Ape-Man says:

    @46 – COPY – Strawman at #26

    “every guest on every show has to disclose ALL OF THE PROJECTS OR EMPLOYERS THEY HAVE EVER WORKED FOR”


  50. 5th Estate says:

    Xisithrus Says: “Do you know how wide a turn a plane makes at that speed?”
    Noseeum Said: Without the pilot blacking out?
    ;)
    Or the wings snapping off? =P

    Well hopefully the F-22 has the same kind of management system as the EADS Typhoon which prevents the pilot form flying beyond the physical limitations of the airframe and aerodynamics, no matter matter what.


  51. pete says:

    I know that F-22s have a FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) but, do they even have a surface scanning radar? I’m pretty sure that their Air to Surface capability is very limited.


  52. RantingTommy says:

    Republicans, like their mascot, cannot help but be so frightened by a mouse, that they stomp around in a panic, trashing everything around them.


  53. pete says:

    5th Estate Says:

    Xisithrus Says: “Do you know how wide a turn a plane makes at that speed?”
    Noseeum Said: Without the pilot blacking out?
    ;)
    Or the wings snapping off? =P

    Well hopefully the F-22 has the same kind of management system as the EADS Typhoon which prevents the pilot form flying beyond the physical limitations of the airframe and aerodynamics, no matter matter what.

    I’m pretty sure they do, 5th, and most modern fighters even have a system to detect a blacked out pilot (I think it can tell if a head is lolling).

    On the other hand, they also have a low altitude warning system. I’ve always wondered if the system will go past it’s limits if the plane is about ready to auger in. Heck! They might even have an automatic ejection if a blacked out pilot would need to pull the wings off to avoid the ground. Or the poor computer might just give up and self-destruct in confusion!


  54. tombaker says:

    David Rees has heeded the call of duty, too, and has McInerney and Lieberman’s backs on this issue:

    Save the F-22’s


  55. 5th Estate says:

    pete…

    Yes that would seem smart–I’ve seen more detailed info about the Typhoon than the F-22, and I’ve not bothered to dig anymore.

    It’s no wonder the F-22 is so damn expensive, it can probably even julienne potatoes and absorb ten times its weight in water.

    IMHO its really a technology demonstrator, not ready for front-line.


  56. RandomChaos says:

    It is the ol macho Whomever has the Newest, Biggest, Baddest, Toys syndrome.

    hohum


  57. 5th Estate says:

    tombaker Says:

    LOL… funny stuff! That’s particularly good—begging for the laptop had me thinking it was real for a few seconds.


  58. The Republic of Hymenoptera Stupidity says:

    Crymeariver Says:

    This is rich from you LOL…so I’ll try this approach, please provide me with one of this “childish insults”
    ______________

    Crymeariver Says:

    LOL, you are about as dumb as a box of rocks.
    ______________

    S.O.P. for some folks, huh?


  59. Winski says:

    Just another Fox/Military hack doing hackery….Maybe he’s not up on the latest announcement from the pentagon- THE F-22 HAS BEEN CANCELED…END…

    Now go home and plan for the next invasion of the local playground…


  60. hanshiro the antlion says:

    This must be what McInerney envisions when invoking the F-22 to fight pirates…

    Kinda like the republican citing “24″ to fight terrorism; and just as fictional.


  61. hanshiro the antlion says:

    62. The Republic of Hymenoptera Stupidity Says:

    Crymeariver Says:

    LOL, you are about as dumb as a box of rocks.
    ______________

    S.O.P. for some folks, huh?

    Sedimentary, my dear Watson…


  62. tombaker says:

    5th – Rees’s recommendations on the N.Korean missile situation is pretty funny too.

    Last week, on his “Friday Faceoffs” youtube video showdown, he took on Glenn the WonderDolt Beck to the tune of “Don’t Cry Out Loud”.

    Get Your War On was the funniest, crisp-est dissection of the Iraq experience I read anywhere. It should be a classic forever.


  63. The Republic of Hymenoptera Stupidity says:

    hanshiro the antlion Says:

    Sedimentary, my dear Watson…
    __________

    There’s just no point in being gneiss to some people, huh?


  64. wiley says:

    If you’re going to involve the military, wouldn’t the Navy be the first choice? Or merchant marines? This guy sounds like he would send f-22s after a clown on a bicycle.


  65. KayInMaine says:

    Off topic:

    Did any of you listen to Glenn Beck’s program today? At the end of it, he was talking about how to make a dirty bomb and then some guy called in who said he uses centrifuges all the time and making a dirty bomb would be easy to do.

    Ummmmmmm, what is Glenn Beck doing? No one can get through the phone to talk to him, but yet, he just happened to have a caller call in with all this information on how to separate the uranium easily? Beck said to the guy, “Doesn’t it have to be a 3000/7000 mix or something like that?”.

    This whole conversation reminded me of the time the Pentagon under Rumsfeld “mistakenly” put the directions on how to make a nuclear bomb on their website.

    Glenn Beck wants America destroyed. I hate him.


  66. Theres'Ant says:

    #1 wrote: TThis is extremely important when combating wooden boats with outboard motors.

    Major beer spew… Thank you.

    On a side note, my 16YO son drags me to the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum in Dayton, OH and the F-22 on display there is a truly magnificent aircraft. It’s his favorite and he’s devastated that his favorite fighter jet is being scrubbed.


  67. The Republic of Hymenoptera Stupidity says:

    It’s his favorite and he’s devastated that his favorite fighter jet is being scrubbed.
    ______________

    Ummm… scrubbed? We ONLY have 187 of them already…


  68. tombaker says:

    What a load of schist.


  69. freeman says:

    O/T
    Here is a critical look at CAP by Jeremy Scahill on todays huff po .
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-scahill/rahm-emanuels-think-tanke_b_185203.html
    Worth a look .


  70. freeman says:

    ALso does anyone posting now access tp’s sister site Middle East Progress ? Norton anti virus has it labelled as an unsafe site so I have been avoiding it ?


  71. hanshiro the antlion says:

    70.Theres’Ant Says: my 16YO son…It’s his favorite and he’s devastated that his favorite fighter jet is being scrubbed.

    At 16, my favorite fighter jet was Wonder Woman’s invisible plane…even the changing room was invisible.

    My buddy’s favorite fighter jets were Tony, Riff and Action. He moved to the west coast….


  72. eyeswideopen1 says:

    Fox Noise=Fake TV news for stupid people.
    GOP=Political party for stupid people.

    A match made in heaven


  73. OutstandingInAPlagueOfLocusts says:

    While there are many reasons to question the procurement of a plane the military does not want more of…I can’t get past the fact they wrote their code in ADA


  74. eyeswideopen1 says:

    He probably would have loved to crowbar in some of those cancelled land rovers but that would be a hard sell even for Fox.


  75. Theres'Ant says:

    OK OK OK. Perhaps scrubbed was the wrong word.

    Carry on.


  76. freeman says:

    This is another critical look at CAP from a week earlier on huffpo by Tom Hayden
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/progressive-think-tank-te_b_179174.html


  77. Ape-Man says:

    Norton anti virus may mean it’s not safe for Republicans. did it elaborate on the warning?


  78. pete says:

    KayInMaine Says:

    Glenn Beck is insane and a danger to civilization. Since he’s allowed to spread his crap, I must conclude that his bosses are the same.


  79. Ape-Man says:

    @82 Dr. Moth Matt Says:

    Bachus brain = Museum


  80. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    I missed the geology plays on words. **sniff**


  81. noseeum says:

    Sorry, Zooey, it was quite gneiss.


  82. freeman says:

    An entomolgical inquiry …… What gives with the insects ?


  83. jondor says:

    haha, and Fox viewers soak it up like the numb dumb morons they are. Not a critical thought flowing through their tiny brains.


  84. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    A conflict of interest occurs when an individual (in this case a military analyst on Fox “news”) has an interest (consultant for an F-22 contractor) that might compromise their reliability. A conflict of interest exists even if no improper act results from it, and can create an appearance of impropriety that can undermine confidence in the conflicted individual or organization.

    This is why every time Keith Olbermann has someone on his show, like Eugene Robinson or Richard Wolffe, he explains who else they work for or have connections with. That way, the listener has more information with which to determine how much weight we might want to give the speaker’s ideas and/or opinions.

    I guess if you’re a troll, that’s a seriously hard concept to understand.


  85. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    noseeum Says:

    Sorry, Zooey, it was quite gneiss.
    April 9th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    I just about schist myself when I realized I had missed it. ;)


  86. noseeum says:

    freeman Says: “What gives with the insects ?”

    Bill O’Flyly called us a bunch of insects a week or so ago…


  87. noseeum says:

    It’s a tuff act to follow, shale we continue?


  88. freeman says:

  89. freeman says:

    Please stop Quartz your giving me a headache .


  90. Pachydiplax de St. Augustine says:

    Sorry about your game, I’m too stoned to play:}


  91. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    Oh jeebus, my geology skillz are seriously crusty.


  92. Xisithrus says:

    Its a insextual revolution


  93. jondor says:

    To Crymeariver:

    Here’s the point: Just recently there was an announcement concerning the future of the F-22. Subsequently, Fox has on a consultant who worked for a related contractor–supposedly as an expert in relation to the pirate attacks. Said consultant uses the attacks as an opportunity to convince DUMBASSES SUCH AS YOURSELF OF THE NEED TO KEEP THE F-22 TO PREVENT PIRATE ATTACKS! lol


  94. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    Pachy is stoned? I shall commence my subduction…


  95. Xisithrus says:

    Oh jeebus, my geology skillz are seriously crusty.

    I tremor at the thought of mine


  96. burro says:

    Pirates can go at least Mach 2.5. The F-22 can’t catch them.


  97. Pachydiplax de St. Augustine says:

    Xisithrus Says:

    I tremor at the thought of mine

    You’re on pretty shaky ground there, if you get my drift.


  98. Xisithrus says:

    Pyrites can go underground and the F-22 cant.


  99. noseeum says:

    Nevar take pirates for granite.


  100. Xisithrus says:

    Nevar take pirates for granite.

    Its a fools gold


  101. Pachydiplax de St. Augustine says:

    Make a wish and I’ll granite.


  102. Xisithrus says:

    You’re on pretty shaky ground there, if you get my drift.

    I plate that game before


  103. noseeum says:

    This is a subject I have an apatite for.


  104. Xisithrus says:

    I wish crymeariver would stop quarrying with people


  105. Xisithrus says:

    This is a subject I have an apatite for. -noseeum

    Your barchan right about that


  106. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    If trolls come around here, we breccia some fool logic.



  107. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    My knowledge of rock names is fenite.


  108. Pachydiplax de St. Augustine says:

    I buy my whiskey by the quartz because my congressman is Mica!


  109. Pachydiplax de St. Augustine says:

    I’m going to the flea market and gypsum rube out of his money.


  110. Xisithrus says:

    Zep, Are you chert?

    Diatom straight


  111. Xisithrus says:

    We will go drumlin on some troll haids!


  112. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    Pachy, would you care for some of this fine horneblende gabbro?



  113. jb says:

    Fox is the official station of war profiteers. Seems to be un-American to me.


  114. jb says:

  115. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    We’re vitric tuff. ;)


  116. freeman says:

    Back to one of my original questions ….. anyone using tp’s sister site ME progress ? Norton antivirus has it as an unsafe site ?


  117. Game of Life says:

    I haven’t read the posts yet but…

    Wasn’t the f-22 86 a few days ago?


  118. Xisithrus says:

    JB Said: Fox is the official station of war profiteers

    The warhawk nutwork


  119. Xisithrus says:

    Yeh, we need someone to keep scoria


  120. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    Soon I’ll be at a loess for words…


  121. Pachydiplax de St. Augustine says:

    Zooey I’ve been thinking about putting my appendages on some rhombohedral cleavages.


  122. pete says:

    This has turned into a messy conglomerate. Time to clean the slate and metamorphosis like proper insects.


  123. freeman says:

    Gads pass the deet .


  124. noseeum says:

    I’m in total isostacy!


  125. Game of Life says:

    They are sending a ship called the “Haliburton.”

    WTF?


  126. Xisithrus says:

    Im time traveling again


  127. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    OT (F-22s and rocks):

    Here’s the definitive cartoon of today’s GOP.

    Note the dedication. *blush*


  128. dbadass says:

    OT
    Hey Zooey
    Check it out I freeganed an entire leg of lamb tonight…


  129. Xisithrus says:

    GOL Said: They are sending a ship called the “Haliburton.”

    There will be public upwelling over this


  130. jb says:

    The cartoon pretty well sums it up.


  131. freeman says:

    I must be the only one here whose stash has run out .Gaspeite this all being fun ,it’s got to end aventurine .


  132. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    Pachydiplax de St. Augustine Says:

    Zooey I’ve been thinking about putting my appendages on some rhombohedral cleavages.
    April 9th, 2009 at 11:40 pm

    Oh, you naughty hornfels greywacke. ;)


  133. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    dbadass Says:

    OT
    Hey Zooey
    Check it out I freeganed an entire leg of lamb tonight…
    April 9th, 2009 at 11:46 pm

    When’s dinner?


  134. Xisithrus says:

    Zooey I’ve been thinking about putting my appendages on some rhombohedral cleavages.
    April 9th, 2009 at 11:40 pm

    All Rhyolite!


  135. pete says:

    Butte seriously, the Mohs you aggregate the easier target you make for the trolls.


  136. dbadass says:

    Do you dig kale? I only ended up with 8 bunches, 5 pounds of shrimp, a half a dozen grapefruit and a few quarts of lemonade. Oh and ten pounds of button mushrooms… Let’s grub!

    The lamb is my best score in a while…


  137. noseeum says:

    Does anyone think Texas State Rep. Betty Brown might have some identity issues?

    Here Betty, let me offer a few suggestions…

    Betty Bong
    Betty Wang Chung
    Betty Chow Mein
    Betty Chop Suey
    Betty Won Ton
    Betty Phucka Yoo


  138. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    Where are the trolls anyway, I’d like to wring some volcanic neck.


  139. noseeum says:

    Isn’t Brown Betty some kind of cake?


  140. Xisithrus says:

    Trolls are terminal moraines


  141. Uncle Bob says:

    I support the Somali Pirates. They are a resistance to globalist corporations. I salute them fight for our rights!


  142. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    db, kale is too bitter to eat. You can have mine. :)

    I could stand some sauteed mushrooms right about now.


  143. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    pete,

    I’ll shield myself from the trolls with my alluvial fan.


  144. Uncle Bob says:

    Long live the heroic Somali Pirates!


  145. dbadass says:

    Zooey,
    Try the kale in some chicken stock with kielbasa or andouille or some such thing and some cannelini beans and other veggies and maybe some orzo or other small pasta and a groovy soup will result…


  146. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    db,

    Then I take out the kale and enjoy…?


  147. pete says:

    OT

    Dbadass, My Uncle Henry was a dentist, Mason, and black marketeer. One day he arrived with a big package marked “suet $1.00″. It was two whole racks of lamb (rack of lambs?). And he didn’t even like lamb!

    Mom, being an accomplished chef, broiled it (them?) with a basil, rosemary, mint sauce and I ate till I couldn’t stand lamb for years. Good times!


  148. noseeum says:

    I hope Betty won’t be mad I caldera a bunch of funny names…


  149. dbadass says:

    I can still see you from my wave cut terrace…


  150. dbadass says:

    pete:
    lamb is the bestest of the meats… Salamandering is shifting into high gear… What’s up with the geology thing?


  151. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    I’m waving to you from my dendritic drainage.


  152. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    noseeum,

    I’m sure she’ll just fumarole a while…


  153. dbadass says:

  154. pete says:

    Zooey, I’ve observed your work. It’s more like an ingenious shield. Alas, it appears that the trolls are on the dolomite tonight.


  155. freeman says:

    All this talk of food and I’m thirsty , anyone want a little sodalite to go with their dinner ?


  156. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    db,

    Just for the hill of it.


  157. Uncle Bob says:

    If the Imperialists use F-22’s, I would laugh if the brave Somalis shot it down. Just like they downed Blackhawk helicopters.


  158. pete says:

    Oops! That was supposed to say “igneous trap”,Zooey. I’ve been rocked by Irish ale.


  159. Xisithrus says:

    Bless the pyrites that fight the coprolite menace


  160. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    pete,

    It’s gneiss to get a break from the isostacy.


  161. dbadass says:

    Uncle Bob do you like lamb?


  162. Pachydiplax de St. Augustine says:

    Zooey, I posted another lawyer joke for you at the Zoo.

    I have several pieces of rock I brought back from the Alps from different trips I’ve taken. If enought Americans did that then someday we could have them here.

    The man who moved the mountain began by carrying small stones. Chinese Proverb


  163. noseeum says:

    It’s ok, Uncle Bob, you can talus…


  164. pete says:

    dbadass.

    I agree. A nice bit of lamb is beyond the realm of human expression.

    And? I don’t know what’s up with the geology puns but, it looked like fun so I joined in.


  165. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    Pachy, I just put one up in response. I think you’ll like it. ;)


  166. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    Talus! I was trying to think of that one!


  167. noseeum says:

    Ore are you afraid of them?


  168. dbadass says:

    I so much need help figuring out what to do with “monadnock”…


  169. freeman says:

    No but ater being bitten by this labrador….rite , eucrite .



  170. dbadass says:

    Wegener did Uncle Bob go?


  171. pete says:

    That’s enough. I must be knapping.

    G’night, good people. Don’t let your hearts grow flinty.


  172. freeman says:

    The bite was tourmaline .T


  173. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    Er, thalweg very much…I think I’m dune now.


  174. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    db,

    I think it scares the trollies when we go all goofy. :-D


  175. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    For chert, pete.

    goodnight!


  176. neoconsrscum says:

    Real brainy there, General. Swat a fly with a $30,000. an hour howitzer. How very patriotic of you. Moron.


  177. freeman says:

    Silicon servatives have U over a beryl ?


  178. LibertyLover says:

    Beware the Military Industrial Complex.


  179. Theres'Ant says:

    Reading these comments is such an aventurine. You’re all berylant.


  180. jb says:

    A slice of pyrite with that lamb would satisfy any apatite. But remember, all that glitters is not gold.


  181. Theres'Ant says:

    Iolite some marmolite jelly on my lamb. Kunzite I don’t like mint.


  182. scepticalobserver says:

    Maybe he should have suggested the imaginary laser that Newt suggested taking out the N. Korean rocket. Makes about as much sense.


  183. Max Anax junius -1 says:

    .

    D I S M A N T L E
    T H E
    M I L I T A R Y
    I N D U S T R I A L
    C O M P L E X !

    .


  184. Keith says:

    UHHH, you do know the pirates only go 6 knots, don’t you?


  185. Keith says:

    Mach 2 is 1,522 mph.


  186. Keith says:

    F = 6th letter of the alphabet
    O = 15th letter of the alphabet (1 + 5 = 6)
    X = 24th letter of the alphabet (2 + 4 = 6)

    F-O-X = 666

    Beware The Beast


  187. Robt says:

    So who is going to fight with their blood and who is going to pay taxes to carry out the Imperial Defense Contrator McInerney’s battle plans?

    Who voted McInerney Commander in Cheif?

    Does the corporations really appreciate avoiding taxes, paying American workers low wages and moving their companies overseas with American tax payers funding their protection in foreign lands and waters?

    These big international corporations have used the U.S. Gov’t to the hilt in protection and diplomacy from the State Dept at Americans expense.

    But, ” the most serious threat to Nebraska is the Employee Free Choice Act ” , so says the President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerse.

    Not the failing econnomy, 2 wars, illegal immigration, climate change, energy security. It is the EFCA.

    What is the cost of the U.S. Navy’s ships dispatched to the Somalia coast to support this international corporation that hates paying taxes and is allowed to fly the U.S. flag on its corporate frieghter to carry the insurance of protection of America?

    And McInerney feels confident he has the authority and knowledge to call out the U’S. military and risk American lives for his defense contracting profiteering and protecting international corporations as working Americans are being sent into the economic poor clas and dispersing with the middle class.

    McInerney probably flew his private 727 to get to this interview……………………….


  188. Ape-Man says:

  189. chiroptera toasterhead says:

    Dog-granite! I go away for one night and y’all do a rock pun thread without me! No feldspar!!! :(


  190. CageyCretin says:

    Xisithrus Says:
    Its a insextual revolution

    With all the puns, it is OBVIOUS that everyone got STONED last night!!

    And in response to the above: GREAT!!! Let’s all get NAKED and PARTY!!!!

    ….(ohhh, ughhh…. ohhh, dear sweet god…. darryl, you can get dressed and leave now …..).


  191. leneeg says:

    Dismantling the MIC completely would be too extreme, diminishing it’s strangle hold on our government would be more appropriate. Hopefully Gates has made an intelligent decision to suspend the production of the Raptor for the time being, just as long as it does not diminish our ability to respond to a major air threat to our military. I think we can hold off for now, but our aging fighter planes will need to be replaced eventually. McInerney is the epitome of “military intelligence”, which are two mutually exclusive terms that should never be used in conjunction with one anther.


  192. noseeum says:

    Up and at ‘em!
    Looks to be a good Friday, just don’t cross me…


  193. RantingTommy says:

    wow, all these puns almost make me long for the days when, instead of progressive jazz, I was in a rock band


  194. Hoodathunktick says:

    Looks like a good time last night. If it wasn’t so early I’d have a gin and tectonic while I appreciated a display of such magmatude.


  195. Zooey Lepidoptera says:

    How could I forget feldspar…?


  196. MapleStreet says:

    I have photographic evidence that a low-flying super fast airplane is perfect for dropping bombs on small (less than 1 meter size) targets.

    Just watch Star Wars, Episode 4. In next to ending scene, Luke drops a missle in a 2 foot hole. In fact, he tells a fellow pilot that he dropped missles on rats in a canyon all the time back home.


  197. PrahaPartizan says:

    This ex-general’s “insight” details precisely why the revolving door needs to be closed. It promotes this type of garbage analysis and it promotes corruption within the Pentagon. Does anyone think this shill wasn’t wankering while getting paid by Uncle Sam as well? How many contracts did he influence while serving as a general? How many change orders did he allow or initiate just so his contractor buddies could make money or fulfill a contract obligation? I’d say that this most recent demonstartion would imply quite a few.

    What the USAF or even USN could use is an updated equivalent of the reliable A10 Thunderbolt II (or “Warthog” as it’s more affectionately known by its pilots). It needn’t go fast. It just needs to be able to stay on station for long periods and carry a pretty hefty internal payload. That will never happen because the crowd that runs the USAF (like this clown “analyst”) wants to buy only super-hot aircraft which can buzz around in the stratosphere. God forbid they ever get down in the mud where somebody might be actually shooting at them from all angles.


  198. Nugget says:

  199. Nugget says:

    The old General has a point. Global Hawks could track pirate threats, and Raptors could definitely get on the scene of the pirate threat faster than any other Naval or air asset because of their speed. Total waste of manpower and money for protecting merchant shipping though. I would hate to guess how much this would cost.

    The solution is so easy, but people are scared of it because of B.S. politics. Outfit these American merchant ships with about 4 or so medium or heavy machine guns(Old M60s, M240s, M2s). It could be done for under $50K. -A Raptor taxiing five feet towards the runway probably costs that much.

    The merchant crew members are more than capable of learning the simple operation of these weapons and basic rules of engagement to follow under the Captain’s direction.

    Skinny black dudes armed with AKs and RPGs in a crappy boat coming at your merchant vessel are not the Somali Coast Guard rolling out the red carpet.

    The merchant vessel’s machine guns could be deployed from weapons lockers on the deck, or already be rail mounted for transit through high threat areas.

    Put a burst in front of the pirates’ boat. If that doesn’t convince them, then blow meat hunks off of them and send a message to their pirate homeys planning more attacks. I guarantee the frequency of attacks will drop off and these scumbags will have to resort to other means of terror to bring home the booty.

    These pirates are running unchecked in a multi-million dollar business that pays. Uneducated thugs with tiny boats taking down huge freighters and making seven figures. The ship companies and lawmakers are at fault for pu__sy-footing around legalities and public image centered around weapons instead of arming their crews and giving them a heavy handed chance of success against pirate attacks.

    You can only fight guns with more guns or a heavier weapon. Common sense applies. Arm the merchant crews and stop these motor-boatin’ sons of b_tches.


  200. zuch says:

    “The reason I’d put the F-22s is because they can go 1.6 to mach 2, and they have a very quick reaction time and a 20 millimeter canon….”

    … and they can easily overcome any frequency-hopping radars and AA systems on board those Somali dinghies. Loitering at Mach 2 is handy too … it makes the pirate’s heads spin and gets them all dizzy so they fall overboard.

    Cheers,


  201. Geezer Antman Bee says:

    tombaker Says:

    I’m no Admiral here or anything, but wouldn’t it be cheaper to put guns on the ships, so they could, like, shoot the pirates and/or repel them and whatnot?

    But hey – if those guys wanna spend a bajillion dollars and still not catch the pirates, I guess that’s their prerogative.

    Sure hope they don’t “waste” any Republicans’ tax money on it though – they’re very, very touchy about that.

    ——————

    Perhaps the cheapest method is to quarantine the sea lanes used by the pirates. It takes a lot of fuel to conduct a successful pirate business. Starve them out of business.

    Mounting weapons on cargo ships does not work well at all. Freighters are optimized for carrying the greatest tonnage vs ship weight. Look at WW2 the freighters were not armed, they relied on convoys containing armed escort ships for protection. The cost of arming a freighter would be cost prohibitive. The cost of weapons, ammunition, trained gun crews and loss of cargo space would drive up the cost of transportation. Then there is the amount of damage the weapons would suffer during loading and unloading. I worked as a longshoreman for 8 years and a lot of ship’s gear was damaged due to accidents.

    I agree we do not need to get all Battlestar Africa on their A$$ or embarrass ourselves using the mythical SDI wunderweapons to swat flies.


  202. Eugene atrax robustus Debs says:

    Nugget Says:

    No he DOESNT have a point. I COULD use a bazooka to take care of that rat infestation in my garage but is that the best use of resources?…AAAARRRRGG


  203. Nugget says:

    Don’t give me that stuff about it not being a good idea to arm these ships because it would take up too much space. No one is advocating putting depth charge racks and missiles on them…. A few machine guns not weighing more than a hundred pounds or so, is hardly a burden on the cargo space of a massive ship. During cargo loading, the weapons would obviously be stowed away in weapons lockers, so how are they going to get damaged? You would only need them on the rails when the Captain directed it. I can teach you how to operate a machine gun in about 5 minutes.

    You would rather these guys not have a fighting chance? Quarantine of the sea lanes as you advocate would cost much, much more. Responsibility for defense should be on the crew first with other U.S. military assets responding as needed. It’s just like home defense here in America. You can call 911 for help, but as often happens, you’ll be dead in 15 minutes when the cops finally show up. -Unless you have your own weapons.


  204. Eugene atrax robustus Debs says:

    Whether or not we should arm the ships is NOT the subject of the thread. It is about this shill of a general making a frankly dumb suggestion about why we need F22 fighters WITHOUT anyone pointing out he has a business relationship to the company that MAKES THEM. A clear conflict of interest.



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