Reading List

AFA Members, Congressional Staffers, Civic Leaders, and DOCA members, as the holidays approach us, I want to both thank you for your support of this Association and mention [albeit a bit late] a gift idea for almost anyone in your family – namely books. Every officer, senior NCO, staffer, and civic leader should be on a book-reading program. Most senior officers I know read 2-3 books per month. When I was President of the National Defense University, I read at least one per week. Moreover, junior officers/NCOs should read almost as much.

What should you read? There are lots of ideas, reading lists, etc out there. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force has a suggested reading list (http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123127118); so does the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/jcs/reading-list.htm). And there are many other good ones.

Since the Air Force Association was chartered by General of the Air Force Hap Arnold to educate the public about Airpower, I decided to put together my own reading list – which is focused on Airpower. I downloaded each of the Service Chiefs’ and CJCS’ lists; reviewed the lists from commandants of war colleges, looked again at Chairman Ike Skelton’s reading list, and many others. Then I emailed 10 or so Airpower experts for their opinion; consolidated all the data and went out to them a second time. No list is perfect, but I think this one provides a starting point and is a list that any serious Airman or Airpower advocate should consider. We have put it on our website at: http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2009/ReadingList_1209.asp.

Final suggestions for you –

One thing I do is read the Pulitzer prize winners for Biographies and Non fiction every year.

When I was on active duty [early in my career], I received plaques when I transferred PCS. I have found that books – signed by everyone (or perhaps just the leaders) in my unit – make better gifts. Not only do I read them – but they have a special place in my library – long after the plaques have faded, been tossed away, or lost by the movers.

Having a hard time finding time to read? Get up 20 minutes early every morning and read; have a book in a place you know you will spend time; forgo a re-run TV show; Get books on tape if you have a long commute to work; Put a book by your bedside; (I have found Clausewitz’s On War is better than any sleeping pill.) [Just kidding]. You can find the time … but you have to look for it.

My best to each of you this Holiday season. Merry Christmas; Happy Hanukkah; Seasons greetings; and Happy New Year.

Respectfully,

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

Friedman, Iran, Copenhagen

AFA members, Congressional staffers, Civic leaders, and DOCA members, three pieces caught my attention this week. The first, by Thomas Friedman, appeared in the NY Times. In the piece, Mr. Friedman makes the very cogent argument that the “virtual” Afghanistan is actually more of a threat than the actual Afghanistan. That is because Al Qaeda uses the web to support its global jihad … recruiting members, sharing ideas on how to make more lethal weapons, and building stories of success. I believe Mr. Friedman is right … we have not found a way to fight the so-called “battle of ideas” … whereby we are capturing and killing more terrorists than are being created. Last September, at our Air and Space conference, we heard from a speaker – Chuck deCaro – who put forth ideas on how to win this battle. We know how to do it – what is needed is the organization, funding, and will to put the right tools to work. [Lest you think we don’t know how to do this – just review what each political party did to each other during the last election.] You can find a link to Mr. Friedman’s piece on our website at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/opinion/16friedman.html

Secondly, several thoughtful essays were published on Iran – one in the LA Times and another in the Wall Street Journal. You can find links to them on our website at: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ros14-2009dec14,0,427799.story and http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703514404574587721977133610.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Finally, as you all know, Copenhagen has been in the news. President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, SECSTATE Clinton and lots of others traveled to the Danish city to try to hammer out a deal addressing global warming [to call it global climate change is really a misnomer – in that the global climate does change]. The press is reporting very large dollar amounts being considered to be transferred to 3rd world nations to help reduce their carbon footprint. This has national security implications – in that, more borrowing will, in the future, put pressure on defense spending and according to the CBO will decrease the rate of growth of our economy. Also – not addressing global warming also has national security implications … as historically, nations have gone to war over resources … and many are forecasting there will be fights over water, oil, and other natural resources in the future. There are lots of articles, studies, and other information on the subject – most define well the “threat” and the science behind the threat. However, I worry when there is near universal agreement on any subject. For the anti-global warming argument, the one book I would recommend is – a novel by Michael Crichton entitled: State of Fear. In the book, which was published in 2004, Dr. Crichton weaves a plot around what he calls eco-terrorists. What makes the book unique is that he has heavily foot-noted every ecological citation – literally hundreds of them. If you are a supporter of global warming, you should read it to get a view of the other side. If you are against it, you will enjoy the book. If you haven’t made up your mind, this book should be part of your research to help you decide.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

Maintenance, Afghan, Guns vs Butter

AFA Member, Congressional Staffers, Civic Leaders, DOCA members, three pieces to bring to your attention.

First, a small piece in the Fayetteville Observer about Army aviation. A typical Aviation Battalion flies about 3,000 hours per year. In Afghanistan, the same Battalion is flying 25,000 – 30,000 hours per year. They are doing it because of the great maintenance crews – mechanics, engine troops, fuels, supply, etc. The same thing is happening in the Air Force and the other Services’ air arms. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women behind the machines and fliers that are getting the mission done. You can find a link to the piece on our website at: http://fayobserver.com/Articles/2009/12/07/958373

Secondly, GEN (R) Barry McCaffrey has again done the nation a service with his most recent report on Afghanistan. What I liked about this report is that he gives the reader a better understanding of the military situation and the challenges facing us in the country. Like many items he has done, the piece is a slightly political. Warning it is long – 11 pages on my computer. You can find the link on our website at: http://www.afa.org/edop/2009/McCaffrey_November2009.pdf

Finally, a recent Wall Street Journal editorial caught my attention. And … it is very political. But what I want you to notice is the graph on the left side of the piece – about half way down. It is a graph on what the US has spent for its defense … as opposed to what we have spent on non-defense items over the past 40 years. The point of the graph is to question the balance in our current situation. Warning again: the piece is political. You can find a link to it on our website at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107104574573711965511326.html
For your consideration,

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
Lt General (Ret), USAF
President/CEO
Air Force Association

Business items + Twitter

AFA Members, a few things for you to consider as we approach the Holiday season. First, please consider end-of-the year donations to the Air Force Association and its educational programs. We fund scholarships to spouses, to the children of our enlisted force, as well as numerous other programs … to include funding for parts of the Air Force Memorial. See this link for more information: http://www.afa.org/aef/cntrbtns/

Secondly, please consider the gift of an AFA Membership to family members and friends. Such a gift goes to support our various missions and helps support Air Force Airpower. I frequently tell audiences that the Air Force need AFA more now … in today’s world … than almost any other time in history. Becoming a member is easy and can be done on line. See this link to join us: https://www.afa.org/forms/joinapp.asp?pm=show_form&cn

Thirdly, we have a variety of Holiday cards … as well as an Air Force Memorial Collector’s Ornament. The latter makes an excellent gift to family members. For cards, see: www.holidaycardcenter/org/afa For Ornaments, see: www.afa.org/store[Take a moment to troll around the store … the Air Force Memorial Brooch is an Ann Hand pin … and make an excellent gift for many family members.

Fourthly, December is the only opportunity to enroll in AFA’s Group Legal Services Program. This is a new program and many have already signed on … see this website for more information: www.afavba.org/legal

Finally, an article a few weeks ago caught my attention. It is entitled “Why I Tweet” by Gen Craig McKinley. Gen McKinley is the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and a great supporter of AFA. I was encouraged to learn how he uses Twitter to communicate with fans. You can find the article at: http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20091120/ADOP06/911200310/1037/ADOP

[Note also that AFA has Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Links to them are below.]

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

Do We Need "Airminded" Options for Afghanistan? One General Thinks So

Major Gen Charles Dunlap, USAF, posted some personal opinions on the need for "airminded" options in Afghanistan. On the day that the President is outlining his plan to send more "boots on the ground" into harm's way in that mountainous region, these thoughts are well worth examining.

Take a look at Dunlap's opinion about Airminded Options.