Completely fucking useless?

[chickenfeet]

I used to work for a partner who had only two descriptors for work products; "fucking useless" and "completely fucking useless". Now he didn't really mean it though it did once knock me off my chair when he took a quick look at a proposal and said "we seem to be in pretty good shape". However, that's by the by. I'm now beginning to think he must have had experience of the US Armed Forces. When I look at the debacle in Iraq and, now, in New Orleans I really wonder what the US tax payer has been paying major chunks of GDP for for all these years. We all know about Iraq but look at the aftermath of Katrina. Armed gangs of looters roaming the streets, martial law declared and, um, that's about it. I guess with the power off their laptops don't work or something. Maybe somebody should take a look at the value of all those generals with PhDs in "International Relations" and "Strategic Studies". Maybe the US would be better off with some troops who don't need high tech toys but can keep order on the streets of a stricken city and rescue people from flooded buildings. The Canadian army may be in a pretty sorry state but it can manage that!

Comments

[thidwick.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering who, exactly, is supposed to be protecting New Orleans and environs, given the gigantic numbers of National Guardsmen who are currently deployed overseas. If it turns out that there aren't enough Guardsmen stateside to do what Guardsmen are *supposed* to do, I can't wait to see how the administration is going to weasel its way out of an explanation.

The whole situation is maddening.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

60% of the LA National Guard is not overseas plus there are a non trivial number of regular Army units that aren't overseas either. I don't think it's about numbers.

[frumiousb.livejournal.com]

I like his division of work products. And I can only agree with your points.