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dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#60651: Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:30:15 AM

Question for an alternate history/military story, the one that I mentioned a couple of pages back.

The main character is an ambitious US naval officer (Annapolis class of 1906) who wants to climb up the ranks. After getting a Medal of Honor during the Battle of Veracruz, he realizes that he is severely lacking in engineering expertise, at least compared to his peers such as Raymond Spruance. Since he can speak German (which he learned from Chester Nimitz), he decides to follow Nimitz to Germany and Beligum to learn diesel engines.

I have two questions.

Would a US naval officer have been able to enter Germany in 1914, during WWI? Nimitz went to Germany in 1913, right before WWI broke out, but my MC was stuck in Veracruz up until October of 1914.

Also, once he arrives in Germany, MC recognizes that this war will grow much larger in scale and America will get roped into it. So he decides to do some intel gathering there in the spare time. Now, what are some independent espionage (if it can be called that) a navy lieutenant would've been able to do there? What with the war ongoing, I'd imagine security would've been rather tight. One thing that I could think of is checking out journals and libraries to check out publications on the likes of U-boats?

FYI, he's something of a minor celebrity, being an author of two international best-sellers (one based on his experiences during the Great White Fleet's voyage, with approval from the Department of the Navy, of course) and the winner of gold medal in wrestling at the Stockholm Olympics 1912. In addition, he can speak five European languages - English, French, German, Spanish, and Russian.

Edited by dRoy on Feb 3rd 2021 at 10:33:02 PM

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#60653: Feb 3rd 2021 at 8:28:59 AM

Friend I mean this in the nicest possible way but we're basically going to be living in a time of brinksmanship and geopolitical aggression for some time to come.

Nobody is going to get nuked but you're going to be seeing stories like this and false attacks and airspace breaches almost daily.

This seems to be causing you a lot of stress, maybe just turn off the news.

Oh really when?
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#60654: Feb 3rd 2021 at 8:32:21 AM

[up] Not especially stressed but thought it worth sharing.

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#60655: Feb 3rd 2021 at 8:34:09 AM

An article on the US and the Arctic. Written before Biden was sworn in as POTUS so there's some stuff that's old, even if it was published last week.

Leveraging Allies and Partners

Taking its cue from the 2018 National Defense Strategy’s (NDS) commitment to “strengthen and evolve” U.S. alliances and partnerships, this brief examines potential areas of cooperation with two European countries—Norway, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally, and Finland, a highly capable partner. Its aim is to demonstrate the extensive benefits the United States can derive from fully embracing the unique skills and capabilities that its allies and partners have to offer. It does so by identifying areas of strategic convergence with the United States and the comparative advantages of each country and using these to generate concrete recommendations for greater cooperation.

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#60656: Feb 3rd 2021 at 8:37:58 AM

[up]x4

"Iran got to this point because of the nuclear deal that Obama and Biden negotiated..."

"It's amusing and sad that these same people who negotiated this terrible situation with Iran are once again lamenting it."

"Neither side in Burma is exactly a white knight..."

It's propaganda.

Edited by kkhohoho on Feb 3rd 2021 at 10:52:41 AM

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#60657: Feb 3rd 2021 at 8:49:34 AM

[up] Roughly what I thought, I've been trying to find out more about the politics of Charles A. Richard (the guy who made the statement) but I haven't really been able to find anything.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#60658: Feb 3rd 2021 at 8:52:48 AM

[up]Hell, even the headline is a straight-up lie. He says if Iran keeps lifting restrictions, it being a nuclear power 'could get down to a matter of weeks'. That's assuming it keeps lifting them and plowing through, or if it's seriously trying to be a nuclear power, or if Biden doesn't try to make another deal.

Russia and China are barely mentioned.

Edited by kkhohoho on Feb 3rd 2021 at 11:11:13 AM

eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#60659: Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:10:37 PM

By the by, the guy isn't a "STRATCOM commander"; he's a staffer at the National Interest think tank arm that Nixon founded.

Whiton has held communications and policy roles on several presidential campaigns, including the Giuliani (2008), Gingrich (2012), and Cruz (2016) campaigns.

Edited by eagleoftheninth on Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:13:31 AM

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#60660: Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:12:17 PM

Oh wow he's not even like a dude, he's a staffer

Oh really when?
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#60661: Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:18:14 PM

And this is why you should never source Fox.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#60662: Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:40:41 PM

Apparently several other groups believed this guy, MSN included.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#60663: Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:47:05 PM

MSN isn’t a news organisation, it’s a web portal that aggregates things, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have the human element required to belive anything.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#60664: Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:59:03 PM

Protip: Security issues are complex. None of us here understand all the relevant aspects. But if you're going to share an article/clip like this, a good question to ask yourself is: do I get the gist of what's being said here?

Because the interview had basically nothing to do with Russia or its nuclear capabilities, and only discussed China through a weird tangent on the Myanmar coup. Most of it is about Iran's nuclear proliferation capability, which as I understand it is a rather partisan issue in the US and a major sticking point for the Trump admin, which had a vested interest in painting it as a failure of the Obama admin.

Speaking of which:

Christian Whiton is a senior fellow for strategy and trade at the Center. He was a senior advisor in the George W. Bush and Donald J. Trump administrations.

This is what information literacy is about: we need to understand the claim that's being made, the evidences offered, and whose viewpoint it's being delivered from. And that applies to COVID, climate change or whatever topic we find to be outside our immediate expertise.

Yeah I was a debate geek in high school, why do you ask

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#60665: Feb 3rd 2021 at 6:12:29 PM

Iran could possibly become a nuclear state: yes

If Iran became a nuclear state, it would increase the possibility of conflict: yes

This is because of the Obama-era Iran deal: no

Nuclear war with China or Russia is a concerning possibility: no

They should have sent a poet.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#60666: Feb 3rd 2021 at 6:16:21 PM

Yep, the moment I saw it was from Fox I figured it'd be bullshit.

Disgusted, but not surprised
dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#60667: Feb 3rd 2021 at 7:12:17 PM

Whenever someone says a nuclear war with China/Russia is imminent, I tend to put the source into the "unreliable" category from then on.

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#60668: Feb 3rd 2021 at 8:04:52 PM

"FYI, he's something of a minor celebrity, being an author of two international best-sellers (one based on his experiences during the Great White Fleet's voyage, with approval from the Department of the Navy, of course) and the winner of gold medal in wrestling at the Stockholm Olympics 1912. In addition, he can speak five European languages - English, French, German, Spanish, and Russian.

Hah, you know what, the most productive activity he could engage in, in terms of gathering operational intelligence, is go to parties.

No really. Back in the day (and today as well) people invite foreigners who share their professional and/or social background to parties, because they are exotic and interesting and draw more people to the party. I would imagine that a celebrity American naval engineer would be unusual enough that the German naval community would find him highly entertaining.

And then, well you know, mix well informed people with alcohol and the result tends to be leaks. If the historical accounts of diplomats and spies are anything to go by, he could learn all kinds of things just by saying "You know, we Americans never figured out how to do X" ("X" being something of operational interest).

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#60669: Feb 3rd 2021 at 8:50:11 PM

...Okay, I never thought of that and that's awesome.

In order to survive under the likes of Ernest King, MC kinda developed a talent for ass-kissing (in addition developing his own capabilities, of course) and sweet-talking people into doing or saying things. Oh man, this should be gold, thanks for the suggestion! [tup]

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#60670: Feb 3rd 2021 at 9:28:05 PM

Whenever someone says a nuclear war with China/Russia is imminent, I tend to put the source into the "unreliable" category from then on.

I still maintain a US-Chinese conflict is one of only two possibilities for a shooting war between nuclear powers that I could realistically see happening (the other one, FWIW, is India/Pakistan again.) Mind you, "possible" isn't remotely the same thing as imminent, and anyone trying to argue that the coup in Myanmar could lead to one is either scaremongering or just plain nuts.

If that's even what it says, anyway - from the sound of it I'm not going to waste my time with a click.

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#60671: Feb 4th 2021 at 6:49:46 AM

Has any of you watched Generation Kill? What did you guys think of it? We studied that for American Studies, and it was very interesting, but I'm not sure how accurate it is.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#60672: Feb 4th 2021 at 7:16:09 AM

You have no idea how happy you just made me by mentioning that title!

I both watched the series and read the original book. Lot of the events in the book can be cross checked by One Bullet Away, a retelling of more or less the same journey but by Lt. Nathaniel Fick (or Cpt by the end of the book). So I think it's safe to say that the book and the miniseries is pretty accurate, although not to a documentary level.

As for me, the book was one of the few books that forever changed my perspective on a subject. It was my first exposure to lives of soldiers mixed with absurdities and gritty, dull mundaneness. It sure made me think a lot.

I definitely enjoyed the book and the series and I recommend aforementioned One Bullet Away as well. I should read them again!

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
JamieBGood meow Since: Aug, 2017 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
meow
#60673: Feb 4th 2021 at 7:39:19 AM

I read the book a few years back. I'll second [up]'s comments, it's thought-provoking and frickin' hilarious.

jamie-b-good.tumblr.com
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#60674: Feb 4th 2021 at 9:27:00 AM

"...Okay, I never thought of that and that's awesome."

You're welcome ;)

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#60675: Feb 4th 2021 at 10:16:14 AM

I also picked that show as part of my theme for my exam paper, it was pretty fun.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times

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