Compass Points’ March 19 “Ubiquitous China” lays it bare—China’s everywhere—Pacific, Africa, Arctic—FD2030’s MLR locks on one spot—five years, 3,700 tank billets cut—25,000 MAGTF slashed—Smith’s narrow aim—General Gray’s MAGTF didn't blink, the Marine Corps was ready to take on anything.
Facts Over Focus Testing: FD2030—MCWL sims, 2019-2021—no Title 10 standalone—3rd MLR—HIMARS, 600 km—China’s 4,000 km—“narrow tests flop!” Scope: China-only—Indo-Pacific zero MAGTFs—USNI Tracker, March 10—Africa, Arctic exposed—“narrow leaves gaps!" Proof: Ukraine—2,700 tanks, decisive—IDF doubles tanks—FD2030’s MLR—outgunned“narrow focus means big loses ” Blame: Smith’s Pacific—Berger cut amphibs ’19—FD2030’s fault-narrow dodges truth!
Narrow Cost
Smith’s FD2030—five loose fingers—MLR’s short—Taiwan’s one fight—China’s global—nation’s blind—“narrow kills don't reach!”Title 10—standalone—FD2030 fails “narrow’s treason!” bring back the MAGTF
There is a great article in today's Guardian by Helen Davidson about China's new Shuqiao landing barges. Make amphibious landing possible at huge scale anywhere without beaches! A breakthrough. We should have thought of this. China's vast shipbuilding industry can build these fast, and they are building them.
The next Cold War has begun, so far practiced with great success by one side, China, because China is expanding its political influence, economic production, military basing, etc., essentially unopposed.
One point I would like to throw in, although not related to FWR's discussion, is the formatting of this forum. Half of the pages are margins, requiring a lot of needless scrolling. I have the same minor dislike of sites like Facebook, a popular site originally designed for college guys to make one liner pitches to the girls, and later seized upon by retailers and similar groups to sell or promote things. It is poorly set up for any in-depth presentation or discussion, much like a few anonymous Facebook pages I put material on that only show the first few sentences of posts that often hit the 40,000 word mark limit about fifty feet down the page. Part of what I like about this open forum is that it is not too congested with basic opinions with little context or development of argument.
A minor post point, like measure and countermeasure, becoming too prominent can have a down side in that it can attract too much unproductive attention. I have seen some amount of material in the more conventional online media that touches on matters I have seen here first, it could be coincidence or perhaps there is more traffic here from the other side of town that is mute in their reactions to what they read.
I’ve got some constructive feedback for CP. This publication has been going daily for a few years and doesn’t really have anything to show for it other than a few Task and Purpose or Marine Corps Times articles. Have any of you considered hiring a PR firm or some savvy influential people in the media sphere to help get this message out and actually force some institutional change from the Marine Corps? You’ve got a lot of good info in all these posts but you’re pretty siloed as it stands, really just seems like a forum for retired Marines to vent their frustrations which is all well and good, but it’s not having any effects.
Though independent, Compass Points largely reflects the views of members of Chowder Society II. From the outset we have depended upon the pro bono efforts of a host of retired and former Marines as has Compass Points. Any funds expended have been minor and were freely made by individuals largely for administrative material or support. We have no budget and no pending bills. Despite these limitations, which are also those of Compass Points and its staff, the blog has a surprisingly large readership, which includes notable print media correspondents; TV personalities; analyst from think tanks, the Congressional Research Service, and the Congressional Budget Office; flag and general officers from the other US services; members of Congressional staffs; former DOD officials such as Secretary of the Navy; and authors of important books on defense related matters; and, of course, uncounted Marines
Actually, there is much to show for CP's efforts. Chowder II compiles an Index of Articles supportive of the arguments made on Compass Points. It's impossible to know how many of these articles were influenced by Compass Points but many undoubtedly were. The primary index consists of 187 articles, authored or coauthored by 102 different writers, and published in 52 different media outlets. The index of supporting articles consists of an additional 126 articles, authored or coauthored by 110 different writers, and published in 56 different media outlets.
That’s all well and good but it hasn’t slowed down FD2030 one bit. CP should get on X (formerly Twitter) and start messaging the key influencers that matter on the only platform that matters now. I’m referring to key influencers that have a direct or nearly direct line to the President — VP Vance, Elon Musk, any number of influencers like Tucker Carlson or Joe Rogan. Getting any one of those people on the CPII train could quite literally turn this thing around overnight, in a way trade publication or mainstream media news articles simply cannot.
I truly appreciate the wealth of hard won knowledge that Generals Zinni and Van Riper and all the other members of Compass Points bring to the table. That being said they could greatly benefit from someone who understands the current media/social media landscape and knows how to move the needle in this new era of communication. Maybe that’s a PR firm, maybe that’s the right anonymous account on X, I don’t know. What I do know is that a lot of great arguments are dying on the vine in this echo chamber without getting to the people that matter most.
The first is that the US is a global power with global responsibilities and challenges. Hence, it needs a Marine Corps with a global outlook, reach and relevance. For reasons that few can grasp it took itself out of that equation contrary to the law and the intent of Congress. At the time I thought the reaction of the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO and the combatant commanders would be quick and unequivocal. There was silence. A stunning silence. I saw no reaction from Congress which was less of a surprise as their mantra of “cheaper is better” carries the day. To convince them that a toy poodle is as appropriate at a Doberman is not hard.
The second issue concerns the out reach to the institutions and people who can make a difference. This is way above my pay grade but I have observations never the less. The Corps was once very good at this as it was viewed as the institution in the nation that was above the fray because it personified integrity, selfless service, apolitical dedication and military competence. It asked for little and gave so much. When the Berger self mutilation started to unfold in the darkness the initial reaction was stunned disbelief. Give him credit. His exercise of the OODA loop was a Machiavellian move that would have drawn the envy of the Roman Empire, Courts of Europe, the Bolsheviks, Nazis, Fascists and many a medieval war lord. It bought critical time especially because the faithful, like the Templars could not fathom that the King and Church had turned on them. As those who saw right through the folly started to hit alarm bells I am not sure who listened and which influencers just ignored us. I suspect the Corps had not maintained its connections to politicians, the friendly media and others. Certainly the entry of senior Marine Generals into high government positions starting in the Obama Administration and in the Trump Administration did not benefit the Marine Corps. We suddenly entered a political arena which did not comport with the image the public expected of the Corps. To make matters worse the current President has a long memory and personalizes much. The entry of Generals into the political realms of endorsing Presidential rivals is absolutely idiotic and detrimental to the institution they once served.
Of course, I have no answers on how to manage a PR campaign via the media and how to cultivate politicians and other important individuals. I suspect we initially wanted to keep this family fight in house and failed.
We are now in extremis at a bad time. A number of factors have aligned to make this fight for survival tough. We might be like the sports super star surprised at being traded or the husband shocked that his wife has him served with divorce papers. In the end, the Corps bred, promoted and furthered the careers of the very individuals who did this. Should the Corps survive the lessons learned should be many.
Thanks for the reply Sir. I agree the politicization of the Corps was a bad thing, but perhaps an inevitability in the present context, and should now be used to the advantage of those of us against FD2030. The most effective branding campaign would be getting FD2030 associated with inefficiency/waste and wokeness portray its proponents as left wing radicals destroying the old Corps, while portraying CP/Chowder II types as MAGA patriots trying to protect/restore the Corps from the radical left. Tacky? Sure, but it could certainly get the eyes and ears of the people who matter in power now.
We appreciate your support and recommendation, others have made similar recommendations but we have been unable to interest the mainstream media in our story. Several TV personalities have indicated an interest but declined to follow through when serving officers who are skeptical of FD 2030 declined to be interviewed on camera. We have and continue to engage with members of Congress. As just one example, in the last week of February I hosted in my home for over two hours of discussions a key member of a House committee along with a retied four-star former combatant commander. We also have access to key members of the current administration who have received a number of our papers and have agreed to meet with us in the coming weeks. So, all is not bleak but if you can help us breach the walls around the wider media we will be forever grateful.
All good comments and well taken. We do have other initiatives ongoing behind the scenes that are in line with your recommendations. But yes, we need to do more and your thoughts are exactly right. We must move the needle for the sake of future Marines and for our national security.
Thanks Sir I’m glad to hear that. Hope my comments didn’t come off as rude — genuinely appreciate what you guys are doing. Been out for a little while but still like to keep up on these things and this account has been illuminating for me on FD2030. Would be happy to assist efforts anytime I can with what modest skills I can bring to the table.
FD2030’s Blind Spot
Compass Points’ March 19 “Ubiquitous China” lays it bare—China’s everywhere—Pacific, Africa, Arctic—FD2030’s MLR locks on one spot—five years, 3,700 tank billets cut—25,000 MAGTF slashed—Smith’s narrow aim—General Gray’s MAGTF didn't blink, the Marine Corps was ready to take on anything.
Facts Over Focus Testing: FD2030—MCWL sims, 2019-2021—no Title 10 standalone—3rd MLR—HIMARS, 600 km—China’s 4,000 km—“narrow tests flop!” Scope: China-only—Indo-Pacific zero MAGTFs—USNI Tracker, March 10—Africa, Arctic exposed—“narrow leaves gaps!" Proof: Ukraine—2,700 tanks, decisive—IDF doubles tanks—FD2030’s MLR—outgunned“narrow focus means big loses ” Blame: Smith’s Pacific—Berger cut amphibs ’19—FD2030’s fault-narrow dodges truth!
Narrow Cost
Smith’s FD2030—five loose fingers—MLR’s short—Taiwan’s one fight—China’s global—nation’s blind—“narrow kills don't reach!”Title 10—standalone—FD2030 fails “narrow’s treason!” bring back the MAGTF
MAGTF: 25,000 active—12 tank companies, 3,700 crew, M1E3s—12 infantry companies, 1,800 Marines—8 arty companies, M198s (16 batteries), HIMARS (8 batteries), 1,200 gunners—4 support companies, 800 Marines—3 MAW squadrons per MEF, F-35Bs, MV-22s, 2,000 aviators—40 amphibs—covers all!”—OOOOH-RAHH!
Bring back the MAGTF NOW
Semper Fi,
Task Force Ripper
There is a great article in today's Guardian by Helen Davidson about China's new Shuqiao landing barges. Make amphibious landing possible at huge scale anywhere without beaches! A breakthrough. We should have thought of this. China's vast shipbuilding industry can build these fast, and they are building them.
The next Cold War has begun, so far practiced with great success by one side, China, because China is expanding its political influence, economic production, military basing, etc., essentially unopposed.
One point I would like to throw in, although not related to FWR's discussion, is the formatting of this forum. Half of the pages are margins, requiring a lot of needless scrolling. I have the same minor dislike of sites like Facebook, a popular site originally designed for college guys to make one liner pitches to the girls, and later seized upon by retailers and similar groups to sell or promote things. It is poorly set up for any in-depth presentation or discussion, much like a few anonymous Facebook pages I put material on that only show the first few sentences of posts that often hit the 40,000 word mark limit about fifty feet down the page. Part of what I like about this open forum is that it is not too congested with basic opinions with little context or development of argument.
A minor post point, like measure and countermeasure, becoming too prominent can have a down side in that it can attract too much unproductive attention. I have seen some amount of material in the more conventional online media that touches on matters I have seen here first, it could be coincidence or perhaps there is more traffic here from the other side of town that is mute in their reactions to what they read.
I’ve got some constructive feedback for CP. This publication has been going daily for a few years and doesn’t really have anything to show for it other than a few Task and Purpose or Marine Corps Times articles. Have any of you considered hiring a PR firm or some savvy influential people in the media sphere to help get this message out and actually force some institutional change from the Marine Corps? You’ve got a lot of good info in all these posts but you’re pretty siloed as it stands, really just seems like a forum for retired Marines to vent their frustrations which is all well and good, but it’s not having any effects.
Though independent, Compass Points largely reflects the views of members of Chowder Society II. From the outset we have depended upon the pro bono efforts of a host of retired and former Marines as has Compass Points. Any funds expended have been minor and were freely made by individuals largely for administrative material or support. We have no budget and no pending bills. Despite these limitations, which are also those of Compass Points and its staff, the blog has a surprisingly large readership, which includes notable print media correspondents; TV personalities; analyst from think tanks, the Congressional Research Service, and the Congressional Budget Office; flag and general officers from the other US services; members of Congressional staffs; former DOD officials such as Secretary of the Navy; and authors of important books on defense related matters; and, of course, uncounted Marines
Actually, there is much to show for CP's efforts. Chowder II compiles an Index of Articles supportive of the arguments made on Compass Points. It's impossible to know how many of these articles were influenced by Compass Points but many undoubtedly were. The primary index consists of 187 articles, authored or coauthored by 102 different writers, and published in 52 different media outlets. The index of supporting articles consists of an additional 126 articles, authored or coauthored by 110 different writers, and published in 56 different media outlets.
That’s all well and good but it hasn’t slowed down FD2030 one bit. CP should get on X (formerly Twitter) and start messaging the key influencers that matter on the only platform that matters now. I’m referring to key influencers that have a direct or nearly direct line to the President — VP Vance, Elon Musk, any number of influencers like Tucker Carlson or Joe Rogan. Getting any one of those people on the CPII train could quite literally turn this thing around overnight, in a way trade publication or mainstream media news articles simply cannot.
I truly appreciate the wealth of hard won knowledge that Generals Zinni and Van Riper and all the other members of Compass Points bring to the table. That being said they could greatly benefit from someone who understands the current media/social media landscape and knows how to move the needle in this new era of communication. Maybe that’s a PR firm, maybe that’s the right anonymous account on X, I don’t know. What I do know is that a lot of great arguments are dying on the vine in this echo chamber without getting to the people that matter most.
Two issues here.
The first is that the US is a global power with global responsibilities and challenges. Hence, it needs a Marine Corps with a global outlook, reach and relevance. For reasons that few can grasp it took itself out of that equation contrary to the law and the intent of Congress. At the time I thought the reaction of the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO and the combatant commanders would be quick and unequivocal. There was silence. A stunning silence. I saw no reaction from Congress which was less of a surprise as their mantra of “cheaper is better” carries the day. To convince them that a toy poodle is as appropriate at a Doberman is not hard.
The second issue concerns the out reach to the institutions and people who can make a difference. This is way above my pay grade but I have observations never the less. The Corps was once very good at this as it was viewed as the institution in the nation that was above the fray because it personified integrity, selfless service, apolitical dedication and military competence. It asked for little and gave so much. When the Berger self mutilation started to unfold in the darkness the initial reaction was stunned disbelief. Give him credit. His exercise of the OODA loop was a Machiavellian move that would have drawn the envy of the Roman Empire, Courts of Europe, the Bolsheviks, Nazis, Fascists and many a medieval war lord. It bought critical time especially because the faithful, like the Templars could not fathom that the King and Church had turned on them. As those who saw right through the folly started to hit alarm bells I am not sure who listened and which influencers just ignored us. I suspect the Corps had not maintained its connections to politicians, the friendly media and others. Certainly the entry of senior Marine Generals into high government positions starting in the Obama Administration and in the Trump Administration did not benefit the Marine Corps. We suddenly entered a political arena which did not comport with the image the public expected of the Corps. To make matters worse the current President has a long memory and personalizes much. The entry of Generals into the political realms of endorsing Presidential rivals is absolutely idiotic and detrimental to the institution they once served.
Of course, I have no answers on how to manage a PR campaign via the media and how to cultivate politicians and other important individuals. I suspect we initially wanted to keep this family fight in house and failed.
We are now in extremis at a bad time. A number of factors have aligned to make this fight for survival tough. We might be like the sports super star surprised at being traded or the husband shocked that his wife has him served with divorce papers. In the end, the Corps bred, promoted and furthered the careers of the very individuals who did this. Should the Corps survive the lessons learned should be many.
Thanks for the reply Sir. I agree the politicization of the Corps was a bad thing, but perhaps an inevitability in the present context, and should now be used to the advantage of those of us against FD2030. The most effective branding campaign would be getting FD2030 associated with inefficiency/waste and wokeness portray its proponents as left wing radicals destroying the old Corps, while portraying CP/Chowder II types as MAGA patriots trying to protect/restore the Corps from the radical left. Tacky? Sure, but it could certainly get the eyes and ears of the people who matter in power now.
We appreciate your support and recommendation, others have made similar recommendations but we have been unable to interest the mainstream media in our story. Several TV personalities have indicated an interest but declined to follow through when serving officers who are skeptical of FD 2030 declined to be interviewed on camera. We have and continue to engage with members of Congress. As just one example, in the last week of February I hosted in my home for over two hours of discussions a key member of a House committee along with a retied four-star former combatant commander. We also have access to key members of the current administration who have received a number of our papers and have agreed to meet with us in the coming weeks. So, all is not bleak but if you can help us breach the walls around the wider media we will be forever grateful.
All good comments and well taken. We do have other initiatives ongoing behind the scenes that are in line with your recommendations. But yes, we need to do more and your thoughts are exactly right. We must move the needle for the sake of future Marines and for our national security.
Thanks Sir I’m glad to hear that. Hope my comments didn’t come off as rude — genuinely appreciate what you guys are doing. Been out for a little while but still like to keep up on these things and this account has been illuminating for me on FD2030. Would be happy to assist efforts anytime I can with what modest skills I can bring to the table.