If Marina ruled the US

[Stormbringer]

For these reasons and others I'd have you assasinated for the good of the nation. Even your fellow ministers will support me.

He's already been assassinated, Stormy.

You're just talking to an electronic echo

Good work, Shep. You're RO-ROs will be abuilding as soon as possible.

[Lord of the Farce]

*Raise eyebrow*

Damn, talk about cut-throat politics.

[Alex Moon]

Are there still Positions available in the Diplomatic Corps?

I have a Secretary of State and an Undersecretary of State. There are, obviously, even more jobs than that at Foggy Bottom.

I'll take a position as ambassador to whatever country you need me to go to.

[RedImperator]

While we're on procurement, NSA needs a complete overhaul of our computer system--our mainframes are good, but we've been having problems, even outages in the network. That's totally unacceptable. Also, we need more good--genius good--programmers to take better advantage of the systems we have. We're taking in terabytes of data that's just sitting around because our computers can't sort out the crap from the useful data. And we're desperately short on linguists, especially Arabic and Turkic speakers.

We recomend phasing out all Windows computers and replacing them with Linux boxes at every level of the Federal government. We've developed, as you may know, an ultra-high security version of Linux that we recomend be installed on all computers that handle confidential data. This will be expensive initially, but will save the government money in the long run and seal gaping security holes in our electronic infrastructure.

[LordShaithis]

I'm sorry, who are you again? Stormbringer? And do you have some sort of job in this administration? No? Someone kindly drag this babbling civillian outside, and have him beaten.

Moving on... I have, completely on my own, decided to drop the idea of a naval F-22. All may bow to my wisdom. I still want arseloads of F-35's, and furthermore I'll be taking proposals for a new naval air-superiority fighter. (I'm a bloody Joint Chief, I'm not designing every ship and plane and missile myself!)

As for the marines, 50% increase in total strength and some goddamn pay raises all around. A military family on foodstamps is just deplorable, and it's not like they won't be earning their money in the years to come.

That said, do we have a minister of propaganda around here somewhere? Madam President, can we get him or her onto the task of smearing the Saudis? Also, I recommend we keep a close eye on Dearborn, MI as we build toward hostillities. Intelligence should keep it's eyes open, and troops should be ready to move in and disperse rioters.

[Illuminatus Primus]

I still need a job.

Illuminati leader for hire.

Do you have a desired Department, or can I put you up for grabs to the other departments to handle an agency? I filled the intelligence services I'm keeping early on.

Can I have Greenspan's job?

As if a Libertarian would retain the Fed...

I'll take the NRO (National Recon Office) or something to do with the strategic nuclear weapons arsenal.

[Sea Skimmer]

Good work, Shep. You're RO-ROs will be abuilding as soon as possible.

We probably should invest in a number of LASH barge carriers to haul supplies and ammunition, the MSC already has a couple under charter. Additional crane ships and the propositioning of powered causeways, dredges and heavy duty landing craft is also an important aspect.

Your average port can only unload a maybe a dozen ships the size of an SL-7 RO-RO which is what Sheppard wants, so we need an over the beach option. With RO-Ro's its actually fairly easy to do if you have small craft, you simply lower the ramp onto the crafts deck and drive down a few vehicles.

[Sea Skimmer]

While we're on procurement, NSA needs a complete overhaul of our computer system--our mainframes are good, but we've been having problems, even outages in the network. That's totally unacceptable. Also, we need more good--genius good--programmers to take better advantage of the systems we have. We're taking in terabytes of data that's just sitting around because our computers can't sort out the crap from the useful data. And we're desperately short on linguists, especially Arabic and Turkic speakers.

Something else the navy could use, a modern digital upgrade for the fleet. The total memory on some warships computer systems is less then 512k.

[Beowulf]

Are there still Positions available in the Diplomatic Corps?

I have a Secretary of State and an Undersecretary of State. There are, obviously, even more jobs than that at Foggy Bottom.

Thank you, Duchess err... La Presidente...

[phongn]

Could you replace the rear 5" with the 8" since there isn't room in front?

Not if unless your prepared to accept the stern falling off. The design only allowed for a bow mounting.

Damn it, I just read a book in the school library about the Spru-cans, you're right, and the author also touched upon the magazines for the VLS intruding on the intended space for them.

[phongn]

Anyways: wishlist.

Enough F/A-22s (with a modified version of the APG-77, not that cheaper one they're putting on the F-35 and production-bloc F/A-22s) to replace the F-15 fleet.

Enough F-35s to replace the F-16 fleet

A complete update of the B-52Hs, including modern turbofans and up-to-date avionics. Alas, I can't go for the Big Belly modifications as the frame is not strong enough Also, begin a project to replace the BUFF but as a bomb-truck, not a penetrator.

Improved avionics on the B-1B, bringing it up to it's intended baseline (fUSSR penetration).

20-40 more B-2s.

More KC-10s and KC-767s.

Re-engine the E-8 and E-3 fleet to improve endurance and look into future replacements with the 767 as a base.

A whole lot more C-17s and begin procuring C-130J-30s.

[phongn]

Shit, I could want so many toys for the USN, too...

CGSN will make it's return! VLASROC's replacement will return as will a bunch of other nifty toys!

I also read on a proposed BBGV-modification for the Iowas, deleting the rear turret and giving them an airwing of up to 25 aircraft plus a bunch of VLS cells. Hell, one proposal actually gave it an angled deck complete with catapult.

[phongn]

While we're on procurement, NSA needs a complete overhaul of our computer system--our mainframes are good, but we've been having problems, even outages in the network. That's totally unacceptable. Also, we need more good--genius good--programmers to take better advantage of the systems we have. We're taking in terabytes of data that's just sitting around because our computers can't sort out the crap from the useful data. And we're desperately short on linguists, especially Arabic and Turkic speakers.

Something else the navy could use, a modern digital upgrade for the fleet. The total memory on some warships computer systems is less then 512k.

I suppose that you could get CEC working and make NTDS even smaller. Improving Aegis would be a good thing, too.

[Sea Skimmer]

Enough F-35s to replace the F-16 fleet

Don't forget replacing the A-10's as well while shifting those to the army...

20-40 more B-2s.

Likely not worth while now that the production line is close down, buy missiles.

More KC-10s and KC-767s.

The DC-10 is out of production and I doubt reopening the line would be worth while, just get moreKC-42, and be sure to buy them outright.

[Sea Skimmer]

Shit, I could want so many toys for the USN, too...

CGSN will make it's return! VLASROC's replacement will return as will a bunch of other nifty toys!

I also read on a proposed BBGV-modification for the Iowas, deleting the rear turret and giving them an airwing of up to 25 aircraft plus a bunch of VLS cells. Hell, one proposal actually gave it an angled deck complete with catapult.

As much as I'd like that, the design uses power loading launchers, so it would need to be reworked anyway, and we'd need new yards to build the largest 24,000 ton version while maintaining LPH and carrier production.

I'd say build Flight III Burkes as an interim while a big production run of DDX's is prepared, CG-21 get a nuclear plant and we float a few win the war in one massive salvo arsenal ships. To support those I need the army to develop and procure the full range of Army Tactical Missiles however.


The Iowas are not an option, there main battery is unsuitable for marine fire support requirements, and at the minimal they would need 1000 crewmembers. The fleet is already short thousands of men and other more useful expansion program should have prority as those slots are filled. We don't need more deck space with no planes to fly off of it.

[LT.Hit-Man]

Hey Duchess would you have room in your gov for an intrrogater, assassin tax colletor?
If so what's the pay and benfits?

[phongn]

Enough F-35s to replace the F-16 fleet

Don't forget replacing the A-10's as well while shifting those to the army...

Bah. Key West remains in power! But yes, I'll be working on an A-10 replacement, hell, I'll re-open the line if I have to. Plus, I'll put a bunch of avionics upgrades on it to increase lethality.

Likely not worth while now that the production line is close down, buy missiles.

Hrm, force the ACM line to reopen to get CACM?

More KC-10s and KC-767s.

The DC-10 is out of production and I doubt reopening the line would be worth while, just get moreKC-42, and be sure to buy them outright.

There's plenty of DC-10s/MD-11s in the airline boneyards in reasonably good condition and probably cheap. KC-42 production can augment this.

[phongn]

Shit, I could want so many toys for the USN, too...

CGSN will make it's return! VLASROC's replacement will return as will a bunch of other nifty toys!

As much as I'd like that, the design uses power loading launchers, so it would need to be reworked anyway, and we'd need new yards to build the largest 24,000 ton version while maintaining LPH and carrier production.

Yes, indeed. What do you want on your CGSN anyways?

I'd say build Flight III Burkes as an interim while a big production run of DDX's is prepared, CG-21 get a nuclear plant and we float a few win the war in one massive salvo arsenal ships. To support those I need the army to develop and procure the full range of Army Tactical Missiles however.

Sounds good, but what are you going to cram on Flight III?

The Iowas are not an option, there main battery is unsuitable for marine fire support requirements, and at the minimal they would need 1000 crewmembers. The fleet is already short thousands of men and other more useful expansion program should have prority as those slots are filled. We don't need more deck space with no planes to fly off of it.

Oh, I know, but presumably we're going to be procuring tons of planes. In addition, we're going to need a lot more crewmembers for those nuke plants you want.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

Hey Duchess would you have room in your gov for an intrrogater, assassin tax colletor?
If so what's the pay and benfits?

Well, you could join the Department of Pornography, it such a thing had been established with Darth Wong as the Secretary of it.

[Sea Skimmer]

Yes, indeed. What do you want on your CGSN anyways?

Not sure, but hell its been said that the Kirov's grew out of a 1500 ton frigate project, 256-384 VLS cells and three eight inch mounts hangs in my mind.

Sounds good, but what are you going to cram on Flight III?

More fuel, space for a towed array again and perhapes an extra 32-64 VLS cell amidship. A flight III design does exist but got rejected on cost grounds.

Oh, I know, but presumably we're going to be procuring tons of planes. In addition, we're going to need a lot more crewmembers for those nuke plants you want.

That won't be a huge issue military pay will be going up and the US will be spawning hundred of new civilian nuclear power stations. Planes and there pilots take alot of time, and by then naval fire support can be met with new gun and missile systems. That makes the Iowas just a couple big hulls that need massive amounts of work to be of use.

[LordShaithis]

As much fun as it would be to jerk off over naval acronyms until we all die of old age, and as much as Stormbringer and Sea Skimmer like to pretend they have jobs, it's time to think ahead.

Drumming up reasons and political support for the smashing of the Muslims is someone else's department, but I can throw out a general idea for a TV propaganda spot: Ugly close-ups of various Saudi terrorists with their "credentials" printing out on the screen beneath their faces, while ominous music plays. Do three or four like this, and cap it off with Osama. Hold on him while a serious-sounding announcer intones something along the lines of "The Saudi government wants us to believe that this is all coincidence, that they have nothing to do with any of this. But what nation were 17 of the 19 September 11th hijackers from? What nation's millitant Islamic schools teach hatred of the United States? What can honest Americans do about this?" Then the music lifts, and takes on a patriotic tone. Cut to President O'Leary, who delivers a moving speech on how previous administrations were too oil-greedy and cowardly to confront this obvious threat, and how she isn't afraid to rock the boat to protect the lives of Americans, and so on. It'll be great.

As for strategy... hmm... I wish the Red Sea were a little wider. I'd love to be in a position to threaten Mecca right from the start. They'd be under enormous pressure to keep it well-defended, making Shep's job easier as he rushed south from Iraq. Can we squish Yemen and open up a southern front, or are we trying to keep things somewhat contained at this point? Will we be able to keep things contained once we do get to Mecca?

[LordShaithis]

PS: Wasn't someone supposed to have def... defen.... uh... thrown the UN out a window by now? Come on people!

[LT.Hit-Man]

Hey Duchess would you have room in your gov for an intrrogater, assassin tax colletor?
If so what's the pay and benfits?

Well, you could join the Department of Pornography, it such a thing had been established with Darth Wong as the Secretary of it.

Hmmm that might be nice very nice indeed

[Iceberg]

I don't suppose anybody's taken over BuShips yet?

If not, I want the position.

[Gil Hamilton]

As much fun as it would be to jerk off over naval acronyms until we all die of old age, and as much as Stormbringer and Sea Skimmer like to pretend they have jobs, it's time to think ahead.

Drumming up reasons and political support for the smashing of the Muslims is someone else's department, but I can throw out a general idea for a TV propaganda spot: Ugly close-ups of various Saudi terrorists with their "credentials" printing out on the screen beneath their faces, while ominous music plays. Do three or four like this, and cap it off with Osama. Hold on him while a serious-sounding announcer intones something along the lines of "The Saudi government wants us to believe that this is all coincidence, that they have nothing to do with any of this. But what nation were 17 of the 19 September 11th hijackers from? What nation's millitant Islamic schools teach hatred of the United States? What can honest Americans do about this?" Then the music lifts, and takes on a patriotic tone. Cut to President O'Leary, who delivers a moving speech on how previous administrations were too oil-greedy and cowardly to confront this obvious threat, and how she isn't afraid to rock the boat to protect the lives of Americans, and so on. It'll be great.

As for strategy... hmm... I wish the Red Sea were a little wider. I'd love to be in a position to threaten Mecca right from the start. They'd be under enormous pressure to keep it well-defended, making Shep's job easier as he rushed south from Iraq. Can we squish Yemen and open up a southern front, or are we trying to keep things somewhat contained at this point? Will we be able to keep things contained once we do get to Mecca?

And as the Director of Homeland Security, I can concurrently announce a nation wide Code Dead Spaniard* Threat Alert from a credible source I've received from some three letter agencies declaring terrorists supported by the Middle East, and that people should on Constant Vigilance, to the point that they shouldn't leave the house without a gas mask and a chainsaw. And don't worry, everything is fine, go out and consume for the good of the economy!

*Yes, Dead Spaniard is a real color.