Comments on: David Halberstam, RIP http://www.wordyard.com/2007/04/23/david-halberstam-rip/ Technology, politics, culture Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:05:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ken Larson http://www.wordyard.com/2007/04/23/david-halberstam-rip/#comment-596 Ken Larson Sat, 28 Apr 2007 14:35:59 +0000 http://www.wordyard.com/?p=1263#comment-596 David was one of the first to point out that we had bought into the Military Industrial Complex (MIC). We are still buying in today. If you would like to read how this happens please see: http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/03/spyagency200703 I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak. Politicians make no difference. Through a combination of public apathy and threats by the MIC we have let the SYSTEM get too large. It is now a SYSTEMIC problem and the SYSTEM is out of control. Government and industry are merging and that is very dangerous. There is no conspiracy. The SYSTEM has gotten so big that those who make it up and run it day to day in industry and government simply are perpetuating their existance. The politicians rely on them for details and recommendations because they cannot possibly grasp the nuances of the environment and the BIG SYSTEM. So, the system has to go bust and then be re-scaled, fixed and re-designed to run efficiently and prudently, just like any other big machine that runs poorly or becomes obsolete or dangerous. This situation will right itself through trauma. I see a government ENRON on the horizon, with an associated house cleaning. The next president will come and go along with his appointees and politicos. The event to watch is the collapse of the MIC. For more details see: http://rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com/2006/11/inside-pentagon-procurement-from.html David was one of the first to point out that we had bought into the Military Industrial Complex (MIC). We are still buying in today. If you would like to read how this happens please see:

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/03/spyagency200703

I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.

Politicians make no difference.

Through a combination of public apathy and threats by the MIC we have let the SYSTEM get too large. It is now a SYSTEMIC problem and the SYSTEM is out of control. Government and industry are merging and that is very dangerous.

There is no conspiracy. The SYSTEM has gotten so big that those who make it up and run it day to day in industry and government simply are perpetuating their existance.

The politicians rely on them for details and recommendations because they cannot possibly grasp the nuances of the environment and the BIG SYSTEM.

So, the system has to go bust and then be re-scaled, fixed and re-designed to run efficiently and prudently, just like any other big machine that runs poorly or becomes obsolete or dangerous.

This situation will right itself through trauma. I see a government ENRON on the horizon, with an associated house cleaning.

The next president will come and go along with his appointees and politicos. The event to watch is the collapse of the MIC.

For more details see:

http://rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com/2006/11/inside-pentagon-procurement-from.html

]]> By: Participate Media » Blog Archive » Today, April 24, on BuzzTracker http://www.wordyard.com/2007/04/23/david-halberstam-rip/#comment-600 Participate Media » Blog Archive » Today, April 24, on BuzzTracker Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:48:25 +0000 http://www.wordyard.com/?p=1263#comment-600 [...] Scott Rosenberg (wordyard), co-founder of Salon, writes on Halbertsam’s works–particularly The Best and the Brightest (TBATB), a book that explores the origins of the Vietnam War. [...] [...] Scott Rosenberg (wordyard), co-founder of Salon, writes on Halbertsam’s works–particularly The Best and the Brightest (TBATB), a book that explores the origins of the Vietnam War. [...]

]]> By: Paul Kretkowski http://www.wordyard.com/2007/04/23/david-halberstam-rip/#comment-599 Paul Kretkowski Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:01:15 +0000 http://www.wordyard.com/?p=1263#comment-599 I agree about The Best and the Brightest but thought War in a Time of Peace was disappointing at best. However, I can't recommend The Reckoning enough, and at least take some comfort that Halberstam died in the saddle. I agree about The Best and the Brightest but thought War in a Time of Peace was disappointing at best. However, I can’t recommend The Reckoning enough, and at least take some comfort that Halberstam died in the saddle.

]]> By: Klinger http://www.wordyard.com/2007/04/23/david-halberstam-rip/#comment-595 Klinger Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:54:07 +0000 http://www.wordyard.com/?p=1263#comment-595 I know Halberstam best by one single story about him. Timothy Crouse's retelling of a NYT tale (retold again by Calvin Trillin later). I picture the war correspondent, who had recently returned from Vietnam, not even removing a cigarette dangling from his lips to say three immortal words to a young R.W. Apple, Jr. Those would make a fine epitaph. I know Halberstam best by one single story about him. Timothy Crouse’s retelling of a NYT tale (retold again by Calvin Trillin later). I picture the war correspondent, who had recently returned from Vietnam, not even removing a cigarette dangling from his lips to say three immortal words to a young R.W. Apple, Jr. Those would make a fine epitaph.

]]> By: badteeth http://www.wordyard.com/2007/04/23/david-halberstam-rip/#comment-597 badteeth Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:52:59 +0000 http://www.wordyard.com/?p=1263#comment-597 The Best and the Brightest was a masterwork. War in a Time of Peace was also well worth reading. His reporting for the New York Times in the early stages of the Vietnam War, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize, was gutsy, prescient and painfully honest. His death is a loss to American journalism and to America as a whole. The Best and the Brightest was a masterwork. War in a Time of Peace was also well worth reading.

His reporting for the New York Times in the early stages of the Vietnam War, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize, was gutsy, prescient and painfully honest.

His death is a loss to American journalism and to America as a whole.

]]> By: Stephanie P http://www.wordyard.com/2007/04/23/david-halberstam-rip/#comment-598 Stephanie P Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:16:00 +0000 http://www.wordyard.com/?p=1263#comment-598 Scott I am amazed at his sudden death. I remember best his book called "The Fifties." there are plenty of authors out there that can write about historical non-fiction but none was better than David Halberstam. may his family remain well through this time of grief. i am in shock myself. wow the world will really miss his great writing skills. Stephanie Scott I am amazed at his sudden death. I remember best his book called “The Fifties.” there are plenty of authors out there that can write about historical non-fiction but none was better than David Halberstam. may his family remain well through this time of grief. i am in shock myself. wow the world will really miss his great writing skills.

Stephanie

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