CNN discovers the 4 fans of freedom

[squeeze]

Christ, what an asshole.

 

[xj220]

I know, poor Ron Burgundy. I can't believe Jack Black did that.

 

[Flash]

I have a sneaking suspicion I know who wrote that letter, not surprised he would do it if it is who I think it is.

I still agree with Shane's decision but stupid shit like that ain't going the help his case. But hey, born to fly baby!

 

[picklesuit]

What a fucking idiot. And some of those who question his actions are neither Cold War vets, involved in a campaign, nor have a dog in his fight. We just think it was a lack of common sense.

 

[Recovering LSO]

I have a sneaking suspicion I know who wrote that letter, not surprised he would do it if it is who I think it is.

I have a sneaking suspicion that it could turn out poorly for him if this story gains much more traction.

 

[flynsail]

Mind blown. The unauthorized memo, his campaign releasing the memo, and his buddy thinking he could truly stay anonymous...is there a circus in town? This is entertaining!

 

[picklesuit]

I would love to see the public flogging this guy would get in the Navy Crimes for releasing this "memo."

 

[xj220]

Mind blown. The unauthorized memo, his campaign releasing the memo, and his buddy thinking he could truly stay anonymous...is there a circus in town? This is entertaining!

I just noticed your avatar and couldn't stop laughing. Nice.

 

[HercDriver]

What a fucking idiot. And some of those who question his actions are neither Cold War vets, involved in a campaign, nor have a dog in his fight. We just think it was a lack of common sense.

I've heard a minority of folks question his decision to land there - what's the conventional wisdom in the P-3 community?

As for throwing an anonymous memo out where it will get scrutinized and torn apart during a campaign...that is cray cray, as my teen daughter sez.

 

[Flash]

I've heard a minority of folks question his decision to land there - what's the conventional wisdom in the P-3 community?

In the EP-3 community the vast majority of my peers (I left the squadron 4 months before the incident and was back in flight school at the time) agreed with the decision though there were a few notable exceptions, not sure what the current thinking is. From what I know the thinking is a little more mixed in the P-3/VP community, I know among TACAIR guys a lot think he made the wrong decision including one cited in the article though they often don't grasp how alone and unafraid VP/VQ guys often are when flying a mission.

Personally, there was nothing on the bird worth sacrificing a single crewmember and he took the least bad option knowing what he did at the time. Simple as that.

I have a sneaking suspicion that it could turn out poorly for him if this story gains much more traction.

...his buddy thinking he could truly stay anonymous...

Not sure if big Navy could figure it out, or cares. When I saw it I immediately thought of one guy who would do it but who knows, I have been wrong before on a rare occasion.

 

[picklesuit]

I think he made the wrong decision. That may put me in the minority, but just one opinion among many.
Seeing what we have sacrificed human life for since then, I think it would have been a lot easier to sell the (possible) loss of a crew for national security than for some village in Afghanistan or an oil pipeline in Iraq...
Pickle

 

[Recovering LSO]

"The manner in which it was handled is regrettable...."

Also, not the first time his name has been in the news under less than "good" circumstances... Some google-fu will point to 2009.