http://www.wral.com/news/blog/1119141/ Retired Air Force Gen. Robert Springer provides insight into political and military events that shape the state, the nation and the world. Copyright 2013 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:05:42 -0500 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:05:42 -0500 60 http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/4209928/ Many years ago, my English teacher stressed to her students that “words matter.” As we close out 2008, as we reflect back on over seven years since 9/11 and about the same number of years since our major response to terror around the globe, I am convinced she was right. Words matter. Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:15:21 -0500 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/4209928/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3713593/ According to The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Communications Commission has sent letters of inquiry to former military officers and several television networks to determine whether they violated the law when the officers offered views of the Iraq war during network appearances. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:03:44 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3713593/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3619290/ America’s longtime partner in the Global War on Terror is acting somewhat less like a partner these days. Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:10:49 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3619290/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3523105/ As we all know too well, there are two U.S. senators vying for the world’s toughest and most demanding job – president of the United States of America. They are campaigning all over the country 24/7 as they approach election day on Nov. 4. Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:02:03 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3523105/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3434051/ At least according to one senior U.S. military officer in Iraq, the end is in sight. This week, we are getting word that the United States and Iraq have reached an understanding on a time line for the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces from Iraq. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:28:35 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3434051/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3374901/ Could it happen again? A brief review of history and the origins of World War I, as well as the Soviet incursions into East European countries in the 1950s and '60s, contains some ominous signs in the 21st century. As I write this column, Russia is “offensively” –with a couple of meanings here – engaged in an attack, looting, destruction and occupation of the small, neighboring, democratic country of Georgia. Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:01:21 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3374901/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3307731/ Want a job? Want an education? Want a career? Want exceptional benefits and a potentially excellent retirement package? If you answered yes to any, many, or all of these questions, please read on. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:29:02 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3307731/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3209021/ Much has been said, written and reported on the many successes of the “surge” of forces in Iraq initiated in 2007. The additional ground forces have made a significant difference, and as reported, the surge forces have been and are returning stateside from the conflict in Iraq. We are now hearing of the potential of an even greater drawdown of ground forces later this year and into 2009. All of this is great news! Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:16:54 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3209021/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3133935/ It is simply too tough as an American citizen – and as a retired military officer – to sit idly by in this wild and wacky political season. So I won’t. I am gravely concerned that politics is forcing our candidates for high office to make some alarming statements without fully appreciating their impact on our citizenry and our friends and enemies abroad. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:44:27 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3133935/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3041722/ It is time to get really serious about drilling and mining our own natural resources. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:38:10 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/3041722/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2955746/ Hardly anything escapes the politicians waging war these days. While our dedicated troops are waging life and death war on our behalf in Iraq, Afghanistan and dozens of other less-well-known places around the world, our elected leaders are engaging in political war on dozens of issues. Thu, 29 May 2008 10:35:25 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2955746/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2882176/ As I wrote late last month, the people of Raleigh and across North Carolina hosted a marvelous tribute to our military men and women and their families with a full day of parades and other activities to show that support. Wed, 14 May 2008 13:15:56 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2882176/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2814156/ Last Saturday, I was privileged to spend some time in downtown Raleigh and participate in an absolutely incredible event. The entire day, spearheaded by the N.C. Bankers Association, was dedicated to the simple theme of demonstrating North Carolina’s support for our military members and their families. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:44:40 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2814156/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2745036/ Last month marked the five-year point in our nation’s long struggle in Iraq. It has not been easy, cheap or without the loss of life and treasure. But you already knew that. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:52:46 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2745036/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2625696/ Imagine flying an Air Force bomber faster than the speed of sound – and doing it while testing a 50/50 blend of synthetic petroleum fuel. Well, that flight did take place last week, as a B-1 bomber launched from its home station of Dyess Air Force Base, near Abilene, Texas, and flew to New Mexico, crossing the White Sands Missile Range at 680 mph. Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:41:21 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2625696/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2563540/ The "Fox" is out of the chicken house. Or maybe we should say that the outspoken commander of Central Command, Adm. William "Fox" Fallon, is out of the Navy. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:27:25 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2563540/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2488341/ The Army is looking to reduce the combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan back to 12 months from the current 15-month rotation. The longer tours, with little time at home stations, have taken a toll. And the toll is not only on the members and their families’ personal well-being. It also affects the training, readiness and equipment so vital to our soldiers. While our military is heavily engaged in two war zones, they must be prepared to fight other contingencies anywhere in the world. That takes training and equipment. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:14:49 -0500 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2488341/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2430943/ Our nation has been at war in Afghanistan for over six years and at war in Iraq for nearly five years. And throughout all of that time, we have heard, read or seen very little on some incredibly talented warriors who provide the lifeline to the nearly 200,000 men and women deployed to these two battlefields. Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:56:06 -0500 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2430943/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2311750/ I trust you were as appalled as I was when I recently heard that military members who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003 had committed over 120 murders in the U.S. after returning home. The New York Times first revealed this data in their Sunday Times. The inference, of course, is that war and combat are making murderers out of our men and women returning from the war zone. Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:12:31 -0500 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2311750/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2201300/ It is starting to look like 2007 has been a turnaround year for the conflict in Iraq. Early in the year, there was much criticism of the proposed surge and the new tactics – counterinsurgency – which Gen. David Petraeus was pursuing. In fairness, we must note that we have been late getting to these military successes that we are now starting to see in Iraq. Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:07:43 -0500 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2201300/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2097670/ The 19th century poet and philosopher George Santayanna said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This simple, but profound quote has been frequently repeated over the past century by historians, political leaders, academics and the military. Unfortunately, the quotation is all that many of these individuals remember. Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:28:31 -0500 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/2097670/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1963282/ Last month, the U.S. Air Force celebrated its 60th birthday as an independent service. Over those six decades, the Air Force has led the world in the war-fighting domain of "air." Similarly, the Air Force has dominated in the "space" domain for most of those six decades. And now the Air Force is pushing the throttle forward in a new, but critically essential domain – "cyberspace." Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:51:49 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1963282/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1884486/ As I reflect on the past month, I am left wondering if most Americans realize that our nation is at war. As many have heard or read, including in my previous columns, there is a sense that across the length and breadth of this nation that “America’s military men and women are at war, but America is at the mall.” Reflect on what you have sensed important this past 30 days. Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:23:01 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1884486/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1735117/ Earlier this month, I spent a few days in Washington. I visited Henderson Hall, a U.S. Marine facility adjacent to the Pentagon, and also Bolling Air Force Base in the District of Columbia and Andrews Air Force Base in nearby Maryland. Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:58:24 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1735117/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1636837/ It would be great if we could bring all of our military men and women, along with all of the contract employees, home from Iraq by next April. It would be great … but it isn’t going to happen. Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:10:34 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1636837/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1520511/ Our nation is at war! Our troops are stretched around the globe with the major concentration in the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility. Most readers of this column know that means Iraq and Afghanistan. Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:01:09 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1520511/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1422778/ In addition to Mothers Day, there are two important weekends that occur this month of May. One weekend is little known. The other is well recognized and has been on our calendars for over a century. (I will get to the title of this column a bit later.) Thu, 17 May 2007 13:20:04 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1422778/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1364456/ Earlier this month, officials in the Department of Defense announced that U.S. Army active-duty units would now be serving 15 month tours in the Central Command area of responsibility. (Read: Iraq and Afghanistan) The extension would affect those currently serving in Iraq, as well as those serving in future unit deployments. This tour change policy does not affect the other military branches, nor will it impact Army National Guard or Army Reserve units. Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:51:08 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1364456/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1244418/ We have now been at war in Iraq for four years. We have been at war in Afghanistan nearly five and a half years. And we haven’t heard enough about the hundreds of lives saved by our nation’s “life savers” resident in the Air Force’s Aeromedical Evacuation teams. Neither have we heard enough about the superb medical care that exists throughout our nation’s armed forces. Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:44:00 -0400 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1244418/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1215273/ Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:34:25 -0500 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1215273/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1178873/ Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:31:39 -0500 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1178873/ http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1119769/ Mon, 01 Jan 2007 08:59:17 -0500 News http://www.wral.com/news/blogpost/1119769/