Where it will get interesting is in COMUSAFE's traditional role as the commander of NATO Air Command. as a 3*, he will be equivalent rank to his Deputy Commander, and lower ranked than many of his NATO subordinate commanders. I wouldn't be surprised if NATO assigned the AIRCOM Command Billet to someone from another nation.

"The scam is that Cigna exists at all. Cigna has never treated a patient."

There is no law requiring me to pay Cigna anything. My doctor will happily accept a credit card. All Cigna does is reimburse me for the expense.

The private medical system in DEU is amazing. If I wanted to make an appointment with my doctors at the American Medical Center, I could probably get one for tomorrow. If I were still in the military, I'd be going to the ER.

"And US military retirees in Germany have other excellent options, as well as their PX/Commissary privileges for low grocery prices and few gun-related homicides on the streets of Germany."

That's not true. US military retirees are not allowed to use the BX or commissary at overseas locations. I can do it because I'm a contractor, and it's written into my contract.

I found out the hard way when I went to the commissary a few days after I retired and tried to buy some groceries.

"idk man seems like the US is over paying its doctors, perhaps make more of them?"

I'm not sure how it works for doctors, but in Europe, nurses do not have a degree. They go through vocational training.

I'm sure that doctors do have a degree, I just don't know if it's the 12ish year process to get into practicing, like it is in the US.

"It unmasks the Health Industries scam on Americans."

If it's a scam, it's not a very good scam. Cigna's profit margin is around 3%.

I'm pretty sure that Cigna spends more money on my behalf than I give them.

I also pay around $1200 peer year for a military retiree healthcare plan, but I've never used it. I don't even know how to use it.

I pay $8.4K per year for my family of four through Cigna Global. That covers 100% of medical coverage and prescriptions. It also covers 75% of dental. It also has some sort of long-term non-work insurance, plus evac insurance. I am quite happy with it.

"Not quite as dumb as your view expressed above."

How so?

Half of the argument is the extension of a policy that was put in place due to COVID? Should we still be wearing masks as well?

"Trump said we have $17 trillion from tariffs."

He misspoke. It's actually $17 quadrillion.

This is why the Dems are in the wrong with the government shutdown. They're stalling over an extension of a policy that was intended to provide assistance during COVID. COVID is over.

On Medicaid, maybe there is some room for discussion. But in my mind, the Dems are shutting down the government over policies that affect a minority of the population. A minority that contributes the least to society. Seems kinda dumb, doesn't it?

Why would a subsidy implemented during the COVID era, because of COVID, not be allowed to expire?

Should the government still be sending out cash payments as well?

Economically, Trump is the most left-wing president in history. What fascinates me is how the Republicans have lined up in support of his policies, while Dems now appear to be the champions of free markets.

If you want to find an analog for Trump, the best would be Dennis Kucinich. Next would be Huey Long. Both progressive Dems.

"Why Ukraine Remains the World's Most Innovative War Machine"

There is a huge training airspace up in Utah called the Utah Test and training Range. Or "UTTR."

We refer to Ukraine as the other "UTTR."

A nice cruise with Lake NATO.

"I do not care. These people did horrible things. FFS they're still in Federal custody and you're crying about it."

I'm with you, Bro.

They're not going to fry, but they were never going to go free. I'm not sure why the location of the prison they die in matters.

Technically, they still do have a death sentence, it's just going to be a long, drawn-out death sentence.

"For bonus points: Why does it concern them? AKA, what does the incursion mean?"

Not much.

The ADIZ is a buffer zone. Once penetrated, NORAD will launch fighters to slip into formation with the Russian jets. They will follow them until they turn cold away from the US.

"Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)."

It's an ADIZ. Anyone can fly in it. Everyone should fly in it.

The fact that they launched F-16s and not F-22s shows the level of concern.

I was once flying when the Colombo Oceanic Control Area (Sri Lanka) tried to deny our flight clearance into the OCA. We did it anyways. They had no right to prevent it, and we did it anyway. Their job is to track flights as best they can if there is a problem. Nothing else.

Maybe someday the pendulum will stop swinging...

Nefarious Kremlin Activities Update?

The article is a year and a half old.

US RIVET JOINT ISR jets used to fly orbits inside the Sea of Okhotsk on the western side of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Technically they were in international airspace and there wasn't much the commies could do about it without getting into trouble.

This is routine. I'm not sure why Russian aircraft operating in international airspace is even being reported.

Anyone here actually done Munchen? I've done Canstatter in Stuttgart a couple of times. I also did Oktoberfest in Doha, Qatar one year. That was interesting.

"There may be separate arguments to be made about religious attacks on America/Israel and by America/Israel; however, the focus here is on civilian deaths."

I agree with regards to the civilian deaths, so let's pull that thread a bit more.

I did 24 years in the military. The last six years was doing targeting. The only interaction I ever had with the IDF was when the US formalized an Israeli process to minimize collateral damage.

What you're calling "genocide" is something that Hamas created by design, and in doing so violated both the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law. There is a reason they set up military facilities in and underneath civilian structures that would normally be protected under the GC. It's not Genocide, it's something worse. Hamas is sacrificing Palestinians for their own cause. Hamas is intentionally killing the same people it claims to represent.

"You clowns want privatized healthcare quality, at the price of gov't provided healthcare."

As a military retiree, I get healthcare through Tricare. I think it costs me around $1200 per year. I've never used it. I have a private plan through Cigna Global that runs me $700 per month. Totally worth it.