In the modern A2/AD environment, time relevancy is the most critical aspect of the kill-chain. That's why the F-35 is a revolutionary, rather than evolutionary, aircraft. It can automatically conduct intel fusion that would have previously been done by analysts at a DGS or other IC ground facility. That process takes time. The F-35 can do it in seconds, generate target quality coordinates, and hand them off to the best shooter.

I don't think they like to hear it, but I always tell F-35 pilots that they are now ISR pilots. Any fighter can shoot down other aircraft or drop bombs on terrorists. The value of the F-35 lies in its ISR capabilities.

"Sure... when and if the benefits out weight the costs as they do in northern European social democracies."

Can you be more specific? You seem to be implying that the cost of taxes sometimes doesn't equal the benefits provided.

Isn't that the argument put forth by most fiscal conservatives?

#109

Would you be in favor of the US implementing a VAT?

"Ask them how much their healthcare costs them and is it worth it?"

Why don't I ask you?

Would you support a 25% VAT if it meant gaining access to a government-managed healthcare plan?

There is no wrong answer here. The US is one of the few countries in the world that does not use a VAT. All of Europe does, and it seems to work out pretty well.

"Socialism like in Sweden, Germany, Norway, the UK, Denmark, Canada, Finland, Australia, and New Zealand?"

Yeah.

Ask some of your friends how interested they are in a 25% VAT. You'll likely find it's not many, even though the VAT is a vital part of what you incorrectly refer to as "socialism."

"Wait ... your answer is don't earn ANY income???"

You don't have to earn income in NYC, or any other high tax regions.

You can also choose at which point you stop choosing to work, and start using your time for other things. Which is what would likely happen if you massively increased the marginal tax rate on high income earners.

From the NYT...

"After 'No Kings' protests, where does Dem opposition go next?"

To the middle. The overwhelming majority of voters prefer the centrist positions being promoted by both parties. Or So Smerconish told me on my way home from work today.

"But more to the point, why is the uber-wealthy leaving their residence in NYC such a bad thing?"

I think it's bad if you're Mamdani, and you need those people to fund your proposals.

"You're against Mamdani using tax dollars to help working class Americans because?"

That's the thing about income taxes. They are basically in many ways a voluntary tax. You must earn the income in the tax region for it to be taxable. Mamdani is hedging his bets that high income earners will not change their behavior in the face of a changing economic environment.

"That possible success seems to frighten the Republicans and especially, for some reason, MAGA."

It will an interesting, and probably entertaining experiment.

The US worked closely with the USSR in their fight against the Germans. I see this as a similar circumstance.

"The People they killed were working with the Israelis."

Who should they have been working with if their objective is to get rid of Hamas?

"They can murder to their heart's content"

I would be cautious about viewing Palestinians as a homogenous group. It appears there are different factions with different objectives. I don't think it's clear at this point that Hamas was behind the attack that killed the two IDF soldiers.

"You think they just killed them for no reason?"

They killed them because they were resting Hamas.

"Israelis are the ones "double tapping" Medics and journalists? Where's your outrage about that?"

I'm not outraged because it's Hamas M.O. to use otherwise protected persons in a military manner.

"Bombing Hospitals.. Israel's got you covered."

See above. At least some of these hospitals were sitting on top of Hamas bunkers.

Why do you think Hamas built them there?

When a building is being used for a military purpose, it loses its protections under the Geneva Conventions.

"But not a peep about Hamas rounding up Palestinian "collaborators" days ago, executing them in the street."

There were actually quite a few peeps. Mostly in support of Hamas executing "traitors" and "collaborators."

Hmm. Maybe communism is the future.

"Ok, so we're good at droning individuals. Yet we objectively lost both Iraq and Afghanistan."

Afghanistan was a total loss. Iraq? I'm not so sure. Saddam was never a threat to the US, so the US should not have gone in there to start with. That said, The Islamic State was resoundingly defeated in Iraq. And Syria.

And al-Baghdadi didn't get droned, he got JSOC'd. Or was about to get JSOC'd before he blew himself and some of his kids up with him.

"I mean, your current trolling alias even seems to indicate that Pres Trump should take action because the expiration is bad."

My personal opinion is that these silly, COVID-era subsidies should go away. According to polls, 87% of the population sees it differently.

Of course, I don't think that 87% would want to see a tax increase in order to sustain the subsidies. USans don't like taxes.

Hell, the last time my insurance payments went up, it was a $200 increase. From $500 a month to $700.

I see nothing devastating being reported in this article, yet this is one of the key reasons the government is currently shut down.

"People who killed or helped IDF kill loyal Palestinians."

Loyal to the Islamic Resistance, you mean. Not loyal to Palestinians.

Am I to assume you took the same position when ISIS was killing those who resisted? The goals of ISIS and Hamas are not that different. The creation of an Islamic State. The only difference is where that state would be located.

"Do the Palestinians have a right to defend themselves?"

I think the answer is, it depends. If they are trying to defend themselves against Hamas, the answer is a resounding "no."

"Israel bends over backwards to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties."

The one and only time I had any interaction with the IDF was when the US decided to copy and codify some Israeli techniques on minimizing collateral damage.

"So that's why we spent 20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan with nothing to show for it?"

You should ask Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi next time you see him.

"Suddenly Boaz cares about Muslims?"

What does Muslims have to do with it?

You have insight into the religious preferences of individuals?

"And about Trump wanting boots on the ground in Gaza."

Someone needs to protect the Gazans from the enemy within.

It'll be fine. A few pipe-hitters and local, anti-Hamas militias supported by massive waves of US aircraft.

We're pretty good at this fight.