The Stone Age Approach to Networking

The "Conversation with the Country" continues, in Portland. I really want to attend one of these instead of always getting footnotes. This is a very Mahan approach to strategy, which unfortunately I can't seem to find in the download section of the Maritime Strategy section on the Navy's website.

Linking the past with the future, Dr. Karl F. Walling, professor in the department of strategy and policy at the U.S. Naval War College, began the discussion of future strategic possibilities by presenting a "Backward Look at Forward-Thinking Strategies." Walling discussed historical approaches to maritime decision-making and highlighted fundamental issues faced by the country's forefathers.

"We look to history to see the present and future more clearly and find that it is normal and proper to have these conversations, as these are the same conversations previously had by former leaders," he said. "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower" emphasizes core capabilities from previous strategies - forward presence, deterrence, sea control and power projection - in addition to two maritime strengths that have been newly elevated to core capabilities - maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

That sounds fantastic, context for strategy, bravo! Where can I download that podcast, or youtube, or how about a PDF? Can someone explain why the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are actively rejecting the internet as a communication tool? Given the number of Congressional staffers reading blogs daily, that's just dumb.

Too bad the context for strategy is limited to only the several dozen in a certain city. Most active duty officers I know haven't seen this presentation as part of the Maritime Strategy that they are being asked to execute.

Implementation of this strategy will require that the sea services demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and unity of effort in evolving to meet the enduring and emerging challenges and opportunities ahead. At the end of the conversation, Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Robert D. Papak, director, Joint Capabilities Assessment and Integration Directorate, challenged the audience to continue the conversation about maritime strategy with others.

Marinelink is clearly doing an editorial bit here, we guess to sell the story, not exactly a good day for journalism. Adaptable and flexible requirements? I totally agree, but where is it? Deepwater, DDG-1000, LCS, Increase Manning for the Marines, Sea Basing; all of this existed before the strategy and still exists afterwards, so where is the change?

Are we honestly supposed to believe that "Conversations with the Country" is the best approach all three services could come up with in communicating the maritime strategy? In the 21st century, this is the joint services best foot forward for networking ideas with the public? Is there an Admiral or General who would kindly claim that out loud in front of Congress? I think it would be hard for that Admiral or General to keep their job if they actually claimed to Congress these in person conversations are the best approach to reaching the American people, because the media would crucify that person for advocating a strategy for the 21st century while executing a communication strategy that utilizes the best practices of the era prior to the telegraph.

Apparently the joint services find incredible value selling the new maritime strategy to "Rotary International" and the "Portland World Affairs Council" (not a joke, read the story!). I'm not really sure what this story says to most veterans, who like the rest of us use http, but it was a 26 year navy veteran from my lodge who emailed me this story (that's smtp for those in the Navy over the age of 50), and his opinion was not family friendly. Am I being sarcastic and condescending? Hell yes, and it is a direct reflection of the opinions in my inbox.