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I'd ask that we try to keep politics out of this thread as much as possible so it doesn't suffer the fate of every other thread in which politics has been discussed.
I will have to think about this more.. but here's some questions for you.. or anyone that may know.
1. Did the F-22 do any CV testing?
No. And it's not a minor issue to "convert" a modern plane to being carrier capable. There are all sorts of aeronautical/aerodynamic issue involved.
A few things here though. 1) you can't tell someone for months leading up to a deployment not to have unprotected sex. 2) not all deployments are known about with a long notice. (Though those on ships are less likely to be sent out quickly and without much notice, I think)EXCLUSIVE: Deployed US Navy Has A Pregnancy Problem, And It’s Getting Worse
A record 16 out of 100 Navy women are reassigned from ships to shore duty due to pregnancy, according to data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by The Daily Caller News Foundation’s Investigative Group.
That number is up 2 percent from 2015, representing hundreds more who have to cut their deployments short, taxing both their unit’s manpower, military budgets and combat readiness. Further, such increases cast a shadow over the lofty gender integration goals set by former President Barack Obama.
Overall, women unexpectedly leave their stations on Navy ships as much as 50% more frequently to return to land duty, according to documents obtained from the Navy. The statistics were compiled by the Navy Personnel Command at the request of TheDCNF, covering the period from January 2015 to September 2016.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2017/03/01/exclusive-deployed-us-navy-has-a-pregnancy-problem-and-its-getting-worse/#ixzz4aCNf3FJV
The source documents confirm it's a shitload.
https://www.scribd.com/document/340451706/resp-101
This is kind of a deep, dark, secret that nobody wants to discuss publicly, but it is a major issue. Truth is, troops have done all sorts of stuff throughout history to get out of deployments, war zones, or bad situations. It's why deliberately harming yourself to get out of combat is a court-martial offense.
But pregnancy is a get out of jail free card for any woman who wishes to use it. Maybe a lot of guys would do the same if Mother Nature gave them that option, but it didn't. Having a significant part of the deployment force be female opens us up to being literally decimated - or worse -- before a shot is fired.
A few things here though. 1) you can't tell someone for months leading up to a deployment not to have unprotected sex. 2) not all deployments are known about with a long notice. (Though those on ships are less likely to be sent out quickly and without much notice, I think)
But just don't want this to be about women not wanting deployments. My wife volunteered twice for deployments and got tasked twice only to have them canceled. But she will be going soon, and she wants one and knows she needs one too.
A CV version of the F-22 was drawn up, but no prototype. However, given the lessons learned with the F-22, it would probably be faster to modify the existing blueprints with Naval engineers than to draw up a completely new plane.
Charles XII rocked.
The other picture would be more funny if it wasn't true. I looked up all four of those ladies, and the biography of the German Minister of Defense is representative:
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen ( listen (help·info)) (née Albrecht; born 8 October 1958) is a German politician who has been the Minister of Defence since 2013, and is the first woman in German history to hold that office. A doctor by profession, she previously also served as the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from 2009 to 2013 and as the Minister of Senior Citizens, Women and Youth from 2005 to 2009.
It's simply a bad joke -- they don't take national defense seriously.
Charles XII rocked.
The other picture would be more funny if it wasn't true. I looked up all four of those ladies, and the biography of the German Minister of Defense is representative:
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen ( listen (help·info)) (née Albrecht; born 8 October 1958) is a German politician who has been the Minister of Defence since 2013, and is the first woman in German history to hold that office. A doctor by profession, she previously also served as the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from 2009 to 2013 and as the Minister of Senior Citizens, Women and Youth from 2005 to 2009.
It's simply a bad joke -- they don't take national defense seriously.
More on Karl XII. Do you believe he was the greatest Swedish king? Greater than Gustav II Adolf? Also, @BimboColesHair
Interestingly enough, it appears he was killed by his own war-weary troops. Even more interesting is that at the time many believed Karl was bulletproof because he had survived so many close calls so in order to assassinate him a magic bullet would be needed. In this case, two of the King's own coat buttons soldered and jacketed in a sinister round. It did its job well considering the gaping hole in Karl's head:
And his uniform. Still mud on his boots.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/histo...terious-death-of-the-swedish-meteor-39695356/
That's a sweet uniform. Isn't there a dispute as to whether or not he was killed by friendly or enemy fire?
Anyway, to answer your question about being the greatest Swedish King, I'd say no. Arguably the best general, but his Russian campaign essentially destroyed Sweden's status as an ascendant great power. He had a chance for a very good peace, with a lot of territorial gain, and refused. Too big of an ego. Based on the results on his rule, you could even argue that he was a bad King. Didn't even attempt to produce an heir, either.
Gustav Adolf did a lot more good than just winning on the battlefield, and left his country in a strong enough position that it continued to thrive even after his death. So I'd put him on top.
And as odd as it may sound, if I had a choice as a Swede between electing Charles XII and Bernadotte, I'd take Bernadotte. Not as good a general, but a better King.