Replies

Guys, here’s the original David Axe story that all these stories (the one on Yahoo, the one at Daily Caller) are based on. I’ve written the ed. of the DC with my real name and background in hopes he will correct his story.

http://the-diplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2012/05/28/u-s-commandos-spy-on-north-korea/

David Axe is NOT a trustworthy source on military affairs.

Without having been there, I read BG Tolley in Axe’s report as saying that in the event of war his forces would do SR (Strategic Reconnaissance), not that they are doing it now. He goes on to say that he’d like to have better sensors, DF-proof commo, and a wireless power system so as to unleash SR teams from betteries. Those are all reasonable requests and the audience at this conference includes the Tony Stary kind of guys who can do that kind of thing — if it’s possible at all.

It also includes a lot of foreign special operations officers from friendly and neutral nations — not the place where a very senior officer lets his freak flag fly.

Axe is jonesing for a scoop so badly, he connected some dots that don’t go together.

This post by the Tampa Bay Online military buff/blogger/reporter seems to reinforce that Tolley was talking about what he’d like to have in his quiver for wartime, NOT what he’s doing today.

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/comments/storm-the-swarm-soccent-deputy-chief-asks-for-technology-to-stop-threat-of-/

Deep breaths, people. The generals and admirals in charge of SOF are still on America’s side. So are the guys under them.

Read the story, went...whaaa??? First checked to make sure it was a real general, then went to see if it's even possible Axe was in the same place, then tripped across that other report. The original piece smells to high heavens that it was made up. And of course, AFP picked it up and ran with it.

Right now it's a blogger story claiming to quote a general picked up by AFP. It's memorial day, so it's quite possible this story dies today. If it carries over tomorrow, however, it'll be interesting to see how the administration mishandles it, while the Pentagon snorts and stoutly denies the quotes in this context.

Hopefully no one gets stupid and says ‘Oh, this never ever happened.’ Oh, right, the White House is always stuck on stupid, which means they'll be the ones saying it tomorrow morning.