[SkyPilot]

I think that up to this time, we have assumed that the decision to go to war rests with us. We would be the ones to make that call.

And as history has demonstrated time and time again, that decision may not be ours to make, or in our favored time. It might be forced upon us.

If Japan or another nation takes action, or other circumstances arrived, we may find ourselves in a December 8th, 1941 situation.

The decision by President Trump to allow the US Air Force to recall 1,000 retired pilots was at the request of SECDEF Mattis. The Air Force has said they are not going to request the pilots be recalled just yet - but they have the authority now to legally do so.

This could very well affect me - as I am a retired Air Force pilot. I doubt I would be thrown back into the cockpit, as it would take many months to train me back to that operational level. But rated pilots fill many position, including working at Air Operations Centers and so many other jobs that require you to be an aviator. I can easily foresee the Air Force filling those positions by old men like me so that the young bucks can be sent back to fly the line.

Our strategic nuclear bombers are going back on alert - the first time since 1991.

Our military is making other moves to posture us for war.

Things could get "interesting."

[SaveFerris]

Definitely wars and rumors of wars these days.

Lots of rumors of war; mostly centered around Iran and NK, IMHO. And of that, the latter. Though the President has also mentioned Iran, I believe, in the last few weeks. No? Yes?

[jjsheridan5]

This could very well affect me - as I am a retired Air Force pilot.

I have no idea whether you can answer this, but here goes: NK has, by all accounts, been building tunnels and bunkers for decades. Assuming, as I think is obvious by now, they have a nuclear arsenal of at least a dozen devices: how effective would any preemptive strike (by us, or Japan) be in terms of shutting down their program and destroying any existing weapons? How effective would such a strike be in terms of decapitating their leadership?

[ExTexasRedhead]

This poem hangs above my desk and I included it in my husband’s eulogy:

“Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence. Hovering there I’ve chased the shouting wind along
and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.

“Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
and, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand and touched the face of God.”