Decius wrote:

Is it possible to argue that the situation is better now than it was before in this regard? I don't really think so.

Talk radio is proof positive that you can argue anything. But this particular argument is one you can't win. By virtually any measure, things are worse. Your consolation is Rumsfeld's observation that "freedom is untidy."

Decius wrote:

I don't see it happening. I DO see 50 year old GenX video gamers being recruited in 10-20 years to run UAVs ...

The thing is, we don't really need to recruit anyone for that. There are so few UAVs to be flown, and those people are in Las Vegas. But if you've never been on the ground in Afghanistan, you may have a hard time looking for them from the Strip. You don't know what to look for.

Also, in the current military structure, the types of jobs you've highlighted are worker-bee level jobs. Most 50-year-olds aren't going to want to take them, and they aren't going to pay well enough to be filled through recruitment. Also, UAV pilots are still pilots, and it's not the sort of thing you just show up for. And the flights are often quite long, though not so long as a round-the-world B2 flight or anything.

The warship is probably the most likely of the options you listed.

RE: Stratfor (and Rangel) on the Draft