War

Americans lionize the military for their sacrifices, and rightly so, but we have to recognize the military is a counterproductive bureaucracy like every other government agency as this report about mortars shows.

"At issue is a mortar system that uses a computer to drop explosives quickly and accurately on enemy fighters who assault small forts. Insurgents with rocket-propelled grenades can outgun American special operations forces there. An urgent plea for 20 of the mortar systems was approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in January, yet no new weapons have been sent as of late September.

The Pentagon says it is "in the process of acquiring and fielding the additional numbers.""

As if buying and shipping 20 mortars given the nearly 1 trillion dollar military budget takes longer than a woman to have a baby.