Why was the “Big E” still sailing? To prove that with enough grey paint and nuclear fuel, you can make 1950s technology look like the… Read More »1996 Archive: The USS Enterprise (CVN-65) Overhaul

How did you know the policy was working? When the most “Secret” thing in the unit wasn’t the mission parameters, but who was dating whom.… Read More »1996 Vintage: The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Paperwork

Why was the peace in Chechnya so fragile? Because it wasn’t a “Peace Treaty,” it was a “Let’s take a five-year break and buy more… Read More »1996 Classic: The Khasavyurt Accord

Why were they so big? To fit all the disappointment of the post-Soviet Navy into one hull. Part of the 36 Military Jokes: The 1996… Read More »1996 Archive: The Russian “Oscar II” Subs

Why was it always in the news? Because in 1995, the “Tilt-rotor” technology was busy deciding whether it wanted to be a helicopter, a plane,… Read More »1995 Classic: The V-22 Osprey Testing

Why were we looking for “Super Soldiers”? To distract from the fact that most intelligence in 1995 was just reading foreign newspapers and hoping the… Read More »1995 Legacy: The Rise of “Urban Legends” in Intelligence

Why was the post-Apartheid military shopping? To prove that “Rainbow Nation” defense requires a lot of shiny new corvettes and fighter jets from Europe. Part… Read More »1995 Legacy: The South African Arms Deal

Why did they extend it indefinitely? To make sure that the “Nuclear Club” stays exclusive, like a VIP lounge where the bouncers have ICBMs. Part… Read More »1995 Legacy: The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Why was 1995 the year of the “Peacekeeper”? Because in Bosnia, the UN proved that the best way to keep the peace is to stand… Read More »1995 Vintage: The Peacekeeping Paradox

Why were the veterans crying? To remind the world that 1945 was won with grit and steel, while 1995 was being managed with “Soft Power”… Read More »1995 Archive: The 50th Anniversary of V-J Day