October 18, 2016 — A New Cold War???

by Henry F. Cooper on October 18, 2016 in Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier, Putin, Russia

“Putin is planning and preparing for a major military confrontation with US/NATO in northeast central Europe. He’s not committed to it. That will depend on local and temporal circumstances. But he’s planning and preparing for it. And the plan involves the early presentation of the threat of nuclear use and escalation by Russia to get US/NATO to back off and quit. To pull this off, Russia must present a picture of being better able to manage, fight, survive the nuclear escalation ladder from bottom to top . . .” Fritz Ermarth, former Chairman of the National Intelligence Council Read Full Story

October 11, 2016 — Rousing the Bear . . .

by Henry F. Cooper on October 10, 2016 in EMP, Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier, Middle East, Red Line, Reset, Russia, Syria

“The best laid schemes of mice and men go often awry, and leave us nothing but grief and pain for promised joy!” ~ Robert Burns, 1785. Those words aptly describe the misplaced confidence the Obama administration placed in its touted “reset with Russia,” “strategic patience” and “leading from behind” strategies on a number of fronts, especially in the Middle East — and lay challenges for new “resets” to replace them. Read Full Story

October 3, 2016 — First Truths . . .

by Henry F. Cooper on October 4, 2016 in EMP, EMP Commission, Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier

“The Russians had developed what they called the ‘‘super-EMP’’ weapon that could generate fields in the range of 200 kilovolts per meter. And we had seen in other open literature that the Russians appeared to be using that figure as an upper bound for the kind of EMP that could be produced by nuclear weapons. So, we weren’t surprised, too surprised, to see it. They also told us that both there were Russian and other technologists, engineers and scientists, who were working with North Korea and receiving Western wages, they emphasized, helping North Korea with the design of its nuclear weapons. So, we found it extremely interesting in talking to them.” ~ Dr. William R. Graham, 2008 Testimony to the House Armed Services Committee Read Full Story

September 27, 2016 — Whistling Past The Graveyard—Again!

by Henry F. Cooper on September 26, 2016 in EMP, EMP Commission, FERC, Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier, NERC, Solar Storms

“I think the initial instinct of industry back when this first started a few years ago was, ‘Let us do many years of research and then order us to do something . . . And we said, ‘No, no, no. You’re going to get started sooner than that,’ and then we had to figure out what was the prudent thing to require — a no-regrets strategy.” ~ FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur . . . No regrets for whom? Read Full Story

September 20, 2016 — Whistling Past The Graveyard . . .

by Henry F. Cooper on September 19, 2016 in EMP, EMP Commission, FOBS, Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier, ICBM, Iran, North Korea

Two Idiomatic Meanings: 1) “To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation; to proceed with a task, ignoring an upcoming hazard, hoping for a good outcome;” or 2) ”To enter a situation with little or no understanding of the possible consequences.” . . . Take your pick. Read Full Story

September 13, 2016—Lest We Forget—Connect the Dots!

by Henry F. Cooper on September 12, 2016 in Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier, Iran, ISIS, North Korea

Last weekend’s TV shows were full of photographic remembrances of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America that left nearly 3000 dead, another 6000 casualties and many, many more with heartaches and bitter memories. We are less safe today after 15 years in an undeclared war with an enemy we do not name that has cost trillions, many thousands more lives and casualties, and many, many more heartaches. We need a change. Read Full Story

September 6, 2016—Defend Against All Attacks!

by Henry F. Cooper on September 6, 2016 in Brilliant Pebbles, Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier, SDI, Space Based Interceptors

“Wouldn’t it be better to save lives than to avenge them? Are we not capable of demonstrating our peaceful intentions by applying all our abilities and our ingenuity to achieving a truly lasting stability? I think we are. Indeed, we must. After careful consultation with my advisers, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I believe there is a way.” Ronald Reagan, March 23, 1983 Read Full Story

August 30, 2016——”Déjà Vu All Over Again” . . . One More Time!

by Henry F. Cooper on August 30, 2016 in Boost-Phase Defenses, Brilliant Pebbles, GPALS, Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier, Missile Defense, SDI, Space, Space Based Defense, Space Based Interceptors

“Those who do not learn from History are doomed to repeat it.” Variously attributed to George Santayana, Edmund Burke, Winston Churchill, . . . Whoever, inevitably true! Read Full Story

August 23, 2016—Soldier Down . . . General Vessey, Rest in Peace.

by Henry F. Cooper on August 22, 2016 in Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier, SDI, Space Based Defense, Vessey, Watkins

Not quite seventeen, this “soldier’s soldier” volunteered to become a Minnesota National Guardsman and received an Anzio battlefield commission in World War II and the Army’s second highest medal for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross, in Viet Nam. He led the U.S. and U.N. Forces in Korea and opposed withdrawing U.S. Forces which cost him the Army Chief of Staff post under President Jimmie Carter—an implicit rebuke cast aside when President Ronald Reagan appointed him as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and after his retirement and return to Minnesota into other important posts. President George H.W. Bush awarded Gen. Vessey the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. A life of service with unquestionable integrity. Read Full Story

August 16, 2016—Water, Water Everywhere, Nor Any Drop to Drink . . .

by Henry F. Cooper on August 16, 2016 in Cyber, Electric Grid, EMP, Henry F. Cooper, High Frontier, Water

“Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink . . . ” From the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by the 19th Century English Poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s in his lengthy 1798 poem, studied in my youth by all who took courses in English Literature. Read Full Story