Annals of Military Spending: When the press flack's an admiral, are you gonna call him a liar?

Plus: There's "fox news" at Foggy Bottom


Oh, for Pete's sake! Is there some kind of substance-abuse problem in the DWT Photo Archives? What I asked for was insignia or something to illustrate a rear admiral -- like, you know, snazzy insignia or something. I didn't think I had to specify for a U.S. Navy rear admiral. But this is clearly a Star Trek rear admiral pin. Ay-yay-yay!

by Ken

Surely the "In the Loop" item (courtesy of our WaPo pals Al Kamen and Colby Itkowitz) we're about to read has sufficient news value in itself. I'm betting you'll be happy to be brought up to date about the U.S. European Command's heroic efforts to rein in spending on the golf-course and skeet-shooting-range front. But as often happens, there's something in the story, not even something central to the story, that burrowed its way into my brain.

Anyway, here's the item:

The skeet can rest easier

Sure, it may not mean much in a budget topping half a trillion dollars, but on the eve of the Memorial Day weekend the Pentagon announced that it was cutting about $60 million — just from the U.S. European Command — by returning 21 sites, including a golf course, a hotel, a skeet-shooting range and “other non-operational or excess facilities” to various NATO allies.

Rear Adm. John Kirby

With laudable modesty, the Pentagon press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, noted that these are “minor, non-operational infrastructure adjustments” that will not affect military capabilities.

The Garmisch golf course in Germany was “no longer needed,” the announcement said. And the Breitenau skeet range there was “no longer utilized.” There was also no need to keep the General Abrams hotel and dispensary, “due to the presence of the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch.” That Defense Department-run hotel, in the heart of the Bavarian Alps not far from Munich, has some pretty awesome views.

Also in Germany, the “Hill 365 radio facility” is getting the ax because “alternate communications make this site unnecessary.”

And while it may appear these days that the Cold War is returning, not to worry. The announcement notes that these decisions “were vetted under the months-long European Infrastructure Consolidation review.”

As you may already have guessed, from the, er, rear admiral pin at the top of this post and the photo of Admiral Kirby (which, in case you didn't realize, was my own personal embellishment), what fascinates me here -- though it's obviously not really news, and probably of no particular interest to many readers -- is that a person can rise to the noble rank of rear admiral in the U.S. Navy ("Anchors Aweigh"!) to qualify for the job of press secretary. Well, of course somebody's got to be the Pentagon mouthpiece, and it's hardly a job you would entrust to, say, a USN ensign or even second lieutenant.

Anyway, I thought the least we could do in Press Secretary Admiral Kirby's honor is to listen again to this stirring medley of U.S. service marches, from one of my all-time favorite records, Felix Slatkin's Salute to the Services. You'll note that "Anchors Aweigh" is No. 2. This march is for you, Admiral Kirby.

Salute to the Services

1. Reveille
2. SOUSA: The U.S. Field Artillery March
3. ZIMMERMAN: Anchors Aweigh
4. MANCINI arr.: Marines on Parade
5. CRAWFORD: U.S. Air Force Song
6. VAN BOSKERCK: Semper Paratus (Coast Guard)
7. Taps

Concert Arts Symphonic Band, Felix Slatkin, cond. Capitol-EMI, recorded 1958


ONE LAST THOUGHT: While you're "In the
Loop," be sure to check out the "fox news"

First there were sightings of a fox inhabiting the White House garden and causing mayhem during the government shutdown. Then (presumably) another fox turned up on Capitol Hill. Now, it appears, the State Department has a fox of tis own:

Pictures of the fox sighted near the agency’s 23rd Street NW entrance were e-mailed around the U.S. Institute of Peace by Steven Heydemann, vice president of applied research on conflict. Subject line: “Fox applies for position at State Department.” . . .

So now there’s a fox spending time in Foggy Bottom. Heydemann, in an e-mail to the Loop, said he was told the State Department fox has “put in appearances in the area for some time.” He asked a security guard if someone would try to catch it, to which the guard replied, “Why should we want to catch him? He was just making his rounds.” A colleague told Heydemann: “This fox tried to join the State Department ultimate Frisbee games I play in just across the street from State one evening, too. When we rejected him, he cunningly and quickly ran away with one of our cones.”

Perhaps it’s the same fox, spreading diplomacy between the government institutions. Or maybe the one hanging out by State is a Russian spy fox, which would explain it annexing the cone.

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