David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
@dburbach.bsky.social
Prof. National Security and International Relations. Space security, civil-military relations. Cats, science, photography for fun. Providence RI; Oregon at heart! Personal views ONLY; no govt resources used. Assoc Ed @TNSR.org
Pinned
David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
@dburbach.bsky.social
· Oct 19
My pinned tweet through Presidents of both parties: Sen. Leahy reminds an appointee that federal employees swear an oath to the Constitution, not of personal loyalty to any one man or woman.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlSI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlSI...
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
@nationalsecuritylaw.org: Check this out. Whocouldanode?
oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/do...
oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/do...
February 19, 2026 at 11:10 PM
@nationalsecuritylaw.org: Check this out. Whocouldanode?
oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/do...
oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/do...
Knowing these arguments and these individuals, I'm less optimistic -- especially if you define "civil military relations" as more than 'the military obeys the civilians (even when the civilians are undermining democracy and violating domestic and international law)".
I came away from moderating this panel about the state of civil-military relations in a more optimistic place than I was going in. Thanks to @kschake.bsky.social, @eliotacohen.bsky.social, and @saskiabr.bsky.social for participating!
youtube.com/live/si2GD8flnvo?si=F_BK3ibu6xL-HZQv
youtube.com/live/si2GD8flnvo?si=F_BK3ibu6xL-HZQv
The State of Civil-Military Relations in 2026 and Beyond
YouTube video by Carnegie Endowment
youtube.com
February 19, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Knowing these arguments and these individuals, I'm less optimistic -- especially if you define "civil military relations" as more than 'the military obeys the civilians (even when the civilians are undermining democracy and violating domestic and international law)".
As written the vague standards could just mean a geology prof shouldn't rant about ICE detention, or, they could mean a geology class must accept "the Earth is 6000 years old" as a legit position (and valid exam answer) and should assign readings presenting that claim
www.kut.org/education/20...
www.kut.org/education/20...
UT System votes to limit 'controversial topics' in class, raising concerns about academic freedom
This is the latest move by the state to have more control over what is taught at public universities.
www.kut.org
February 19, 2026 at 8:34 PM
As written the vague standards could just mean a geology prof shouldn't rant about ICE detention, or, they could mean a geology class must accept "the Earth is 6000 years old" as a legit position (and valid exam answer) and should assign readings presenting that claim
www.kut.org/education/20...
www.kut.org/education/20...
NASA report on Starliner problems. Only read Exec Summary, but organizational / cultural issues loom large as a root cause, some all too familiar on the Boeing side (737 Max, etc), some on the NASA side, some new to Commercial Crew model
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
NASA Releases Report on Starliner Crewed Flight Test Investigation - NASA
At a news conference on Thursday, NASA released a report of findings from the Program Investigation Team examining the Boeing CST-100
www.nasa.gov
February 19, 2026 at 8:11 PM
NASA report on Starliner problems. Only read Exec Summary, but organizational / cultural issues loom large as a root cause, some all too familiar on the Boeing side (737 Max, etc), some on the NASA side, some new to Commercial Crew model
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
"Farrar: xAI is reportedly burning $1 billion of cash per month. SpaceX’s cashflows were reportedly $1 billion-$2 billion last year, so it is clear SpaceX can’t fund xAI itself. That means an IPO to raise tens of billions of dollars is even more important" www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026...
The Opportunities and Risks of SpaceX's xAI Deal and Data Center in Space Ambitions
Analysts weigh in on the opportunities and risks for SpaceX with the xAI acquisition and its data center in space constellation plan.
www.satellitetoday.com
February 19, 2026 at 6:24 PM
"Farrar: xAI is reportedly burning $1 billion of cash per month. SpaceX’s cashflows were reportedly $1 billion-$2 billion last year, so it is clear SpaceX can’t fund xAI itself. That means an IPO to raise tens of billions of dollars is even more important" www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026...
Also help plants grow:
Poop
Ammonium Nitrate
Potassium Chloride
Brawndo
Poop
Ammonium Nitrate
Potassium Chloride
Brawndo
VARNEY: We were told coal is the dirtiest fuel & there are more CO2 emissions than from gas. Is that no longer true?
BURGUM: It's true, but then the question goes back to reversal of the endangerment finding, which is, is CO2 a pollutant or something that helps plants grow? We know it's the latter
BURGUM: It's true, but then the question goes back to reversal of the endangerment finding, which is, is CO2 a pollutant or something that helps plants grow? We know it's the latter
February 19, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Also help plants grow:
Poop
Ammonium Nitrate
Potassium Chloride
Brawndo
Poop
Ammonium Nitrate
Potassium Chloride
Brawndo
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Yes. As a capitalism-sympathetic social democrat, I believe we have a duty to markets to ensure money can act as a disciplinary measure. We have literally reached the fail state of money. Elon can lose 90% of his wealth and functionally lose no practical value. We broke the invisible hand.
Correct! Go after them to fix democracy, because they exist like blackholes that warp the fabric of society. Money is power and they simply have too much of it.
It will not work, and is wrong in principle
February 19, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Yes. As a capitalism-sympathetic social democrat, I believe we have a duty to markets to ensure money can act as a disciplinary measure. We have literally reached the fail state of money. Elon can lose 90% of his wealth and functionally lose no practical value. We broke the invisible hand.
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Trump may be about to strike Iran with almost no public awareness or debate www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
U.S. Military Moves Into Place for Possible Strikes in Iran
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Trump may be about to strike Iran with almost no public awareness or debate www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
Appreciate @marisakabas.bsky.social digging up stuff like this -- this bureaucratic maneuver was news to me
NEW — An obscure Navy contractor program is making Trump’s plans to quickly build out and supply immigrant concentration camps around the country a reality.
Here I explain WEXMAC TITUS, an acronym you need to understand:
Here I explain WEXMAC TITUS, an acronym you need to understand:
For ICE to build concentration camps quickly, they're leaning on this Dept. of War program
WEXMAC TITUS helps contractors bypass the traditionally lengthy government contract bidding process
www.thehandbasket.co
February 19, 2026 at 4:55 AM
Appreciate @marisakabas.bsky.social digging up stuff like this -- this bureaucratic maneuver was news to me
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
ProPublica published children's letters and drawings documenting their sadness and suffering at Dilley. And Dilley staff are now retaliating by confiscating kids' letters and drawings.
www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
February 18, 2026 at 1:14 PM
ProPublica published children's letters and drawings documenting their sadness and suffering at Dilley. And Dilley staff are now retaliating by confiscating kids' letters and drawings.
www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
GOLD MEDAL AWARDED -- EVENT OVER 🐶
This GOOD BOY ran onto the course during the Women’s Cross-Country Skiing Team Sprint event, crossing the finish line and being automatically recorded by OMEGA’s photofinish camera 😆
February 18, 2026 at 3:29 PM
GOLD MEDAL AWARDED -- EVENT OVER 🐶
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Writing forces your brain to coordinate memory, reasoning, and meaning-making simultaneously.
Every time you write, you rewire toward clearer thinking. Every time you let an LLM do it, you rewire toward consumption.
Every time you write, you rewire toward clearer thinking. Every time you let an LLM do it, you rewire toward consumption.
February 18, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Writing forces your brain to coordinate memory, reasoning, and meaning-making simultaneously.
Every time you write, you rewire toward clearer thinking. Every time you let an LLM do it, you rewire toward consumption.
Every time you write, you rewire toward clearer thinking. Every time you let an LLM do it, you rewire toward consumption.
Launch of a Falcon 9 from 12 miles away
February 18, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Launch of a Falcon 9 from 12 miles away
Falcon 9 ignition and liftoff, 6 miles (Banana Creek)
February 18, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Falcon 9 ignition and liftoff, 6 miles (Banana Creek)
Falcon 9 liftoff from 12 miles away, left.
Falcon 9 booster *landing* burn from 6 mi away, right
Falcon 9 booster *landing* burn from 6 mi away, right
February 18, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Falcon 9 liftoff from 12 miles away, left.
Falcon 9 booster *landing* burn from 6 mi away, right
Falcon 9 booster *landing* burn from 6 mi away, right
Comparison of 30 sec streaks from a Vulcan w 4 SRB (left) vs the Falcon 9 right. Vulcan is a larger rocket, and big difference is SRBs burn even brighter and whiter for the same thrust. I think these exaggerate the difference but it was noticable. Vulcan quickly went into low clouds
February 18, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Comparison of 30 sec streaks from a Vulcan w 4 SRB (left) vs the Falcon 9 right. Vulcan is a larger rocket, and big difference is SRBs burn even brighter and whiter for the same thrust. I think these exaggerate the difference but it was noticable. Vulcan quickly went into low clouds
Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites launching at 3:00am on Monday, first 30 seconds streak from Titusville
February 18, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites launching at 3:00am on Monday, first 30 seconds streak from Titusville
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
I've deployed a truly excessive number of Clausewitz quotations to address that terrible article on the war colleges.
At the same time, these quotes (mainly from book II) illustrate how Clausewitz saw theory as a tool for learning how to learn from experience.
open.substack.com/pub/deadcarl...
At the same time, these quotes (mainly from book II) illustrate how Clausewitz saw theory as a tool for learning how to learn from experience.
open.substack.com/pub/deadcarl...
Clausewitz on the Very Bad Ideas to Reform the War Colleges
An Opportunity to Expose Errors and Discuss How One Can Gain Experience From Books
open.substack.com
February 18, 2026 at 2:22 AM
I've deployed a truly excessive number of Clausewitz quotations to address that terrible article on the war colleges.
At the same time, these quotes (mainly from book II) illustrate how Clausewitz saw theory as a tool for learning how to learn from experience.
open.substack.com/pub/deadcarl...
At the same time, these quotes (mainly from book II) illustrate how Clausewitz saw theory as a tool for learning how to learn from experience.
open.substack.com/pub/deadcarl...
"Moon program fails because lunar lander supplier goes bankrupt from liability suits and unlicensed medical device fines" was not an outcome I'd forseen but in retrospect will be entirely believable
Counterpoint:
Don’t upload your medical records to any LLM.
That’s fucking insane.
Don’t upload your medical records to any LLM.
That’s fucking insane.
February 18, 2026 at 2:18 AM
"Moon program fails because lunar lander supplier goes bankrupt from liability suits and unlicensed medical device fines" was not an outcome I'd forseen but in retrospect will be entirely believable
LG TV bug? New (December) LG OLED TV. A few weeks ago, HDMI 1 stopped working. Now, HDMI 3 stoppped working. Will likely return/exchange, local purchase at least, but really odd. Anyone seen this? Trust me I've swapped enough cables and devices its the ports, not whats connected. 😡
February 18, 2026 at 1:17 AM
LG TV bug? New (December) LG OLED TV. A few weeks ago, HDMI 1 stopped working. Now, HDMI 3 stoppped working. Will likely return/exchange, local purchase at least, but really odd. Anyone seen this? Trust me I've swapped enough cables and devices its the ports, not whats connected. 😡
This SES has a very different understanding of what it means to be a public servant -- serving ALL Americans per our Constitution -- than I do. And disgusting to pressure your reports to fake a religious belief to suck up to your boss.
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
February 17, 2026 at 10:19 PM
This SES has a very different understanding of what it means to be a public servant -- serving ALL Americans per our Constitution -- than I do. And disgusting to pressure your reports to fake a religious belief to suck up to your boss.
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Some other things are slowing down for me this spring (in a good way) and I*'d been planning a full PC upgrade next month -- it's been six years, Windows 11, etc. Looking like that gets put off.
Not just RAM and SSDs, AI datacenters are now scoping up all of the hard drives
wccftech.com/western-digi...
wccftech.com/western-digi...
Western Digital Has No More HDD Capacity Left, as CEO Reveals Massive AI Deals; Brace Yourself For Price Surges Ahead!
HDD capacity from one of the world's largest manufacturers has started to run dry, according to WD's CEO, as major LTAs have been signed out.
wccftech.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Some other things are slowing down for me this spring (in a good way) and I*'d been planning a full PC upgrade next month -- it's been six years, Windows 11, etc. Looking like that gets put off.