Mikey wrote::headdesk:
OK, some of us are discussing the current state of affairs while some of us are discussing the relative merits and sanity of that state of affairs compared to what we'd consider ideal.
I was discussing both, just to point out. In summary, Kira on and in command of Defiant doesn't violate any standing that I can see in either Trek or Real Life.
Mikey wrote:The bit about the USMC is indeed long overdue... even among U.S. services, the leathernecks tend to hold an insular position and rarely even participate in JSOC weapon trials or the like. The Ozzies are probably one of the best armed services with whom to attempt this experiment, because of the shared philosophy of "every Marine, a rifleman."
The problem with joint ops for the USMC has always been trying to find a force that can match a Marine Division on the move. Training, equipment and motivation (or fanaticism if you feel the need to be blunt), the Corps is second to none as a whole. While different forms of Spec'Ops are clearly matching in a one/one basis, the numbers of Marines simply out paces them. The mindset is also extremely different from most other modern military branches, so much so that joint op's generally just fall apart. Best way to use Marines in a joint op is to point at the worst enemy position, stay out of the way and have the press service follow everyone else while saying "look how great we work together... no no no no, leave the Marines alone, they're umm busy or something."
Captain Seafort wrote:Mikey wrote:I'm not disagreeing with that last part - Starfleet has done lots of things with which I disagree in principle. However, no mention or even intimation was ever made of Kira or any other Bajoran having oversight of SF personnel.
On the contrary - she was Sisko's second in command, and as such had authority over every other Starfleet officer and rating on the station. She commanded the station and, as we've been discussing, the
Defiant, in Sisko's absence on numerous occasions (starting with the battle with Jasad's task force in Emissary).
I think seafort has nailed it on this one.