Politicians are almost never worthy of the soldiers who do their bidding.

Many good career officers left or were forced out of the military by the Clinton administration - some over the "don't ask, don't tell" nonsense, some over the cynical way Clinton used the military for deflection of his personal issues.

Now the Bush administration demands the heads of honorable officers who won't play along with their attempts to "define deviancy down" in how prisoners are treated.
Fr. Rob Johansen | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 6:37 pm | #

I was shocked to read Dems Want to Keep GOP From Votes on Iraq.

"House Democratic leaders are intent on sidetracking bipartisan attempts to change course in Iraq at least until fall, officials said Tuesday, rather than allow nervous Republicans to vote for legislation that lacks a troop withdrawal deadline."

Oh how I love politicians. Who cares about a few more troops dying if it helps at the polls?
mco | 07.31.07 - 7:24 pm | #

A little perspective, please. Yes, it was shameful how he was treated, but all the same, I wish *I* could be "destroyed" by being retired at the rank and honors due to a Major General.
Seamus | 08.01.07 - 10:11 am | #

My grandfather was a Major General. I am not doing anywhere near as well in my military career.

No matter how high you are when you don't get picked to move up, it hurts. Every Commander wants Captain. Every Brigadier wants the second star. Every two-star wants the third, and I'll bet money every four star who isn't Mike Mullen wishes at least a little bit that he had been tapped to be Chairman instead.

Also, the reasons for not moving further once you ARE in that rarefied death zone above 20,000 feet are inherently so capricious that you would scarcely believe it, the SOLE exceptions being that winning a big battle is good and losing one is bad. Battle in this context means "lots of guys getting killed", not "very stressful argument over policy and ethics."
Ed the Roman | 08.02.07 - 8:28 pm | #