One thing about the secretary of defense, Robert Gates, is he doesn't pull any punches. Calling a last-minute news conference to announce that he wouldn't send the chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, to the hill for consideration for a second term as chairman was not unexpected. The old adage that “politics make strange bedfellows” can now be changed to “politics and general officers make strange bedfellows.”
The first Marine to be selected for the nation's top military post, a “boots on the ground” Vietnam veteran, many felt Gen. Pace would be a balance between the professional Officer Corps for all branches and the political establishment. What did him in was not standing up too Donald Rumsfeld and company and going along with an unrealistic policy from the get-go.
In our republic, the military is subservient to the political establishment, and that is the way it should be.
Politicians set policy, and the military carries it out, regardless of one's personal opinions.
However, when the top-ranking officer of the military is duty-bound to tell the political establishment the long-term consequences of any military action – the pros and the cons – and the advice is not heeded, then he should resign. Some are forced into early retirement, as when the chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Shinskali, was forced to when he advised before the war began on the administration's unrealistic troop requirements and long-term goals in Iraq.
The secretary of defense was very open and honest in his announcement. He stated it was his decision – not the president's – and there was no way that Gen. Pace would be confirmed, politically, for a second term as chairman.
Politics and generals do indeed make strange bedfellows.
Gen. Pace did make history, though. He does go down as the shortest in time serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Not exactly the best way to end a 40-year career.
It's like saying, “General, you did a fantastic job – but we don't want you anymore. Enjoy your retirement!”
Too bad politicians and their hacks can't be dismissed that quickly.
Graeme Webster
Cheney
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