Re: nbc Retired Generals and their whines nbc

D.F. Manno wrote:
In article <1145210659.350846.319170@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"Joe" <obri6133@xxxxxxx> wrote:

"What's the risk to civilian control of the military when recently
retired officers - who didn't lay down their stars and resign when
they were serving - call for the resignation of the secretary of
defense?"

Isn't it true that during wartime an officer needs to get permission from his superiors before he can resign his commission? For all we know there may be other flag-rank officers who wish to resign to protest the conduct of the war but can not because they have not been granted permission.

Given the UCMJ (which your cite quoted from) and this rule, only retired officers are in a position to criticize the civilian leaders of the military.


A general officer in today's armed forces will always have accumulated enough time to *retire* rather than resign.

The final decision on retirement rests with the respective services' personnel systems, headed ultimately by the appointed civilian Secretary. Even with combat forces committed, the chances of a politically unsavory officer who has submitted his/her request to depart being retained are zero. We have more generals and admirals today than ever. For every general/flag officer who might step aside based on principle, there are multiple replacements waiting in the wings. And the civilian leadership who wants to make an appointment based only political palatability won't have any trouble finding one (of course, the smart person with stars on their collar will make sure they have a balance of technical competence and political savvy in their quiver).

More and more, this seems to be a secdef unwilling to listen to sound military advice. Civilian direction of the military is a good thing. It's improved when the civilians listen to the folks who actually have to plan and execute missions.
.

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