A Further Perspective
A Tale of Two Militaries
The politically correct and the politically incorrect.
As the Ft. Hood massacre and military “diversity” talk clearly shows, ours is a tale of two militaries.
One military is battle hardened and forward deployed; the other is soft, bureaucratic and backward. One military champions Theodore Roosevelt’s “manly virtues”; the other espouses leftwing feminist cant. One military takes the fight to the Jihadist enemy; the other cowers before the Jihadist lobby.
One military is faithful to America’s martial traditions; the other seeks to undermine those traditions. One military champions Washington and Lee, Jackson and Grant, McArthur and Patton; the other champions a softer and gentler leadership archetype.
One military champions excellence; the other champions “diversity.” One military champions fairness and equality; the other champions affirmative action, quotas and set-asides. One military is at war with the Islamists; the other is at war with the U.S. Constitution. One military is politically incorrect; the other kowtows to political correctness.
Yes, Virginia, multiculturalism and other dangerous nostrums have indeed infected the highest echelons of the U.S. military. So much so that the Army’s highest ranking officer, General George W. Casey, Jr. said in the wake of a horrific massacre of American soldiers at Ft. Hood:
“What happened at Ft. Hood was a tragedy; but I believe it would be an even greater tragedy if our diversity becomes a casualty here.”
An even greater tragedy, eh? Even greater than the murder of 14 innocent men, women and a baby? Even greater than the likelihood that there are other Islamists in our midst who are now planning similar massacres of American troops?
So much so that the Navy’s highest ranking officer, Admiral Gary Roughead, has said, “Diversity is our number one priority.”
The Navy’s number one priority, eh? Is diversity more important even than combating piracy and defeating al Qaeda?
So much so that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, elevated diversity to a “strategic imperative” when he was the chief of naval operations.
A “strategic imperative,” eh? One wonders how the great armies and navies of the past, most of which were decidedly non-diverse, ever managed to win a battle, let alone a war. What about the all-Jewish Israeli military, which is widely recognized as one of the world’s greatest fighting forces?
General Casey and Admirals Mullen and Roughead are not stupid men, and they surely mean well. But they have internalized the politically correct lessons of the academy and the popular culture, which propagate leftist nonsense like “diversity” (read: affirmative action and reverse discrimination). And they are actively seeking to impose these dangerous ideas on the U.S. military.
The Washington Post, for instance, reports that according to Bruce Fleming, the Naval Academy “operates a two-tiered admission system that makes it substantially easier for minority applicants to get in.”
Fleming is a tenured professor of English at the Naval Academy and a former admissions officer there. “We’re dumbing down the Naval Academy… [and] we’re dumbing down the officer corps,” he told the Post.
Of course, Naval Academy officials strenuously deny that this is happening; but Fleming makes a convincing case. “Don’t want to believe me?” he writes. “[Then] have a lawyer sit in on a year’s worth of admissions board deliberations. Or better still, pray that one of the stellar white students rejected to give a seat to a ‘diverse’ candidate sues us. That’s the only way taxpayers will ever fully understand the price to them of ‘putting diversity first.’”
About the Author
John R. Guardiano blogs at www.ResCon1.com, and you can follow him on Twitter: @ResCon1.
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Melvin| 11.13.09 @ 8:14AM
Thank the Gods that America is now listening. This tale of the two militaries has been around for a very long time.
First is was the Military Academy graduates who looked upon reserve officers as pond scum and not worth to breath the rarefied air that was available to the academy elites.
The two forces were cordial and professional to each other but underneath the surface burned a fiery hatred to each other.
Then the Clinton's came on board and the our nation's military universe changed from top to bottom, with the grand forced social re-engineering experiment. The military would go from a disciplined fighting force into a more user and enemy friendly organization, where promotion was not based on merit and ability but on ethnicity, gender, and multiculturalism.
We were forced to sit in on diversity, and sexual harassment classes every time that personnel changed commands.
Many women and minorities in the military but not all, discovered that they could use their gender and race to be promoted ahead of their piers.
Instead of a disciplined mean and green fighting force the military has turned into a camp where everyone has to be in tune with everyones feelings, because after-all everyone has been a victim at one time or another in their lives.
Some women in the military have never deployed overseas once because they don't want to and every-time a deployment comes around they conveniently get pregnant out of wedlock and therefore get reassigned to a non-deployable unit. This in turn causes hardship on the deploying unit because they still need a warm body to fill that boat-space and more often than enough they fill it from someone from another unit that has been back from a previous deployment for a short time.
Everything that I have been saying over the last couple of days I have personally seen.
I've observed the backstabbing, infighting, the use of sexuality, and accusatory weapon of the term, "Your just being a racist" to curry favor with the units leadership to obtain a inflated fitness report to make the individual look like they walk on water.
People you haven't seen nothing of what goes on behind the facade of order and discipline that the public sees of the men and women in the military.
The other military is indeed those men and women who want nothing more that to serve their country and make their unit proud with their accomplishments of bravery, honor and "Esprit de corps."
Most general officers and those with flag rank fancy themselves as the next rising Senator or Congressmen and therefore do not want to make waves in their careers that might jeopardize future ambitions.
Not to long ago their was an air force general in Hawaii that made some comment that got him in some Political Correct very hot water. After being forced to retire he made the comment of, "Who is going to protect the warriors."
And the comments from General Casey echo that phrase, because right now no one is protecting the warriors from Political Correctness. Even the government isn't even allowing the warriors to protect themselves.
Use see my fellow Americans there is one object that doesn't care in whether or not that our servicemen is black, white, brown, red, yellow or whatever ethnicity they are, This object doesn't care in whether or not the servicemen is a man or woman or even a homosexual it only cares for one thing that are service member is an American.
That object is our enemies bullets that they chamber in their rifles to kill Americans. These bullets, RPG's, mortar rounds, IED's don't care about political correctness, it only cares about killing and maiming those who wear the American uniform, and until our nation's government and individual military commanders pull their heads out of their arses and wake up and see what the hell is going on around them, men and women will continue to die for. "N O T H I N G."
Alan Brooks| 11.13.09 @ 8:37PM
"discovered that they could use their gender and race to be promoted ahead of their piers."
Peers, not piers.
Piers are in the Navy.
Bruce | 11.14.09 @ 10:45PM
The same could be said of almost any major police agency in the US, going back to the early 80's. It certainly was true in my former department - the NYPD - from which I happily retired in 1994 after 25 years service.
Howard| 11.13.09 @ 8:16AM
I used to read those articles claiming that the U.S. was going to go the way of The Roman Empire. I would laugh and say the analogy is way off base. The U.S. is a strong democracy and we have a strong economy. I have to say that I now believe that I was wrong. The fact that we are debasing our currency at an alarming rate, combined with a malignant form of Political correctness as evidenced by Gen. Casey and others perhaps confirms these warnings. Add in social deviancy such as Homosexual marriage, and it is fair to say these warnings are accurate.
Alan Brooks| 11.13.09 @ 8:42PM
It has become so PC that flamethrowers and incendiaries are called "heat therapy"
Louis Jenkins| 11.13.09 @ 8:39AM
Melvin:
Ditto. A good friend of mine retired out of the Airforce at rank of Major. Twenty two years. Why? Not exactly the language he used, but he was advised he would go no further up the ladder because of diversity issues.
Motown Mike| 11.13.09 @ 8:42AM
I've long been dismissed the opinons of police chiefs who advocate gun control since I assume they work at almost the same level as their politician bosses and are more concerned about toadying up to the pols than to being concerned about what the average cop thinks (think of that Chief Daniels character in the old Hill Street Blues show). It hadn't occured to me that the same thing happens at the highest levels of the military. Thus the political correctness and the retired generals who embrace liberal political stances.
Old Soldier| 11.13.09 @ 8:44AM
Regardless of leadership and battlefield skills, non-PC Colonels just don't get stars. Patton, Sherman, and Pershing would never have made it past Regimental Commander.
Generals and Admirals are politicians, nothing more or less.
Melvin| 11.13.09 @ 9:02AM
Your comments are correct Old Soldier, but answer this. If what you say continues and the military academies continue to produce Political Officers instead of war fighters, at some point in time wouldn't the war fighters be purged completely from the ranks and we would cease to have an effective and willing fighting force?
CatoRenasci| 11.13.09 @ 9:10AM
Probably not - those with real warrior potential are very often drawn to service regardless of the bs, and abide quietly (or not so quietly) until they are needed. Our military has always had a disproportionate number of "peacetime" officers who were not warrior leaders, and we have paid the price early in each war we have fought, beginning with the French and Indian War (at least). So far, we have been fortunate that when wars have occurred, sense has prevailed and the warrior leaders have been placed in command of the fighting.
The more interesting question with our military is what will happen when the warriors completely lose faith in their higher leadership. Will we see legions behaving as legions always have historically in the face of faithless and incompetent leaders?
Old Soldier | 11.13.09 @ 11:04AM
I've seen plenty of real warriors retired out at O-5/O-6. They new that stars weren't in their future - didn't have the right courses, the right master's degree, or the right friends.
They had no regrets. Battalion and Regimental/Brigade commands are probably the best jobs in the service anyhow. Certainly the last before politics take over. Not much different in the civilian world.
DaveS| 11.13.09 @ 12:52PM
My eldest brother was class of '75 at USMA - the last class not to have underclasswomen. Fast forward to about ten years ago: female 3-star general complains about a lower-ranked male officer making unwated advances towards her. Now THAT's someone I want leading troops: can't fend off a jerk, but has a bureaucratic job and 3-star benefits and no risks - a real diverse leader of men and women. Discover what the guys and gals at 3AM in Baghdad and Kabul think about that soft situation, and you'll understand entirely what is wrong.
Ambrosio Gonzales| 11.13.09 @ 10:09AM
I heard/read John McCain of all people give the best quote on flag officers, something to the effect that he never met a flag officer that wouldn't give his life for his country and had not met a Flag Officer who would give his stars for his country either.
Tim| 11.13.09 @ 8:45AM
Want to be further disgusted? Linked is the story of how the Progressive Mayor of Burlington, Vermont tapped a "peace activist" to address Veterans on veterans day.
"The speaker, peace activist and former U.S. Army medic Jon Hausrath of Burlington, upset some members of the crowd at Battery Park with remarks that commemorated war resisters and conscientious objectors. "...
"In an interview Wednesday, Hausrath defended his remarks and his patriotism and said he wanted to commemorate conscientious objectors who had been jailed — or worse — through history for declining to fight.
"Hausrath said he joined the Army “to be a hero” but became disenchanted after working as a medic in Texas with burned and maimed soldiers. He said he refused deployment and was discharged without benefits after “doing drugs” to get out of the service."
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.....-in-works-
Pingback| 11.13.09 @ 8:57AM
Tale of Two Militaries | Be John Galt links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
hunter| 11.13.09 @ 9:34AM
Who would be surprised? Naturally the military is going feminise, why wouldn't it, the same men get set to the front guns in hand, time and again. while others get the noncombat jobs. No fair. The contractors and others make more pay than the poor soldier on point, taking the biggest risk, and at the end of the day, has little to show for it other than, atta boy. While there are few of these soldiers talking about this unfairness, it is only because this feminese has been drilled into them from before kindergarden on. Hell, if George Washington came back to relive the revolution again and had to use this military...we'd still be paying England the tea tax.
serfer62| 11.14.09 @ 8:24PM
I was a contractor in the ME 5 years ago, I was paid for my experience. My annual pay in the USMC was less they what they n
make today in 2 weeks ... so stuff it.
Also this diveristy crap is in the NCO ranks with a higher % of blacks making rank and staying in non-combat billets, those combat billets have a higher percentage of whites too.
The air force seems the worst while the Corps does pretty good.
Steven Ravine| 11.13.09 @ 9:43AM
All generals are politicians, however not all generals are warriors. The warriors need to be leading the military and not the politicians.
R Martin| 11.13.09 @ 10:05AM
The CIA should be added to that list of Casey, Mullen and Roughead. Don't forget that the Director made the same "diversity is our most important objective" comment post 9/11.
Richard Baker| 11.13.09 @ 10:07AM
The problem with GEN Casey is that he's neither a leader or a warrior. He is , however, the consummate embodiment of the political soldier a la Haig, Powell, and others. This sort diminishes the country. Someone above spoke of Patton, Sherman, and Pershing not rising above Regimental. In todays Army, they wouldn't make Major. Read their biographies and you'll see why.
Dixie Pixie| 11.13.09 @ 11:16AM
Congress in its dubious wisdom decided that in order to keep the military from becoming the Presidential Imperial Force, the military ranks above major could only be promoted with the consent of Congress. In short to be promoted a slavish devotion to Congressional whims is required. Congress made the military the way it is. Gentlemen put the blame where it should be. The liberals in Congress are the ones at fault. Direct your fire in that direction.
Paul from SA| 11.13.09 @ 11:24AM
Every institution liberals infiltrate ends up ruined.
Media.
Law.
Schools.
Government.
Science
Unions.
Economics.
Sports.
Military.
Health Care.
It won't be long before they take over Christianity and ruin that too.
Margie| 11.13.09 @ 11:57AM
Ain't gonna happen~~
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Mt.16:18.
DaveS| 11.13.09 @ 12:56PM
In the US, the prospects for Christianity have already come to pass.
lookout| 11.13.09 @ 2:22PM
"It won't be long before they take over Christianity and ruin that too."
But, my friend, they already have!
Note the PC—standing for both Politically Correct AND Post Christian—malaise of all the mainline, Protestant denominations. Like just about every public institution, these panty waist churches have been utterly feminized by “Betty Crocker” feminists—soft brains, as well as hard hearts re any dissention. These churches are no longer motivated by scripture or tradition: any likeness to the Christianity of the Gospel is coincidental.
Kyrie eleison.
Reformed Theologian| 11.16.09 @ 4:37PM
I'm sorry to inform you that Christianity has already been taken over by liberals, and because it has, the liberals have been able to take over all the disciplines you listed.
philhoey| 11.13.09 @ 12:40PM
As a Vietnam era vet, when I heard about the remarks from General Anal - opps General Casey I wanted to hurl. I see the Peter Principle is alive and well.
Nick| 11.13.09 @ 12:51PM
Did everyone see how B.O. was giving "shout-outs" to his homeys while brave Americans were fighting for their lives a week ago last Thursday?
A week later, President Dither is doing photo-ops at an Alaskan Air Force Base, forcing airmen to be props behind him, to show "he cares about the troops."
Axelrod must have gotten the latest poll showing how poorly he's doing on all things MILITARY. "Quick, get him in front of some troops!"
And liberals are in full bleeding heart mode, trying to excuse Hasan the Terrorist's murderous rampage. "He was picked on for being Moslem, he's a victim!"
This is dutifully being reported on CNN's liberal, drive-by media website today: Hasan the Terrorist is paralyzed and has.....PAIN IN HIS HANDS!!!!
"Oh noooo! The poor, picked-on Moslem is now handicapped. He is a VICTIM!!"
(Sigh)
If only we lived in the days when you could tar and feather people.
Old Guard Chief| 11.13.09 @ 1:19PM
The sad fact is that politically correct outcomes have been interfering with normal military promotion, assignment and incentive programs for a long time. Republican administrations and congresses showed no courage in opposing the blatant problems caused by promoting people who were not ready for the positions they were being given. The Coast Guard spent years trying to get a black female to successfully graduate from the academy in New London. White males with SAT scores above 1200 (Old scoring system) were routinely turned away to make room for other minorities who scored far lower. Same thing happened in command selections and other highly desired and competitive assignments. I encouraged my sons to seek their careers outside of government service. Can you imagine having your son serving in harms way being commanded by an idiot like Casey?
Nick| 11.13.09 @ 1:33PM
Letting President Dither play Commander-in-Chief of the world's most powerful military is like giving a 5 year old a loaded .44 Magnum.
John II| 11.13.09 @ 8:10PM
Confucius say, "Leader who play war should know game."
RAMIII| 11.13.09 @ 1:59PM
Part of the reason I got out of the US Navy (in the early 90's) after 6 years of active duty is because they were in the process of putting women on ships and in combat situations (political decisions). Sorry but that is NO place for women. As a result our military readiness has suffered. It seems that the decision makers never bear the consequences of their foolishness.
It's disgusting.
Read: "Lone Survivor" and "Kill Bin Laden".
Provides some interesting perspectives.
Allen Hanson| 11.13.09 @ 2:52PM
Leftists in Leadership = Candy-Ass Military.
stmichrick| 11.13.09 @ 3:56PM
I was wondering why recruiters were ignoring and delaying my son's attempts to interview and get consideration for testing to get into the Navy Baccalaureate program for college students.
I guess they have enough white guys.
Retire Guy| 11.13.09 @ 10:41PM
Sadly this is probably true.
stmichrick| 11.13.09 @ 3:56PM
I was wondering why recruiters were ignoring and delaying my son's attempts to interview and get consideration for testing to get into the Navy Baccalaureate program for college students.
I guess they have enough white guys.
sagman888| 11.13.09 @ 4:53PM
Coming: women on submarines. Really.
Louis Jenkins| 11.13.09 @ 4:55PM
Hasan was a devout Muslim and in the military (that we already know). How can it be correct, diversity or otherwise, to have a person of that belief standing amongst US service men and women when the Koran states:
The Koran, Sura 5, verse 85: “Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans." That's us!
Sura 9, verse 5: “Then fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them. And seize them, beleaguer them and lie in wait for them, in every stratagem of war.” Ambush at Ft. Hood?
Sura 5, verse 51: ”O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends.” If some fellow soldiers made negative comments towards him, he wasn't a friend of theirs anyway.
Sura 1, verse 193: “Fight them until Islam reigns supreme.” That's the line in sand for those who can't read.
Sura 8, verse 12: “Instill terror in the hearts of unbelievers. Cut off their heads and cut off the tips of their fingers.” I'm sure the living and dead at Ft. Hood alike experienced this terror.
Diversity? It got a bunch of people killed.
John II| 11.13.09 @ 8:19PM
Confucius say, "Man who ignore enemy's words become enemy of self."
WilliamInWien| 11.13.09 @ 5:07PM
Having spent time on the Army base at Vincenza, Italy, I watched units drill and also mingled with them and their families on the base facilities. They represented the face of America, not because of diversity, but because they all wanted to serve. While being diverse, they were a team and acted as such. Officers who do NOT aspire to stars are the real leaders of the military and if they make O-6, they are gratified with their career. Just finished "The Fourth Star", read it and you will not be surprised at generals like Casey.
Marc Jeric| 11.13.09 @ 6:30PM
There are several culprits in the Fort Hood massacre:
1) Jihadist Hasan;
2) AG Holder who stopped FBI investigations;
3) FBI Director who followed orders;
4) Clinton who ordered military bases to disarm the soldiers;
5) "General of the Army" Casey diversity trumps the presence of jihadis in the Army.
6) Abu Hussein from Kenya (aka Obama) who told us "not to jump to conclusions".
Curtis| 11.13.09 @ 10:38PM
I enlisted into the AF figuring I had the right attitude: "We're all Blue. Some are dark blue, some are light blue, some pee standing, and some pee sitting, but we're all Blue."
Thats the way its supposed to be. Or as one of my squadron commanders put it. "We're all one big screwed up family."
Diversity has no true place in the military world. You don't celebrate diversity, you destroy it for the purpose of building unity. You can't afford to have your troops self-segregate by race or religion. You can't afford to have some guys who just don't get along with 'those people' or troops who only want to be freinds with 'those people'. You can't have leadership or service members discriminating either against or FOR any particular race, religion, or identity.
This is Basic Military Training 101. You don't take away their clothes, cut their hair, dress them all alike, and march them all together to celebrate diversity. You do it so they get it in their heads "We are all alike." You're no longer your skin tone, your economic background, your religion, or your name. You are Air Force. Or Army, or marines, or navy.
The generals attitudes not just stupid liberal drivel, in the military world the "Celebrate Diversity" attitude is down right dangerous.
Melvin| 11.14.09 @ 12:01PM
Cowabunga Curtis, damn brother you hit the nail on the proverbial head. Outstanding.
"U N I T Y N O T D I V E R S I T Y"
Adam Smith| 11.15.09 @ 1:26AM
Well said Curtis.
Retired Guy| 11.13.09 @ 10:48PM
Wow, where are all the pom-pom waving right-wing zombies who bashed me as a liberal troll last year for claiming the same thing as the author? Where are all the "retired O-6s" who lied to you and told you my descriptions of the exact thing the author mentions didn't exist in their Army/Air Force/Marines/Navy?
DO YOU BELIEVE ME NOW????? Does 14 dead and 30+ injured on the largest Army base in the USA (and if you think that wasn't done purposely, you're crazy) make you a believer now?
Folks, ask any military member who is NOT an ass-kissing suck up more concerned with rank than doing what is right and you will get the scary truth. Part of it is plain as day and lies in the fact that it is 8 years and counting and we STILL haven't been able to defeat a bunch of cave-dwelling, goat-raping savages. It starts at the top but it infects the ENTIRE military.
philfl63| 11.14.09 @ 12:21AM
Retired Guy hit it on the head. Eight years later, and we still have not accomplished one damn thing in Afghanistan. Actually, we have not accomplished much in Iraq. In less than four years we fought and conquered the Axis powers, and kicked their asses so hard that we have not had another issue with them in the last 60 plus years. What was the difference between now and today? Our grandfathers were not politically correct a**holes. There was no "diversity" or multi-culti nonsense. F**K diversity.
Cousin| 11.14.09 @ 1:57AM
From the sound of things, what with the new political correctness shown by the army and obama, it looks as if true American Christians had better go back to forming militias to protect our service men from radical muslims, along with the leftist occupying positions of authority.
KarlinPhoenix| 11.14.09 @ 11:32AM
I am amazed at the power the Islamics have on (and in) our government and armed forces.
Islamics cannot be true to our Constitution, it is AGAINST THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS! Yet, there they are, for DIVERSITY. As in DIVERTING our attention from the mission of the military and the government, which is to PROTECT AMERICA from enemies, foreign and domestic. Of course, that concept is AGAINST Islamists, too.
These Islamics should be derided as worshipers of stone and laughed at. They are a hate-filled, primitive, 7th Century political ideology of bloody conquest and will continue their "mission" until stopped.
Islam is the repackaged (by Muhammad) worship of PAGAN stone idols in Saudi Arabia.
Look at this site and think about it: http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/moongod.htm
Here is the "Conclusion" of the information page:
The pagan Arabs worshipped the Moon-god Allah by praying toward Mecca several times a day; making a pilgrimage to Mecca; running around the temple of the Moon-god called the Kabah; kissing the black stone; killing an animal in sacrifice to the Moon-god; throwing stones at the devil; fasting for the month which begins and ends with the crescent moon; giving alms to the poor, etc.
The Muslim's claim that Allah is the God of the Bible and that Islam arose from the religion of the prophets and apostles is refuted by solid, overwhelming archeological evidence. Islam is nothing more than a revival of the ancient Moon-god cult. It has taken the symbols, the rites, the ceremonies, and even the name of its god from the ancient pagan religion of the Moon-god. As such, it is sheer idolatry and must be rejected by all those who follow the Torah and Gospel. moongod.htm
It is perfectly OK for the Saudis to worship their stone idols and bray toward Mecca several times per day. Good for them.
Americans should be free from the worry that any of these primitive, pagan Moon-God worshipers will "GO JIHADI" and spontaneously and rapidly begin killing us. The time has come to stop all Islamic immigration from the Middle East and Africa; they are not coming to America to be Americans, instead, they come to expand Islam and, eventually, to conquer us. Do you want to live under Sharia Law?
Our lives as "free" Americans is changing. As Islam continues to grow and our spineless government bows-down to these violent worshipers of stone gods, so Americans will not "offend" any of these murderous bullies. It is hard to believe ours is the same AMERICA that "won" WW2. America is a "tolerant" society but we do not have to tolerate this brutish ideology of Islam that seeks to conquer America. In the immortal words of Nancy Reagan, "Just say "NO!" to Islam".
If our current government will do nothing to protect America, it is time to remove the PROGRESSIVES and LibDems from the House and Senate next November. FIRE THEM IN 20-10!
old grunt| 11.14.09 @ 11:50AM
we did not win anything in ww2 stalin won everything he wished for and more. communism spread to all 4 corners of the earth, hitlers objective was to halt the jewish led commie bolshiveks from taking over all of europe.
Melvin| 11.14.09 @ 12:03PM
"U N I T Y N O T D I V E R S I T Y"
Should be our new clarion call in the military and this country. We can thank Curtis for this one.
KarlinPhoenix| 11.14.09 @ 12:29PM
Old grunt: I stand corrected on that point.
Best wishes
KarlinPhoenix| 11.14.09 @ 12:30PM
The President of the United States does not want a swift investigation of the Fort Hood Jihadist attack by Hasan, to be conducted by the House of Representatives or the Senate. Why?
It is easy to see why The Obama does not want a swift and timely investigation into the HASAN JIHADI ATTACK ON FORT HOOD. The Obama said: " those who died on the nation's largest Army post deserve justice, not political stagecraft" but POLITICAL STAGECRAFT is exactly what The Obama is doing. The Obama is just trying to buy time to figure out a new diverting strategy of obfuscation.
The Obama seems worried that a swift investigation of the facts will reveal WHO KNEW about HASAN's Jihadi leanings and WHEN DID THOSE PEOPLE KNOW. And then there is the number of contacts Hasan had with known Islamic Terrorist imams.... Remember, HASAN was on The Obama's Homeland Security Committee, shortly after The Obama won the Presidential Election, last November. Perhaps, The Obama had private words with HASAN and knew of Hasan's Jihadi leanings and plans.
The Obama said: "The stakes are far too high", in regard to a swift investigation of the facts that lead to HASAN's JIHADI ATTACK. And they are. For The Obama. What's this? The government knew about HASAN's 10 to 20 email communications with the "radical imam", beginning in December, 2008? (This is true.)
With that KNOWN background, how could the FBI quickly say HASAN did not commit a TERRORIST ATTACK, shortly after he did just that? You would think that HASAN's shouting "ALLAHU AKBAR" and then shooting massed unarmed people standing in lines for inoculation shots would be a CLUE for the FBI crime fighters.
The Obama's administration is " less-than-forthcoming" because they will be VERY LIKELY implicated in KNOWING of Hasan's evil intents. The Obama wants to buy time and "eventually" is a long time to wait for the facts to come out on Hasan; those who knew of his "radical Islamic" ideas; his Islamic "radical imam" contacts and those who SELECTED to allow Hasan to continue with Hasan's plans.
Nick| 11.14.09 @ 12:52PM
I say let there be a compromise.
Senator Leiberman should subpoena all the evidence right now, so it doesn't get, umm, "lost."
Then he can have the hearings next summer, as we go into the mid-term elections. That would be fun, wouldn't it?
Dixie Pixie| 11.14.09 @ 1:35PM
One of former President George W. Bush claims to fame and glory was he keep America safe from a terrorist attack. He did it too. During the 2008 campaign Obama made the point he could do even better by coming to a peaceful settlement with the Muslim “street”. That policy is now been proven to be nuts by the Muslim Jihadists. Is it any surprise that Obama and his drones wants to stage manage a Muslim terrorist attack out of existence. Obama has failed in his CIC duties.
Look forward to the entire incidence to be moved to Obama's favorite henchman, AG Eric Holders jurisdiction. Obama and Holder will move the case out of military jurisdiction to obscure Obama's policy failures. UCMJ be damned. Look for AG Holder to follow the MSM meme and declare after a “full and lengthy investigation” Major Hasan will be declared insane and not a Muslim jihadist. If that hat trick can be pulled off then the “keystone” of Obama foreign policy can be salvaged. The military brass is the sacrificial goat in this matter. The faults lie with the White House and Congressional policies not the US military.
MIDDY| 11.14.09 @ 1:47PM
As a midshipman at the Naval Academy, I just want to point out that there is some questioning of the diversity issue at all levels here. We don't all fundamentally agree or disagree with the idea, even in the service. Diversity is certainly a useful tool in getting people "on board" with their superiors who are of a different race and/or background (look at Vietnam, Korea). Also, the decision to increase diversity, here at Navy at least, was made under the direct supervision of our last president, GWB. It is not a trendy policy of the new administration and it's nothing new.
Furthermore, I am absolutely shocked to think that someone, who lacks knowledge of military strategy, would question the advice or policy decisions of ADM Roughead or Mullen. Both are extremely bright and amazing leaders and speakers. One would do well to recognize that there are strategic objectives that go beyond "winning the war." The Navy and the military don't fade away when Afghanistan or Iraq are over.
KarlinPhoenix| 11.14.09 @ 2:22PM
To MIDDY| (11.14.09 @ 1:47PM):
Your statements lead me to believe that YOU think Adm. Roughhead and Mullen are both beyond "question". And, that "winning the war" is a less important objective for the military than, say, diversity of personnel?
You MIDDY, are a part of the problem, not the future solution to our problems of Political Correctness and the enemies within our borders. It could be that you have been drinking from the cup of PROGRESSIVES MADNESS and want to effect CHANGE on our country, like The Obama (the Marxist).
With a little bit of luck, I hope that you either decide to work for the betterment of America or that you do not get through the Annapolis experience with success.
Your current attitude is not that of a leader of warriors and will, in fact, get Americans killed.
John R. Guardiano| 11.14.09 @ 2:57PM
Middy,
I salute your service as a midshipman and future naval officer; but find your thoughts disturbing and disconcerting, and for the following reasons:
1. You write that diversity (whatever that means; you don’t define the term) is “a useful tool in getting people ‘on board’ with their superiors who are of a different race and/or background…”
I’m not quite sure what you mean by this. If by “on board,” you mean getting people focused on the achievement of a singular mission, then the way to do that, actually, is to emphasize unity, not diversity.
The Marine Corps that I know and love, for instance, emphasizes that, first and foremost, we are all Marines; and that everything else pales in comparison to that.
In fact, I recall my drill instructors telling us that, on the day we graduate from boot camp and become Marines, nothing else we ever did in life anymore matters: because on that day we will be reborn as Marines.
Emphasizing differences is not a way to build a team; it is a way to sow discord, disharmony and dissension.
2. You write that the push for “diversity” was “made under the direct supervision of “our last president,” George W. Bush.” Thus, diversity “is not a trendy policy of the new administration, and it’s nothing new.”
You’re right that the push for “diversity” began well before Obama was president; however, that still doesn’t make it right or just. In fact, “diversity” was pioneered by leftist academics and is foreign to the traditional American notion of e pluribus unum. The fact that George W. Bush’s administration may have allowed the military to push “diversity” doesn’t make “diversity” a wise or legitimate idea.
3. You say that are “absolutely shocked to think that someone, who lacks knowledge of military strategy, would question the advice or policy decisions of Admirals Roughead or Mullen. Both are extremely bright and amazing leaders and speakers.”
Middy, with all due respect, I find your outrage shocking! Are you an American? Do you live in the United States? Have you heard of the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment?
Do you not realize that we Americans vigorously argue and discuss matters of public policy? Do you not understand that doing so is an inherent part of our birthright as Americans? Don’t they teach that at the Naval Academy? Or are you too busy learning about “diversity” and other left-wing academic fads?
Don’t you appreciate that by vigorously arguing amongst ourselves we help to effect better public policy? Don’t you realize that someone can be “extremely bright and amazing” and yet mistaken and wrong?
I sincerely hope they don’t teach, at the Naval Academy, blind obedience to authority. I hope they teach that a leader has a responsibility to speak candidly and honestly to his superiors, especially when (as at Ft. Hood) American lives are on the line.
I know that some of the Marines I served with in Iraq were Naval Academy graduates, and that they actively encouraged us to argue with them and to share our thoughts and concerns with them. They realized that before we embarked on a new mission, we damn well better have thought it through. Better to argue first and save lives than to be silent and watch Marines die.
Moreover, whether one has “knowledge of military strategy” is irrelevant. We’re not talking here about how to defeat al Qaeda or (as in World War II) or the Imperial Japanese Navy. We’re talking about military personnel policy.
Address the specific points and arguments made, and not whether a person has legitimate standing to make an argument. The fact is that all Americans, by virtue of being Americans, have a right -- and a duty -– to engage the public dialogue and debate. This includes you, even if, as I believe, you are mistaken.
V/R
John Guardiano
Retired Guy| 11.14.09 @ 7:10PM
John, #3 doesn't shock me as much. Middy sounds like the same sort who would walk by my desk, see a copy of the Bill of Rights on it, and laugh at me saying, "you don't really believe all that stuff do you?"
The sad sad SAD fact is 90+% of officers and SNCOs in the military RIGHT NOW are just like Hasan's supervisors, too cowed by either ignorance, moral equivalence, or fear of reprisals to say anything to someone spouting obvious subversive/treasonous/islamic/anti-American rhetoric. As bad as PC nonsense is in the military, most military members are shockingly ignorant of our Founders, our founding documents, what they all mean, history in general, and most especially our current enemy, islam.
What's even sadder is I would bet my monthly pension that 70% would still say nothing even after what happened at Ft Hood.
As far as Middy suck-uppedness to the admirals, not really shocking at all. Middy is just getting an early jump on all the ass-kissing, oops I mean "networking" he's gonna have to do to get the sweet assignments or the "right" deployments to ensure he keeps getting promoted, cuz after all that's what its all about, that next rank. What it is most certainly NOT about is truth, taking care of your troops, ensuring the mission gets done, etc etc.
John R. Guardiano| 11.16.09 @ 9:49PM
Retired Guy,
Thanks for your note. Unfortunately, I have seen, within the military ranks, some of what you rightfully lament: the careerism, the bureaucratic cowardice, the unwillingness to lead and to stand forthrightly for what is right, etc.
That’s why I think it is so important to engage military personnel and young prospective officers; and that’s why I took the time to respond to this midshipman. After all, she (or he) will be a future leader of the U.S. military. And if she (or he) doesn’t understand what their oath as a military member and leader demands, then the future of the U.S. military may be bleak indeed.
The U.S. military is unique and distinct in that we don’t take an oath to a man or a party. We take an oath to the Constitution of the United States. That’s why no U.S. serviceman or woman could ever cite the Nuremberg defense – i.e., “We were simply following orders and thus can’t be held accountable for our misdeeds.” That’s why Abu Ghraib was and is unacceptable: because American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are held to a higher standard than simply “following orders.”
I would like to think that most U.S. military personnel understand this. They do, perhaps, in obvious or extreme cases; however, in less obvious or extreme cases you’re right: All too often – and especially in a garrison and bureaucratic environment -- our military personnel seem to lack the moral and intellectual courage and understanding necessary to question, when necessary, their superiors.
Sir, I would just encourage you to continue to speak out about this important issue. Public dialogue and engagement is very important. If enough people speak out, then more military personnel will do the right and honorable thing -- even when doing the right and honorable thing jeopardizes their military careers.
S/F
John
Bruce | 11.14.09 @ 10:59PM
"You say that are “absolutely shocked to think that someone, who lacks knowledge of military strategy, would question the advice or policy decisions of Admirals Roughead or Mullen. Both are extremely bright and amazing leaders and speakers.”
Gee - sounds a lot like the DEM mantra, doesn't it? You know, the one that goes ... "you all are not in government - you have no idea what you're talking about!"
I see another ADM Mullen in the future.
Curtis| 11.14.09 @ 3:45PM
Let me backstop and be clear on a few of my previous points.
Diversity is a fine and dandy element of the civilian world. I wouldn't want to live in a civilian population that stressed unity over diversity.
But the military is a different place with different goals. I'm not speaking in jest or derision when I say that military service is the closest mankind will ever come to true utopian communism. We're all united in one goal. Defend the Nation itself, and the spirit of the nation itself via the constitution. We all stress the mission and service first. I don't care what my commander says, the military take priority first in my life. Over my family, my faith, and any thing else I want to do. I don't always want it to, it just does.
Diversity has one true place in the military: Recruiting. It behooves us to recruit from all across the nation, in order to ensure overall quality of our force. We can't afford to say 'no' to anyone who has it what it takes to do this, simply based on what they look like when they walk in the door, before they put on the uniform.
But once you're in, you're one of us. And nothing in your life is higher then that. I don't care what it is. Whether that's your color, your religion, (I've Seen Christians, Muslims, Wiccans, and Athiests who all needed a talking to about this. Specifically in the area of attitude and proselytizing.) your sexuality ( Service comes before flirting with the cute girl in personnel, or talking about what you and your spouse like to do in bed) Your family (You are going to put your family through hell, we'll do what we can to mitigate the suck, but its not going to not suck.)
We hear these sayings all the time, "Your family comes first" and "Celebrate diversity" and other silly slogans, but its all feel good BS.
We live a structured and disciplined life in order to ensure there will be an unstructured, and free life there waiting on us when we get out, whether via declining reenlistment, or by retiring.
* Offtopic, that is why America must maintain an 'all volunteer' force. We aren't living in America any more if we can just force people into this heathen contraption called service.*
At the same time, this is why the military in general, and the high officers' specifically must be kept on a short leash. This is a necessary and yet brutal and uncaring contrivance. If the military, or its officers, or its civilian leadership for that matter, gets out of control, we stop being America. Over politicization of the military in either direction, liberal or conservative, will result in America falling on its own sword.
Retired Guy| 11.15.09 @ 7:05PM
Diversity has NO PLACE in recruiting. Standards should be color blind--either they are met or they are not. Obviously the multi-culti sensitivity training is getting to you.
You put the military above God? Wow. Not much of a Christian. That and you will probably enjoy a long and bitter career if you don't burn out first. God, family, country in that order. You put the military above your family and especially above God and you are no use to me. I certainly don't want someone in a foxhole next to me who neglects his own family. You can't take care of your family, how can I expect you to take care of your comrades? You sound like the little pussy at my last assignment who's wife got a deployment and their kid was like 8 months old. Pussy walks into my office looking for a deployment out of his cycle, and I say, "But you're wife is getting deployed, you need to be here for your kid." Pussy says to me, "I'm scared to take care of him by myself." I kicked him out of my office or I would had hit him.
Richard Baker| 11.15.09 @ 12:43AM
Middy:
Do you understand WHY you're at the Academy? If not, I suggest you find a Marine or SEAL who's been to SW Asia and is presently serving at Annapolis and ask them. Middy, if the word Warrior is strange to you then maybe you should transfer to another university.
Richard Baker
ex-SSG Infantry
USA
KarlinPhoenix| 11.15.09 @ 2:42AM
Mr. Baker,
Well said in your comments to "Middy". He/She is not really with the "program" until "they" find their way, The Warrior Way, at Annapolis.
Best wishes,
KarlinPhoenix
former 1/75 Rangers
John Lockwood| 11.15.09 @ 8:07AM
I was a stellar student in school, but I got shafted in college admissions and the job market---I was just a white male nobody. No lowered admissions standards for me!
Has anyone noticed that rich white men and their rich white male sons aren't affected by quotas? Not with the rich white male connections and contacts they have. One advantage of being a rich liberal is that you can insulate yourself from the social schemes you force on everyone else---denial of school choice, high crime, porn shops, illegal immigration, and of course quotas.
Wouldn't it be nice if the rich white men in business, politics, the "media", and academia gave up their jobs to minorities and women? That would be like a rich liberal turning one of his mansions into a homeless shelter. Ain't gonna happen.
I sometimes wonder what I could have done with my life, and my genius-level I.Q., if I hadn't had every door slammed shut in my face. Maybe I could have done something worthwhile, and maybe not, but quotas and connections made it sure I would not.
cclusn| 11.15.09 @ 9:31AM
The gradual and insidious infusion of the false religion of diversity into our military threatens to destroy our ability to defend ourselves. Military leaders have placed such emphasis on acceptance that the lines between our traditional core values as a nation and the creeds of our enemies have become blurred.
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Bob| 11.15.09 @ 2:45PM
This is nothing new. I saw it it Vietnam and the years afterward. Those who think that getting a star or two is based solely on military/naval knowledge and ability obviously never served.
Fist of the fleet| 11.15.09 @ 2:48PM
Maybe someone needs to remind Admiral Roughead that the MISSION is the number one priority, not diversity.
cclusn| 11.15.09 @ 6:27PM
You are ABSOLUTELY correct!!! The emphasis used to be on the mission and we have taken our eye off the ball.
Richard Baker| 11.15.09 @ 3:31PM
KarlinPhoenix:
Thanks for your kind comments. Lead the Way, Ranger!
JimE| 11.15.09 @ 5:18PM
I worked for Mullen before, he is nothing more than a PC moron. I retired when I was expected to cover for an incompetent minority officer.
Richard Baker| 11.15.09 @ 9:05PM
Retired Guy:
You may have heard this one. When I was a young soldier in the early'70s, I was going to get married. One of the senior NCOs, an E-7 or E-8, if memory serves, who was single and lived in a room in our barracks heard about this. He saw me on the street and said, "Goddamn it, Baker. If the Army had wanted you to have a family, they'd have issued you one!" He thought I was a fool for wanting to get married. I laughed later at his comment. These folks who whine and carry on today regarding deploying while the family stays here need to remember what their business truly is. Don't get me started on the pregnant in uniform. Do your duty or get the Hell out.
Curtis| 11.16.09 @ 7:09PM
I stand by my statements. You can have a family, and have a God, but its up to you to deconflict them with military service, and if they're so important that you put them above your service, and those you serve with, then you need to make plans to find the exit door.
I'll be praying in the Foxhole next to you. But if you refuse my company because my faith is not your faith, then you need to step out the door.
If the religion that's on my dog-tags is more important to you then the rank that is on my shoulder, then you have a problem. And it needs to be fixed.
It sucks to deploy away from your family, but if you simply put can't do it anymore, you need to finish up your time and decline reenlistment. Other wise you're asking some other guy to go in your place. And someone will, someone will miss their kids birthdays and dance recitals, someone else who'll go a long time with out seeing their spouse. Some young kid just in who'll have to go a long time without going home to visit his mom because you valued your family too much to live up the obligations placed upon you.
I'm not going to have a long and bitter career, I'm getting out just as soon as my current extension is up. When that happens, and only after that happens, then I'll get married, have children, and talk religion and politics with everyone I meet.
Until then, I live alone, I keep professional, and I tell my family "I'll see you when I can."
I find your tone to be the voice of entitlement. Like a couple of the A1Cs I know who still think that weekend parties and chasing skirts is more important then the Air Force.
I don't blame you for wanting to put family and God over service. But If those things are really so bloody important then I encourage you to draw an honorable end to your service and give your life and heart to your family and God.
Because while your in, they can't have all of you. You can give your heart to Jesus, you can give your soul to your family, but your ass belongs to the machine. You can have all the things you've fought and defended and sweated and bled for, but not until after you step out of the machine.
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