The way it works at the top of the food chain:
1. Flag officers offered roles of responsibility want a complete field in which to operate. Because they think in terms of responsibility, they are very focused on communications because any problem in communications, no matter how small, can grow into a larger problem for which the noose is placed around their neck. So, they want people around them to be completely in tune with their thoughts and instructions. No tolerance for error.
(I’ve actually witnessed the fallout when two flag ranking officers are ready to kill each other over a mistake made by underlings and for which a mutual schedule is impacted. So at this level, the word ‘big’ does not always describe adequately the egos involved. On the other hand, I have seen flag rank officers that are calm, gracious, unemotional and trusting but commanding inside a situation gone bad)
2. The President receives daily National Security briefings and we can imagine that most if not all of these are attended by the Director of National Security. However, a written briefing for the President’s eyes only and those of his circles like Mr. Bannon and VP Pence is handed to the President and he necessarily must review its contents or place complete trust in either Advisor Bannon or VP Pence, or other persons.
3. Other eyes on the written briefing can be a cause of concern, can be, because the chain of responsibility may be looped and made less direct. This can interfere with the Director’s trust and vice versa. It takes a little while for the parties to understand how to work together and execute flawlessly. But it must be flawless.
4. In order to be economical with time, the President may outline some broad considerations that he wants the Director to consider or act on. These communications may come through Advisor Bannon and conversely, the Director may hand a briefing for Mr. Bannon’s review before finalizing and attending the briefing.
So, the bottom line is the time management facilitated for the President must be as efficient and complete as possible. It is critical that the President give and receive communications to and from his circle without any problems.
Now as to this possible bit of ‘fake news’, it could be from the President as a head fake to see again who the leakers are, or it could be an invitation to see how McMaster responds.
Many have said McMaster is an excellent choice because of his exemplary combat performance as a Colonel in Iraq. But a funny thing happens to the minds of Colonels on their way into the flag ranks and especially the highest levels of the White House. The become increasingly political.
McMaster is said to be a disciple of Petraeus. That statement was made in a sea of Oohrahs as support for such a wise choice. If it is true that McMaster is a disciple of Petraeus, I am not feeling as enthusiastic as I would be if he weren’t.
Thank you for that explanation. I am very ignorant of military matters.
I do not like that McMasters called ISIS a “perversion” of Islam. It is, on the contrary, the very essence of Islamic ideology, history, and tradition.
Not McMaster. He was specifically passed over for promotion because he was NOT political.
I recommended him to Bannon, and Victor Davis Hansen sent his own endorsement.