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I have mixed feelings when reading about the Patton incident here. On one hand, I admire so much the standards of respect and dignity toward the individual expected because such conduct was “fair” and “American” and that Patton’s behavior was dealt with on this basis.

On the other hand, I’m sad to see how as far back as 1943, how much weight the opinion of the press carried in important strategic and political decisions like Patton's future. I’ve always wondered why journalists who are scribes for a newspaper are treated like they have some kind of special expertise whose opinions should carry so much weight. Their expertise is in writing and reporting what they see. That doesn’t make them experts about what they see.

Here, it looks like the journalist’s decision to “drop it” may have saved Patton’s skin. I know Eisenhower was very politically sensitive which generally served him well as Allied Commander. It would be a tough role – having to maintain coordination of a multi-nation war effort while not allowing the opinions of others to dictate your decisions about what’s best for America and the American troops.