Rumsfeld's Army secretary pick irks senators

Washington Times ^ | Wednesday, July 20, 2004 | Rowan Scarborough

[JohnHuang2]

Senior senators are unhappy with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's decision to bypass an ex-Senate aide and Army veteran for the post of Army secretary and instead pick a corporate figure. The senators have backed acting-Army Secretary Les Brownlee for the prestigious post. Mr. Brownlee is a former Senate committee director, decorated Vietnam War veteran and retired colonel who has run the Army since May 2003. That month, Mr. Rumsfeld fired Army Secretary Thomas White, who, like Mr. Brownlee, is an ex-Army officer and Vietnam War hero.

[river rat]

"And, as a holder of a Silver Star and Purple Heart, he has the war record to lead a service that is doing the bulk of the fighting in the war on terrorism.

Bull Squat!

I would hope that by now, most Americans are aware that a Silver Star and Purple Hearts don't necessarily mean what they meant prior to the war in Vietnam.

Too many officers (excluding Marines, of course) with "ambition" -- came home too highly decorated for their contributions to the effort...

Semper Fi

[WoofDog123]

""And, as a holder of a Silver Star and Purple Heart, he has the war record to lead a service that is doing the bulk of the fighting in the war on terrorism."

I don't in any way denigrate the sacrifice of wounded, or more importantly KIA's (who cannot run for office), but I don't think serving in combat makes one specially qualified for high elected office, or even for having any competence in leadership or foreign policy.

Many current and recent political figures have military backgrounds that I admire - bob dole, for example. from the other side, JFKennedy comes to mind. My own grandfather was at Tarawa (wounded there) and some other islands, though he never held high office. It is abundantly clear to me that serving in combat units and being in combat gives the soldier unique insights. It has very little to do with becoming president, though.

[KeyWest]

The Secretaries are generally corporate types and/or large donors to the party in office. Some are exceptionally good, and some are not. Nothing new here.

I would be most concerned about someone who came from the Senate, as in this case. Not enough separation of powers. It is obvious why there are some in the Senate who want him to stay. They think they will have their man in a sensitive Administration post.

Rummy is right.

[Common Tator]

It is almost a proverb. .. The generals are always preparing to fight the last war... They are rarely prepared and often punish those trying to prepare for the next war.

Lincoln with bitter experience replaced the career commanders for the non career Grant. FDR bypassed over 300 higher ranking officers to promote Colonel Eisenhower to the top commanders post. FDR recalled the fired MacArthur to take the pacific command.

Men who have made a career out of yesterday' army are at best a poor choice to lead it into the unchartered waters of the next conflict.

Rummy has it right. Lots of years climbing the ladder in the military, destroys creative thinking and encourages comformation to the status quo.

[chainsaw]

I'm thinking the democrat senators just want to stack the deck with an ultra liberal. If that's what they want to do, let them take back the White House.

[Chief_Joe]

Rummy has it right. Lots of years climbing the ladder in the military, destroys creative thinking and encourages comformation to the status quo.

What does lots of years climbing the corporate ladder encourage: are those that rise in corporate ranks known for being creative thinkers, questioning upper management decisions...or being the biggest kiss a$$ weasels?

[7thson]

I don't think MacArthur had been fired when FDR recalled him. I believe he retired in the Philippines.

[walden]

"What does lots of years climbing the corporate ladder encourage: are those that rise in corporate ranks known for being creative thinkers, questioning upper management decisions...or being the biggest kiss a$$ weasels?"

Actually, almost nobody spends very long climbing the corporate ladder. For example, if you start as a junior accountant, then become a senior after two or three years, then a few years later become supervisor, etc.-- step by step, rung by rung, the highest you'll ever get in a major corporation is probably assistant divisional controller or something. The people who will eventually run the place usually come in on a fast track-- they spend a year or two being mentored by various VP types, then they get their own VP slot, usually a small one. Depending on how they do there after a couple of years, they may leave for a bigger post outside the company, or get a bigger one inside. At any rate, by the age of 30 or so, the future top management are all decided.

[Meldrim]

There are plenty of good candidates who were man enough to serve. To pick somebody without the knowledge of the dynamics of the battlefield or barracks will lead to the same "Old Chestnut" nonsense the Cheney exhibited when he was SecDef: Reagan knew better and all of his secretaries had served in uniform.