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I sat next to a former Marine on an airline ride and asked him what was the big deal about Rumsfeld. He told me that although he had great respect for the man; Rumsfeld was attempting to make the military run like a business, and that it couldn't be done. He said that Rumsfeld didn't seem to respect the "social" elements of the military.

I looked at him with a shocked face and said, "SOCIAL???" He said words to the effect that the branches of the military weren't formed to work together as one, and that each had their own budget and power. No branch wanted to lose in either category.

I flat out told him that from a civilian's point of view (and I realize that doesn't hold any water) that I saw Rumsfeld as a SUPER hard working, character driven, strive for the very best for America, TOTAL Patriot with a schedule that I couldn't even BEGIN to undertake at 20 some years his junior. I told him that I had nothing but the utmost respect and awe for the man, and I felt this way before, but that our conversation confirmed my beliefs that as far as how most of them dealt with Rumsfeld, the VIPs of the various branches of the military were working with their OWN interests at heart, and NOT that of the Country they swore to protect...TOGETHER.

I held back other thoughts, because I owe a great deal to our military and their individual sacrifices on our behalf. I would part ways with them about Rumsfeld; because in THIS case I think many top military guys are acting like the Senators we've lost respect for, when it comes to their "earned power."

NordP

Oh...and one more thing...

I just made a sign for my car window. It reads:

MY MESSAGE TO THE MILITARY

ALL AMERICANS AREN'T:

Self-Centered,

Impatient, and

Short-Sighted.

THE REST OF US VOTED REPUBLICAN!

Thanks for the insight, NordP. I salute SECDEF Rumsfeld for what he accomplished and what he tried to accomplish. We will never have a SECDEF close to his likes again. This is not just sad, but frightening. We are losing our militancy.

Enough already with the petty bickering and posturing among the branches. What a disappointment. The brass needs to go back to boot camp.

" He said words to the effect that the branches of the military weren't formed to work together as one, and that each had their own budget and power. No branch wanted to lose in either category."

And this ludicrous outdated attitude and ingrained DOD "policy" was precisely what Mr. Rumsfield set out to destroy, although others had been quietly working on it for several decades.

God bless Mr. Rumsfeld! It appears he succeeded, for the most part.

That inane and useless "social" DOD mindset caused many friendly fire deaths, due to lack of communications and lack of appreciation of mission elements.

War in the 21st century is a joint military operation, not a series of partial missions by separate service branches.
It appears the US Navy has proven it's ability to meld ground, sea, and air elements under one unified command.

Make it permanent, and stop the madness based on groundless fears by politicians of military coups conducted by an all volunteer force.

It won't happen under a Democrat controlled legislature, but hopefully the next time Republicans gain power, they will have learned from their failures, and resolve not to repeat them.