Killing a Career: The Shame of the U.S. Senate

Breakpoint with Chuck Colson ^ | 6/28/2007 | Chuck Colson

[Mr. Silverback]

I have what some might consider the macabre habit of reading the casualty reports from Iraq every day in the New York Times. This may reflect the fact that I served in the military or that I worked in the White House during Vietnam.

But there’s one name that hasn’t yet appeared in the casualty reports: the name of General Peter Pace, the first Marine—and I say this with pride as a former Marine—to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Why am I looking for Pace’s name on the casualty list? His distinguished military career was recently ended by the crudest kind of politics.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared Pace, a four-star Marine general with 48 military decorations on his chest, to be “incompetent.”

What incredible effrontery. Reid—who never wore the uniform—could have said he didn’t agree with Pace’s decisions or with the politically unpopular war in Iraq. He could have said he disliked the way Pace executed his responsibilities in advising the President.

But incompetent?

This kind of public disparagement of a military hero is disgraceful.

But Pace’s career didn’t end merely because of Reid’s shoddy remarks. Pace, a faithful Catholic, also offended the secular god of Tolerance. He had the audacity to say that he believed sex outside of marriage was wrong, whether homosexual or heterosexual.

The New York Times instantly declared him a bigot. The rest of the media pack followed suit; few defended him. We are in real trouble, folks, if America’s number one military officer cannot defend the proposition that the military should exemplify high moral standards.

President Bush decided not to send Pace’s nomination up for the customary second term as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Why not? Not because Peter Pace is incompetent; he was, after all, roundly commended by the President and Defense Secretary Gates.

Gates recommended against Pace’s re-nomination, and the President agreed, because his confirmation would have been subjected to Senate hearings—hearings that would have been grossly politicized.

Can you see the general sitting before a battery of senators cross-examining him, in front of the cameras, on whether he discriminated against homosexuals? Imagine the members of the Armed Services Committee—most of whom never served in the military—grilling Pace on whether his Catholic faith influenced his standards of prudery. At least two presidential candidates serve on this committee. The hearings would have been a political circus.

It would also have been open season on second-guessing the war at the very moment our troops are in an offensive posture, chasing al Qaeda. The television reports, which our troops in the field see online, would have shown our so-called leaders berating the military and calling the cause in Iraq futile. They would have been demoralizing, to say the least.

But to our Senate leaders, the welfare of our soldiers is secondary to worshipping the secular god of Tolerance and raw politics; thus they have in effect drummed out of the military one of the most honorable public servants I’ve ever known.

We should mourn the fact that we have lost the services of this decorated and principled man. And we should mourn the loss of honor, duty, and common decency among our nation’s leaders.

[Mr. Silverback]

There are links to further information at the source document.

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[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Reid is a cowardly scumbag criminal who should be beaten senseless on the senate floor with a chicken wing by a real man.

[rockinqsranch]

I second that motion.

[wildcatf4f3]

Reid would not be missed

[monkeycard]

It seems that this crowd dare anyone to challenge their freedom of speech yet deny that very thing to those that disagree with their mantra. Shame on them.

[JSDude1]

That’s becuase (and pardon my language (I hardly ever use this..but the SENATE was shameful..) They’re AS*&H-ll$~!).

They disrespeced a Great man, human being, American, Marine, and Christian!!

If I were Gen. Pace I would have gone into that meeting and told to their faces what he had said earlier “that homosexuality is shameful, and adultery is wrong”.

He should just dust himself off and then run for public office (Heck The Republican Party is missing a Viable Candidate): Why not PACE 2008?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

LOL!

Liked your page, too. Looks like you and yours are living the good life!

[Nitro]

I was a squid...

and as a squid...

I was raised to mess with Marine life...

but, I was also raised to respect excellence and Marines achieve that as a matter of course...

you cannot be a Marine if you don’t excel.

So in my opinion Reid is a ‘slack-jawed south philly faggot.’

[Zack Nguyen]

bump to the top.

Chuck Colson is right. Pace was treated terribly.

[Mr. Silverback]

Why not PACE 2008?

He could get my vote!

[Zack Nguyen]

I hope that President Bush describes this entire situation in detail in his memoirs. He can say little now. But it is shameful what the liberals did to Pace.

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Reid isn't qualified to shine the Generals' boots...

[TaMoDee]

Thompson/Pace 2008

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

LOL nicely put

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

And this current administation was equally cowardly in not defending General Pace. I have lost all respect for these POS politicians and cancelled my membership to the rnc.I will not stand with pussies.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

The answer you see is to let the liberals win everything and then hope they let us preach the gospel to them and hope they accept it so that they will have to join the league of non-participants. Pretty soon maybe we will run out of liberals to run the country.

/sarc

[A.A. Cunningham]

But it is shameful what the liberals did to Pace.

It is shameful what Bush did to Pace.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Commanders Corner
Bush Nominates Mullen, Cartwright to Top Military Posts
By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service
Jun 28, 2007 - 12:21:16 PM

President George W. Bush stands stands with Marine General James Cartwright, left, Navy Admiral Michael Mullen, and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, right, as he announces his nomination of Admiral Mullen as Chairman and Gen. Cartwright as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Thursday, June 28, 2007, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

Blackanthem Military News, WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Bush today nominated Navy Adm. Michael Mullen to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Marine Corps Gen. James E. "Hoss" Cartwright as his vice chairman.

Speaking in the White House Roosevelt Room, Bush called Mullen and Cartwight "experienced military officers who are highly qualified for these important positions."

Mullen currently serves as chief of naval operations, and Cartwright is commander of U.S. Strategic Command.

If confirmed by the Senate, they will succeed Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, vice chairman.

Bush noted today that Mullen's and Cartwright's nominations come at a critical time for the United States.

"America is at war, and we are at war with brutal enemies who have attacked our nation and who would pursue nuclear weapons and would use their control of oil as economic blackmail and intend to launch new attacks on our country," he said. "At such times, one of the most important decisions a president makes is the appointment of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

As the country's highest-ranking military officer, the chairman serves as the principal military advisor to the president, the defense secretary, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council, Bush noted. He also is responsible for ensuring the readiness of U.S. military forces.

Bush called Mullen uniquely qualified to take on this job. A 1969 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Mullen went on to pursue an "illustrious military career" during which he received an advanced degree from the Naval Postgraduate School and commanded three ships, a cruiser destroyer group and an aircraft carrier battle group, he noted.

Mullen also served as commander at NATO's Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy, with responsibility for alliance missions in the Balkans, Iraq and Mediterranean, and as commander U.S. Naval Forces Europe.

At the Pentagon, Mullen served as the Navy's director of surface warfare; deputy chief of naval operations for resources, requirements and assessments; vice chief of naval operations and, since July 2005, as chief of naval operations.

"Mike is a man of experience, of vision and high integrity," the president said. "He is the right man to lead America's armed forces."

The president extended similar praise to Cartwright, noting his broad educational and military experience.

Cartwright graduated from the University of Iowa, earned his advanced degree from the Naval War College and completed a fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the president noted.

A Marine aviator, Cartwright has commanded deployed Marines at all levels. He also has broad experience on the Joint Staff, where he served twice as the director of force structure, resources and assessment before taking the reins as head of the U.S. Strategic Command in 2004, he said.

At STRATCOM, Cartwright has been responsible for America's nuclear arsenal; missile defenses; space operations; information operations; global command and control; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and efforts to combat weapons of mass destruction, Bush said.

He has met these responsibilities "with honor, skill and integrity," the president said, noting that he will apply these same principles in his position as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Mullen said he is honored to be nominated to the chairman's position to lead the U.S. military at an important time in its history.

"Clearly, we remain a nation at war against formidable enemies," he said. "The way forward in Iraq and Afghanistan -- the path we take now and in the future -- will shape the character of the longer, larger struggle against terror."

Mullen emphasized that success depends on more than just military might.

"It cannot be a military path alone. That much is clear," he said. "We must continue to focus on the broad range of America's defense and security commitments around the world and on the many instruments of national power needed to safeguard those commitments."

He noted changes in the world and their effect on U.S. security arrangements.

"We must remain mindful that we live in a world made smaller by the speed of change, more dangerous by the actions of extremists and tyrants, and yet more hopeful, more promising, by the power of partnerships, cooperation and trust," he said.

Mullen praised the members of the armed forces who understand these complex challenges and are finding new ways to overcome them every day.

"Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and their families are the most dedicated, talented and courageous people with whom I have ever been privileged to serve," he said. "Representing them, serving them in turn as chairman of the Joint Chiefs would be my great honor."

With two children deployed overseas, Cartwright acknowledged his personal as well as professional commitment to U.S. military operations.

"If confirmed, I will focus all of my effort on the whole of government's efforts to prevail in this global war on terrorism and to support our people in all of their phases of service, and also to try to move forward and look to the future for the capabilities that we're going to need to prevail as we move into the future as a nation," he said.

General James E. Cartwright Commander, U. S. Strategic Command

---

 

General Cartwright assumed his duties as the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command on 9 July 2004.

General Cartwright's previous assignment was as the Director for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment (J-8), the Joint Staff. As director, he supported the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in force structure requirements; studies, analyses, and assessments; and in the evaluation of military forces, plans, programs, and strategies. As secretary of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, he coordinated Joint Staff actions in support of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and represented the interests of the commanders of the combatant commands in requirements generation, acquisition and planning, and programming and budgeting.

General Cartwright was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in November 1971. He attended Naval Flight Officer training and graduated in April 1973. He attended Naval Aviator training and graduated in January 1977. He has operational assignments as an NFO in the F-4, and as a pilot in the F-4, OA-4, and F/A-18.

General Cartwright's operational assignments include: Commanding General, First Marine Aircraft Wing (2000-2002), Deputy Commanding General Marine Forces Atlantic (1999-2000), Commander Marine Aircraft Aircraft Group 31 (1994-1996), Commander Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (1992), Fixed Wing Operations Marine Aircraft Group 24 (1991), Commander Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 (1989-1990), Administration Officer and Officer-In-Charge Deployed Carrier Operations VMFAT-101 (1983-1985), Aircraft Maintenance Officer VMFA-235 (1979-1982), Line Division Officer VMFA-333 USS NIMITZ (1975-1977), Embarkation OIC VMFA-251 & 232 (1973-1975).

General Cartwright's staff assignments include: Director for Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, J-8 the Joint Staff (2002-2004), Directorate for Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, J-8 the Joint Staff (1996-1999), Deputy Aviation Plans, Policy, and Budgets Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps (1993-1994), Assistant Program Manager for Engineering, F/A-18 Naval Air Systems Command (1986-1989).

General Cartwright was named the Outstanding Carrier Aviator by the Association of Naval Aviation in 1983. He graduated with distinction from the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB 1986, and received his Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island 1991. He was selected for and completed a fellowship with Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994.

[A'elian' nation]

Can you see the general sitting before a battery of senators cross-examining him, in front of the cameras . . . ?

Yes, I can see it and wish it would have happened. I would have loved to see Peter Pace having his ‘Ollie North’ moment with the Senate salon slimes.

We need more of these moments when distinguished men of the military are seen for the honor of their ways. We could have easily won that battle with the likes of Reid and his ilk. I wish our military would be allowed to fight at home in front of our cowardly senators as proudly as they do overseas.

We never fight back politically. Unfortunately, the media would instantly stop airing the Senate chamber hearings once they see their dims whipped and shamed by the likes of General Pace.

[Guenevere]

General Pace himself has stated he will not cut & run.

..The administration-(Bush)- wanted him to take an early retirement... to not make waves.

...and principled man of integrity that he is, he declined, saying he will not give the appearance of stepping off the battlefield while men (including his son) are still there.

He told them he wanted to finish his term!!!!

And is it not true, when Bush filled the position Pace is being forced to vacate....

..five generals!! who were asked to take the job, ...refused!!!

I say....'Good on them!'