Army General Nicholson should be stripped of his rank. He has no honor. It’s too late for Gen. Kearney, but he also should be publically chastised.
Far too many cowards wearing stars.
Agreed, but....
As a retired field grade officer I understand the complex problems many officer personnel encounter-that they serve at the pleasure of the president and the secretaries of the DOD and more senior flag officers above themselves-lots of pressure to do what they are told in order to be relevant career wise. They fail basic leadership 101- to break problems down into multiple easily defined and solvable problems, the bottom line being that they serve no one but the US Constitution-to protect and defend it from all enemies foreign and domestic, and to obey the laws (that congress passes and the administration enacts).
Having served 23 years of enlisted & commissioned active duty (’83-’06), I can say with certainty that no training I ever encountered said what I summarized in a short paragraph. That is the travesty- the senior officers in the armed services (and all divisions of administration) are so bound in careerism and approval they forget what they signed up for (there are exceptions, however these seldom rise past O-8 (MajGen/RrAdm upper half).
We need a congress that would reinforce the basic premise of service and demand saturation of those basic principle-but alas, we first need a congress that obeys their oaths of office first....
Hmm, I find myself thinking of how in our form of government ( the necessary evil to protect essential and fundamental natural rights of all men)all power resides in the people themselves. Alas.
Major, USA Ret
We’ve all heard or read Gen. Mattis’ quote “I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you [Marine Corps verbiage] with me, I’ll kill you all”
Although I have not had the privilege of speaking with the General and asking him about a couple of issues with which I disagree, I do appreciate his motivating the boots.
As for Nicholson, apologizing at that point probably did more damage in earning the respect of those to whom he was speaking than anything else and we know that is what Petreaus’ COIN strategy was all about.
Nicholson involved here as well: