[xzins]

I do agree with your separation of military leaders into warriors and politicos. That's as good an insight as any.

I don't know Franks or Abazaid. It's not uncommon to give a peacetime commander a warrior deputy AND vice versa.

[dk/coro]

The difference in mind-set between the two types is startling.

I had the pleasure of joining an old warrior -- Admiral Tom Moorer -- as his Personal Aide for a short tour in 1967 as a young commander between tours in SEA as a Naval Aviator.

I had an unusual vantage point in my capacity that year -- and observed 3 and 4 star officers "up close and personal" -- often running interference for the boss; And tightening up his schedule to keep these turkeys off his back.

IMHO, placing the bean counters in a position of operational authority will --without exception -- cause enormous grief --in loss of lives -- but also in morale, retention, and general effectiveness/economy of mission.

Admiral Zumwalt and Admiral Boorda are classic examples of failed leadership -- and both were most adequate as senior "staff pukes", but failed miserably as CNO's. At enormous cost to the Naval Sevice, I might add.

Further, a close perusal of their career patterns (Zumwalt and Boorda) should have signalled this "slating" problem to even marginally competent Naval planners. They blew it wretchedly.

Shame on us !! I took early retirement as a Captain to protest cumulative and blatant operational ineptness --such as (Zumwalt) flagging a four-star SUBMARINER to head the Pacific Fleet during the height of a Naval AIR war in Tonkin Gulf. "Undambelievable" , but it happened.

[archy]

I do agree with your seperation of military leaders into warriors and politicos. That's as good an insight as any.

I'd like to have two armies: one for display with tanks, guns, little soldiers, staffs, distinguished and doddering Generals, and dear little regimental officers, who would be deeply concerned over the General's bowel movements or their colonel's piles: an army that would be shown for a modest fee on every fairground in the country.

The other would be the real one, composed entirely of young enthusiasts in camoflauge uniforms, who would not be put on display, but from whom, impossible efforts would be demanded, and to whom all sorts of tricks would be taught. That's the Army in which I should like to fight.

Jean Larteguy; The Centurions, 1962