Posted on 11/10/2005 1:37:14 PM PST by libstripper
The Army Reserve officer who went public with details about a secret military unit called Able Danger is being fired from his post at the Defense Intelligence Agency, a move that also could end his military career.
Attorney Mark Zaid, representing Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, was informed last week that the agency rejected an Oct. 19 appeal of its decision to revoke his client's top-secret security clearance
(Excerpt) Read more at tampatrib.com ...
Why is the mere existence of a unit made top secret?
The answer is, that classification, which once had a real utility, is now a political tool and something that bungling Pentagon bureaucrats can use to avoid accountability to the taxpaying public.
Well, Steel told us why he thought that was the case, how about filling us in on why this isn't so?
I know of at least one officer that was promoted to general that I wouldn't let manage a Dairy Queen under the Clinton reign. And yet, there she was...
Thanks
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Respect your assessment, sir, but also respectfully disagree.
I'm not talking about promotion boards. Promotability depends on the billets you're appointed to, as well as your execution in those billets (obviously). If you don't get the billets, you'll be behind your peers.
In my case, I was promoted ahead of my peers because I had picked billets no one else wanted, which were considered the "kiss of death" for promotion when I was an 03 & 04. A sea-change in priorities within the Navy occurred as well as a brief demographic dip, which put me on the fast track. I just happened to fit the profile the boards were looking for when I was promoted. Other than that, I was an "average" officer.
From conversations I had with a few guys I knew at the Pentagon) as well as some more personal things I can't reveal, I held the firm conclusion in 1995 that CO, XO, and certain department head billets had new "political" criteria attached to them after '94. I was never passed over or failed to be selected to the billets I pursued, but I'm sure that the entire process - from the composition of promotion boards to billet detailing - changed radically.
Let me put it another way, using Tailhook as but one example: A lot of very good officer's where cashiered. Would you rather have had 4-5 FITREP's signed by one of these guys, or some politically correct bum in the Pentagon who attended all the correct parties, conferences, and social events. Would a guy who had the "wink-wink" correct political attitude be a better asset during your next promotion board than a warrior who was just cashiered for "Tailhook" occurring on his watch?
The honest answer is that promotion depends upon more than just competence. You have to be selected to the right billets, and the board must be inclined to recognize that your demonstrated competence is of value to the service. That changed in my favor between 1989-1994, and it killed a lot of guys when it changed in the leftist-favor between 1994-2000.
SFS
"How low can we go, Mr. Speaker? How low can we go??"
All I can say is that the many years I spent there and through first-hand observation of the scene, left-of-center or right-of-center made absolutely no difference in either promotions or assignments. Now, that's not the same as saying some dunder-heads advanced beyond their capabilities. Simply put, one's politics was totally irrelevant......
How cute, you still think there are two different parties. ;-)
Two Words for you....(Ashley Wilkes) General Clark.</sarcasm>
Ummm.. I think it is now going to get even MORE attention.
From your mouth to God's ear! This is one of the worst scandals in the history of the Republic. I'm just worried too many powerful people have lined up against it, and as usual, not enough Republicans have the stones to dig in and go after it.
So are we. My husband just said "What the hell is wrong with Republican politicians". I said "Who the hell knows. We voted the bums in and look what they do".
BINGO!
Now ask yourself what the possible reasons for this might be and who has the stroke to make this happen....
It's a rather upsetting thing to consider...
"Let me put it another way, using Tailhook as but one example"
Right on. I am personally acquainted with several good Navy officers who were picked for promotion to 1 star positions and whose promotions were held up for quite a while as a result of Tailhook even though they had no part in the shenanigans. I'm happy to say that in the end they all made it. One ended up as a 3 star. Yes, the DOD is full of politicos--some in uniform, some not in uniform.
Because there are Clinton leftovers still in the Pentagon who don't want the truth to come out and point the finger at Clinton .. especially with Hillary wanting to be president.
"What, IN THE NAME OF GOD, is wrong with the Pentagon when Able Danger could rip the entire lid off the DemonRat party??"
Maybe you just ansered your own question. Since when is the DOD on the side of the republicans?
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