Here’s a question for you? Can you discern the difference between President-elect Trump’s nominees for cabinet and staff positions this time vice his first go round? Think hard. What is missing this time that there was more than one of last time? Jeopardy theme plays in you head…
And the question is: What are retired generals?
In October I wrote a post titled “Generals” wherein I explained how generals did not make good post military choices for high office with perhaps the exception of George Marshall who performed admirably as Secretary of State and Dwight Eisenhower who was a capable if not exuberant President. Former Marine Commandant Kelly’s ego clashed with then President Trump’s and we know that when two egos collide there will be internecine warfare. Just as Trump, who really isn’t a Republican (just ask Dick Cheney or Paul Ryan) but an independent who has captured the discontents of the Republican party and not a few independents, is a disruptive force in politics so too the Pentagon had a chance to develop disruptive technologies for war fighting but has failed.
The Pentagon is good at running the Princeton four square offense time killing offense (before the advent of the shot clock) and will attempt to do so this time while waiting out Trump’s four years in office. If, however, Trump carries through on the promise of reviewing all flag officers and dismisses those who are resistant to change, then there might be some movement.
Questions to ask: Why does the Navy have more admirals than ships? Why do we need departments of the Air Force, Navy and Army when such duties could be handled out of the Department of Defense at the assistant secretary level. Why doesn’t the military have one set of forms and one administrative branch to handle all members of the military? Why are generals always fighting the last war? Why do we continue to need attack aircraft with crews? Have aircraft carriers simply become large floating targets? Is the main battle tank obsolete? Why isn’t the Defense Advanced Project Agency larger and better funded? Why didn’t the Pentagon see the utility of Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV) and Drone Aircraft before now? Why was it the first armed RPV in the US arsenal was created by the CIA and not the military? Who screwed up Afghanistan? Who drew up the withdrawal plan?
All these questions and more need to be answered quickly and procedures and people put in place to preclude such things in the future. But it won’t be left to the generals and admirals. They’ve had their chance.
And that’s why you don’t see a single retired four star general in Trump’s new cabinet or staff.
I value your opinions so please comment. If I’m wrong give me some facts as to why.