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Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,788,601 times
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As President Obama has said - while he will listen to his military generals the fundamental mission has changed and that he fully expects them to carry out his orders and goals.
Military leaders do not have a great record of carrying out the orders of their civilian Commanders. Well known Generals have had to be relieved of duty even back in the days of Lincoln who had to fire McClellan. One of the most well known firings was when Truman fired Gen MacArtur.
When not released, they often cause trouble and try to undermine the President as they did JFK who had to go to the extreme measure of going around the Generals and giving direct orders to lower ranked captains and officers during the Cuban crisis.
This brings up the question as to how much Barrack Obama is prepared to tolerate on the part of his military leadership. There is no doubt that the Generals are going to "test" President Obama- either by challenging him or by doing things that are opposite his policies.
Is he prepared to fire Generals? Even popular ones like Petraus if necessary?
The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts
upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command!
The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it,
will suffer defeat:--let such a one be dismissed!
I don't think any of the generals, but Petreaus in particular, are going to challenge any president. They'll advise, they'll urge him or her to listen to their expert opinion, but ultimately they will salute and execute. The principal of civilian supermacy is sacrosanct to the American way of life.
"There is no doubt that the Generals are going to "test" President Obama- either by challenging him or by doing things that are opposite his policies."
After George W Bush's valor in defending Alabama during the Vietnam war, sadly, all successors will fall short.
George Bush is smart enough to let the military run the military. It is scary that Obama is already thinking he knows more than the professionals that do this for a lifelong career.
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the Art of War
