Anyone who can easily pass bi-partisan scrutiny in this day
and age must have something going. When that same individual seems to be
actually good at his job, that’s a bonus!
The new SecDef is just such a person. His confirmation
sailed through unlike the turbulent experience of some of his predecessors and
he wasted no time to head to ‘the sound of guns’. While we hope the SecDef
doesn’t hear any guns, he certainly headed to the biggest trouble spot.
In the days of videoconferences it is quite reassuring to
see the SecDef meet with his key players live. There is no substitute for person-to-person
contact. While video conferences may be cost effective, they cannot provide the
venue to size some one up and forge the kind of trust that is a part of combat
operations.
I’m also supportive of changing the public face of the
Pentagon. Rear Admiral John Kirby was a successful Pentagon spokesperson.
However, he wore a uniform. There is a certain psychology at work in press
conferences. The Commander-in-Chief is an elected civilian and those serving in
the military are bound to carry out his lawful orders whether or not those
orders are agreed with.
Military personnel consider ourselves straight shooters and
I personally believe that having a civilian in the position of defending
political defense decisions makes a great deal of sense.
Getting back to the SecDef, The
Washington Post (see: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/carter-summons-us-military-commanders-diplomats-to-kuwait/2015/02/22/0d06c36e-baab-11e4-b274-e5209a3bc9a9_story.html)
article addresses the meeting in Kuwait. Attendees are a combination of
military and diplomatic personnel – the team on the ground.
As one ‘anonymous’ staffer was
quoted: ““He’s just the kind of guy who likes to dig.” Let’s hope
that the digging makes its way to the influence battlefield.
(Photo source: http://www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/homepagephoto/2015-02/hires_150223-D-NI589-110.JPG;
Defense Secretary Ash Carter, left, meets with the emir of Kuwait Sabah Al
Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah in Kuwait City, Feb. 23, 2015. DoD photo by Glenn Fawcett)
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