Is America pursuing a Vietnam like strategy in Afgahnistan? And if it is... should the generals just say no! by Mark Vogl
(conservative)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Today, General Stanley McChrystal, the Army commander in Afghanistan has a meeting with the White House. A lot could be on the table.
Its not just Afghanistan, Rules of engagement, who will command...but there's the question of the President not providing the troops necessary to do the job. There is also"Don't Ask Don't Tell" and an American military exhausted by over stretch, changing world national security concerns, budgetary issues, and a silent but real attack on the culture of the United States military.
One four star general has a lot on his shoulders right now. If he has done his homework...if he knows where the majority of the American military leadership stand on all these issues, and if they are unified in opposition to the Obama style of military leadership...than they can, through one four star send a very strong message to the civilian leadership!
I have oft written articles asking the question; Why does the American military demonstrate a loyalty to the American government unparalleled in history?
I answer by pointing out that in the end American military officers believe in the innate goodness and fairness of the American government. They believe this nation was created by God and doing God's work. They believe in the rightness of majority rule, but the fairness of Constitutional rights. Their loyalty is not firm because of the oath they take, but because of the nation, people and values they serve.
But as the Democrats have moved American domestic and foreign policy further and further from American values, there has to be questions. And if themilitary leadership believes the Obama strategy will needlessly cause the death of soldiers....but will fail (as America did in Vietnam) than their basic loyalty to the nation and the American people and soldiers on the ground may take over.
As one young officer reminded us today on a radio talk show...officers take no oath to any President or individual, but rather to "defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
There are real questions about whether there are enemies to the Constitution in positions of national leadership! It may be time for the nation's guardians to say so...it may be time for the men most responsible for the preservation of the Constitution and the nation to say... you are treading where you should not go...and we wont.
General McChrystal is uniquely placed to measure the men who currently lead this nation, and if they are found wanting, through a single act he can elevate the question to the American people.
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