President-Elect Obama selects retired Army Gen. Eric K. Shinseki as his Secretary of Veteran's Affairs. Shenseki is most famous for estimating that it would take several hundred thousand troops to stabilize Iraq in the aftermath of an invasion -- and being forced out by Rumsfeld when he told the truth to Congress.
Honesty. Competence. And someone who doesn't underestimate the size of the tasks ahead of him. Exactly what we need for making sure our veterans get everything they need.
As for those wondering why Shinseki (or any of a number of other retired generals) are not in the running for Secretary of Defense: There is a tradition, backed by law, that you don't put a retired general as SecDef unless at least ten years have passed since he has worn the uniform. That is to prevent a Praetorian Guard situation. The civilian leadership is in charge of the Pentagon, not the generals, and a general swapping his uniform for a business suit in order to lead the Department of Defense is not the sort of thing that should happen in a democracy where the military is under civilian control.
-- Badtux the News Penguin
Firstly, a military man, ex or otherwise, should never be a SecDef. For that matter, a police (person?), ex or otherwise, should never be chief of police. (nor should police do their own questioning.. it should be done by parties interested in defending the questioned, not incriminating them.)
ReplyDeleteSecondly, anyone who thinks of military action as a means to an end (other then at the scene (here) defense of home against outside aggression) should _not_ be a choice for any leadership position. Iraq never needed invading & does not now need further military action. Disposing Saddam was always a red herring.
>where the military is under civilian control
I'm sorry, did I miss something? Perhaps you refer to the state of big business controlling it..
As for Sec Va Affairs, Shenseki's as good as any.. (I'm a vet)
Those who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
Aw c'mon, look at the loyal Bushies. Not one has faced even a day in jail for their crimes. And this is a bunch of draft-dodging Jesus U 'graduates'. Think of how much mor could be accomplished with 'ring-knockers'.
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How about a 'Special Penguins Forces'?
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