There is only one way for senior military leaders and political appointees to object publicly to the president's decisions: submit their resignation. Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice specifically prohibits commissioned officers from using contemptuous words against the president and certain other public officials, and, for civilian political appointees, showing public disagreement with the president would certainly result in dismissal.
Yet, despite the strategic blunder created by the president in precipitously abandoning Afghanistan, neither Gen. Lloyd Austin, the secretary of defense, nor Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has submitted his resignation. Rather, both have acquiesced to the president's assertion that there was a "unanimous recommendation" from the U.S. national security team that shuttering Bagram Air Base and conducting a chaotic retreat from Afghanistan through Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) was the right course of action. As we saw unfolding through the clear lens of hundreds of smartphones, media cameras, and eyewitness reports, the unscripted retreat from Afghanistan was an abysmal tactical and strategic mistake, which led to the unnecessary deaths of thirteen U.S. servicemen, an angry and questioning multi-national coalition, and thousands of disgusted military veterans and service members.
The case for resignation is strong, and
resignations are necessary to restore not only the personal credibility
of those resigning, but also the pre-eminence of the U.S. military among
the world's global competitors. Let's review:.............To Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment