Comments on: Post-Conventional War Army

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:22:32 +0000

I have a hard time imagining the path to four star leading through military police or the Chief of Naval Operations coming up through the Seabees, vital as those areas are.

Agreed. One's probably not going to be a 4-star as a mission specialist. There's a reason general officers are called general officers, after all. OTOH, one would think stints in SASO ops, including functional areas assignments, could be part of a well-rounded career path.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:20:24 +0000

Regardless, though, we need to revamp the personnel system to reward taking the less glamorous assignments like advisor duty and teaching. Currently, these are viewed as career killers, or at least a path to retirement at lieutenant colonel. That Nagl is widely considered a rising star is an encouraging sign in that regard.

That's absolutely right, James, but I'm concerned that it's an unattainable goal. I have a hard time imagining the path to four star leading through military police or the Chief of Naval Operations coming up through the Seabees, vital as those areas are.

By: Boyd

Boyd — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:08:04 +0000

Your satire is much funnier when you satirize something that someone actually said, Triumph. When you try to project positions onto your opponents without listening to them and having a clue where they really stand, your attempts fall flat.

By: Triumph

Triumph — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:44:26 +0000

Of course, if Clinton had not destroyed the military our intervention in Iraq would have gone swimmingly.

Rummy and Gates are in the unenviable position of putting the military back together after Clinton's effort to undermine it.

If Hillary manages to steal the election next year all of the work that Rummy and Gates have done to strengthen the military will go down the gutter as Clinton 2.0 will disolve American military might in favor of the United Nations.