Timing is everything

It was one of those strange convergences of time and space that sometimes happen in life.

On Thursday, I noticed whilst screening the headlines on Foxnews.com, that the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Harry Reid, had made disparaging comments about the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, USMC. Specifically, he called the general "incompetent", and noted that others, such as Sen. Carl Levin, democrats all, had made similar observations.

That evening, I had the pleasure of attending a "conversation with the chairman" at the Joint Forces Staff College. Here, General Pace had a discussion with about 500 students and guests, and answered questions in a very forthright and honest way.

The final question posed to him that evening, by a member of the local (Norfolk) radio media, asked about his feelings on not being renominated for another 2 years as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. His answer showed to all in attendance that while he was undoubtedly personally disappointed, his loyalties are to the institution of the US military, and the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines that selflessly serve our nation in peace and war.

General Pace has served in the United States Marine Corps for 40 years. His leadership positions have spanned every level from a platoon leader in combat in the jungles of Vietnam, to his current post at the pinnacle of the military hierarchy. Simply put, you don't get to that level, or that longevity, by being "incompetent" as Sen. Reid suggests. All Sen. Reid has to do to get to his position is hoodwink his constituents once every 6 years. General Pace has had to live a life of devoted service, avoiding the real and professional minefields along the way. And, he had to be ratified by the Senate 3 times in the past 6 years... I bet Sen. Reid voted for him each of those times.

But, rather than engage in a personal jousting match with Sen. Reid and others, Gen. Pace advised his boss, the Secretary of Defense, that he would fight the good fight if that was what the SECDEF desired, but that the SECDEF needed to do what was best for the institution of the US Defense Department. Additionally, he would not retire in lieu of the fight, but would retire once the announcement that he would not be renominated.... he couldn't let the soldiers in the field think that he was quitting the fight voluntarily, or as he said "I have to be told that my service is no longer required"

Our military has long held the position that we are apolitical. Our civilian masters rightly demand that we avoid political partisanship, and when we are asked our professional military opinion, we give it without regard to the politics involved. This is as it should be.

Should not Sen. Reid, et al, also avoid politicizing the military leadership, dragging distinguished, experienced professionals like Generals Pace and Petraeus into the current mudslinging against the administration that the democrats have seemingly substituted for substance?

Sen. Reid currently holds an abysmally low approval rating via several polls. Perhaps his constituents in Nevada will not return him to the senate the next time he comes up for election... hopefully the good citizens of that state will realize that personal attacks on the military who serve them are not only wrong, but unwarranted and unseemly .

Concerned Patriot.