On Rumsfeld

I've always had two minds about Rumsfeld. His gruff approach to flag officers was always counter-productive. (There was the irony of a few generals and admirals getting back what they long gave to their subordinates.) I suspect a lot of that animosity grew from Rumsfeld's frustration at the "in the box" thinking that characterizes the ground forces, especially the army. Although he once told a soldier that you go to war with the army you have, Rumsfeld expected emerging technologies to be bigger combat multipliers than they were.

CAPT Honors; What's Important

Three points. First, this incident should be viewed in context. However these videos appear to outsiders, consideration for Honors' intent and purpose should have figured in the court of public opinion. Did Honors help his CO maintain a good command climate aboard the Enterprise? Most who served with Honors say yes.

Second, can Honors fight? That's the reason he was selected to command the Enterprise. His superiors had to give Honors glowing efficiency reports for him to command one of eleven carriers in the navy. After appointing Grant commander of the Union Army, Lincoln took flack because of Grant's reputation as a boozer. "He fights," was all Lincoln replied. 

Third, what is the "chilling effect" of all this? Far too many flag officers now are little more than corporate cheerleaders; humorless, with little personality. This latest wussification of the military will be a natural selector for more higher level drones, devoid of imagination and calculating every move based on the risk to their careers.