More than a dozen top former Pentagon officials are raising their concerns about the “exceptionally challenging civilian-military environment” based on the “extreme strain” of the COVID-19 pandemic and political polarization.
The signatories of the letter, which include eight former secretaries of defense and five former Joint Chiefs of Staff leaders, referenced the conclusions of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan “without all the goals satisfactorily accomplished,” the coronavirus pandemic, and the “divisiveness of affective polarization” that resulted “in the first election in over a century when the peaceful transfer of political power was in doubt” as contributing factors to the strain.
Two former Trump administration defense secretaries, Mark Esper and James Mattis, signed the letter, as did former secretaries Ash Carter, William Cohen, Robert Gates, Chuck Hagel, Leon Panetta, and William Perry. The former Joint Staff chairmen who participated were retired Gens. Martin Dempsey, Joseph Dunford Jr., Richard Myers, and Peter Pace and retired Adm. Michael Mullen.
They also noted that"military officials are required to carry out legal orders the wisdom of which they doubt," adding:"Civilian officials should provide the military ample opportunity to express their doubts in appropriate venues. Civilian and military officials should also take care to properly characterize military advice in public. Civilian leaders must take responsibility for the consequences of the actions they direct.
The group of former DOD leaders includes defense secretaries who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Mullen, who was the Joint Chiefs chairman under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, told the Washington Post that he's concerned the United States is “on the threshold of losing a democracy,” adding, “We live in remarkably confusing times, and clarity on this issue is very important.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scheller: Military Leaders Promoted for Pleasing Bosses, Not PerformanceMarine veteran Scheller, the lieutenant colonel who was fired and jailed after calling for accountability from military leaders for the Afghanistan withdrawal, said today’s military leaders are promoted based on pleasing their bosses, not performance.
Read more »
'Don't Worry Darling' Review: Olivia Wilde's Thriller Girlbosses When It Should've Sucker-Punched | Venice 2022'Don't Worry Darling' girlbosses when it should've sucker-punched, but Florence Pugh and Harry Styles are just fine. Our VeniceFilmFestival review:
Read more »
Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling: First Reviews Praise Florence Pugh'Do worry, darling.' Critics praise FlorencePugh, not much else in the first reviews for director Olivia Wilde's DontWorryDarling at Venice79:
Read more »
Military reserves, civil defense worry Taiwan as China loomsTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Chris Chen, a former captain in Taiwan's military, spent a lot of time waiting during his weeklong training for reservists in June. Waiting for assembly, waiting for lunch, waiting for training, he said.
Read more »
No time to waste, worried Italian business leaders warn politiciansItaly cannot afford weeks of political inertia after an election this month, business chiefs said, adding that sky-high energy prices are already forcing more and more firms to curtail production.
Read more »