Posted on 08/20/2004 1:03:25 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
In the good old days of the 20th century, generals and admirals for the most part steered clear of politics and politicians and political parties. Many of them as a matter of principle wouldn't even vote in the elections of the country they defended.
Until Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower decided to seek the presidency, no one even knew whether he was a Republican or a Democrat.
Some say that they date the change in flag officer attitudes toward politics to Eisenhower's reorganization and cutback in the Army in the late 1950s. Two respected generals, Matthew Ridgeway and James Gavin, resigned in protest and spoke out against the Pentomic Army, another flawed experiment with the institution.
A cluster of five Civil War officers won the presidency after their war – Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur and Benjamin Harrison. Three others – George McClellan, Winfield Scott and Winfield Scott Hancock – won nominations but lost their elections.
Only one general, Eisenhower, won the office in the 20th century. Two others, Leonard Wood and Douglas MacArthur, widely advertised their availability, but no one came calling. Many believed Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf and his boss in the Gulf War, Gen. Colin Powell, would seek the office. Neither did, and some say that the country might have been better off if even one of them had.
Standing up, saying your piece and running for office is the right of all Americans, including retired generals and admirals. And we can only wish that more who wear stars would resign in protest when their civilian political masters get things wrong, and go public with their arguments against the kind of folly that costs soldiers their lives.
What is unseemly and undignified is the way both political parties are trotting out their four-star supporters in this election season. The Democrats put a dozen generals and admirals on the podium at their convention, backing Sen. John Kerry. The Republicans say they will bring out a hundred retired flag officers to back the re-election of President Bush.
Shame on the parties for using the retired officers in this fashion; shame on the retired officers for letting themselves be so used.
There is a worry that this unseemly display sends a message to those still wearing the uniform on active duty that it is all right to be political, to declare for a party and a candidate, when it is not. That the polarization and division of the country may infect the institution that defends it.
Participating in such a political spectacle further diminishes what respect the public still has for its retired generals and admirals – what respect survives after watching many of them walk out of the Pentagon and straight onto the boards of defense industries. The worst of them, the Beltway Bandits, pimp their friends still on active duty for this or that weapons system or aircraft or aircraft carrier.
For the sake of the country and the sake of their profession, the retired generals and admirals ought to steer clear of endorsing parties and candidates. Speak out on defense issues? You bet. Vote in November? Sure.
March and strut for the political hacks? No way.
Galloway is the senior military correspondent for Knight Ridder Newspapers and co-author of the national best-seller "We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young."
Galloway ping.
Agree or disagree he does make some excellent points.
When using this phrase, shouldn't it be spelled "say your peace," and not "say your piece?" Do I have that wrong?
BUMP FOR SUPPORT SWIFTVETS AD 2... http://swift2.he.net/~swift2/sellout.mpg
If Mr. Galloway is really worried about the loss of respect for former flag officers, I think he should focus on those who become TV analysts -- not on those who endorse political candidates. A lot of them said some pretty silly things during the invasion of Iraq.
Of course, I don't think Mr. Galloway is worried about the respect level for these former officers -- I think he has other concerns on his mind. (I think he doesn't want voters to know about the huge support for the president by those who have served in uniform.)
You have brought up excellent points, thank you. I must tell you, I worry who will be CIC in 15 years. So few in Congress have served.
They are so good at offering their opinion but have they actually been on the front.
Retired officers can offer their thoughts. I really do not know how much folks put into their words though.
Of all the things I worry about for the future of our country, I don't worry about lack of military experience of future presidents. I think our history has shown that presidents without extensive wartime experience can be some of our best, even in times of war -- like Lincoln, and Reagan, and the wartime policies (not domestic policies) of Roosevelt.
Maybe our worst wartime president was LBJ. He had combat experience, and it made him think he was qualified to do tactical target selection from the White House. Big mistake.
Later, Pres. Roosevelt insisted that all Congressmen and Senators who were doing the same - go inactive, and return to Congress to do the necessary business of Congress.
LBJ's artificial Silver Star was probably allowed to curry favor (Gen. MacArthur endorsed it). LBJ was an observer, and the only one on the plane that got the award.
So LBJ's military experience was similar to much of his other life - FRAUDULENT!! (He was probably instrumental in the fraudulant 1960 election where Texas - which was expected to go solid for Nixon, ended up in JFK's column after some strange behind-the-door dealings at various polling places.)
Mike
I've heard that his Silver Star was "controversial," but I don't know anything more than that. I guess it just goes to show that simply because someone has a combat medal like a Silver Star, it doesn't mean they'll be good (or even competent) as a president.
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I knew a retiring Army O-5 who used VA benefits to go to golf pro school.
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