If you're an example of what the military has now degenerated into, no wonder we are fucked. Blame the civilian element of the pentagon and not the military? WTF. Milley and his crew have no culpability in any of this mess, who think that CRT is the most important thing on the plate?
This, after the intel community told them it was a bad idea to not use Bagram AFB and not wait until August to leave? May was the original planned departure time, Per Trump's plan. Reports of how all of the joint chief assholes were afraid to tell a demented president that his plan was bad, and left at least $85B of military hardware for the enemy?
For you to say that there is no blood on the hands of the woke military and that they followed the orders perfectly, shows that your brains were sucked out and shit put in. Welcome to the ranks of Hitler's SS, as you have passed the course with flying colors and are willing to follow orders no matter how morally and ethically vacuous they may be.
I look forward to the day that you are kicking in my door and shooting me in the head because I have a garden in my backyard..............I'm just following orders, Sir. Oh, and don't forget the trophy photo of you and your team showing your handy work. I'm sure mom would be so proud of her little junior.
I 100% agree with the spirit of your post.
The decision to handle this operation they way it was by Biden has been a disaster with serious and perhaps irreparable damage to US prestige and the lives of many involved. But is still his decision. I think Biden and his minions lied to many people in many directions to get their way into this disaster. But that's not my point.
Civilian control of the military is a critical component of our political system and culture going all the way back to George Washington and then all the way back to Greece.
The Biden Whitehouse and its NSC Staff set policy and make decisions. Not the Pentagon. The JCS (Milley and other Chiefs) assists the NSC with options and planning, working with the CCs, but they do not make the decisions. They also do not execute. That is up to the Combatant Commanders, ie Centom, Pacom, Southcom, etc.
The President and NSC ultimately give commands to the CCs not to Milley or others. Milley is a figurehead at best. He does control training, long term planning, and can provide advice, but he is not in charge.
Lloyd Austin as SecDef runs the military. Its his show.
At the end of the day its President -> Secretary of Defense (+NSC) -> Combatant Commands -> Operational Commander (Joint) -> Manuever Units/Joint Forces. Usually there is an interlock with state department, Marines, CIA, and other governments.
For each operation, the commander on the ground will be given a set of instructions and intent and then the operation will be initiated with all the support and contingencies around it. Those instructions are called orders. And cannot be changed without approval from high command.
This is not a civilian thing where you go to Burger King instead of Starbucks. They are called orders. They are followed. And there are very good and practical reasons why.
For something this big to happen, all the forces and the logistics commands must be synchronized days in advance. And then managed with fuel, supplies, pare parts, maintenance staff, controllers, etc all flowed forward. And Afghanistan is the hardest place in the world to conduct Corps Level operations and and a major air bridge. All is set in motion and controlled around the parameters of the decisions made by the NSC and the CCs.
The ground commander cannot make decisions on his own without seriously endangering his command and all the forces in support.
For example, there is an air tanker synchronization that has to occur to fly heavy transport and air support. Not taking off on the agreed time table and meeting that tanker will place all the tankers and all other systems in the air at risk. That will also then have ramifications for the air support overhead and all the recon. And then inflowing supplies like food and water and spares. Something heading south can lead to a chain reaction.
That scene where the C17 took off in the crowd was almost certainly to meet a refueling window. Or be stranded. A fully loaded C17 needs a lot of fuel and its not going to take off full of fuel. It will take off 1/4 or even 1/8 full and need two tankers to make it 4K miles. Those tankers cannot wait around. They run in racetracks and then have to head back.
This is just one example of the mechanics why orders are followed. There are lots of others.
I can tell you that in the last 24 hours of this operation, everyone's hands are tied. Even if they wanted to, and could, they cannot. There is a hard timetable to get out securely.
So, it is a long way from Centcom dealing with a difficult situation to someone in the 82nd kicking in your door.
Yeah, Biden is a drooling psychopath. And he has found a lot of submissive losers with which to surround himself.
But he has also revealed who he is to everyone that matters. And the next few months will also sort out the rest of the true colors.
The way forward is not to go back in the bunker and mutter about door kickers, but to see the mistakes made and the lessons to be learned. And what opportunities there are to fix it. And to support those who want to fix it.
Flagging me and the majority of the rest of the military with your keyboard is not constructive. Have some faith.
Sen Cotton and Glenn Beck and the downstream ex-mil doing the work today are the ones to support and praise. And the CIA which was able to run its own show under the covers. Go over to their sites and donate some money. These men and women represent the best in America and the best in the military.
