Hi all,
Our next Q&A newsletter will be going out on Friday — so this is your chance to send me some Q’s!
Election Day is just five weeks away. What’s on your mind in the final stretch? I’m happy to take questions about the midterms, or about any of the topics I’ve covered recently (from pocket rescissions to contempt), or about anything else on your mind in the world of politics and government.
Here’s the link to send a question.
I’m excited to see what you all are curious about!
Gabe
As a veteran, I am concerned by efforts to cut another group of senior officers while we have found ourselves in another war for oil. My thoughts are this effort is akin to an act of Treason as it has two effects.
One is predictive that a culling of senior leadership creates a vacuum in commands forcing more junior staff to step up to bear increasing levels of responsibility they may not be ready for and also that vacuum can be seen as an induced loyalty test. Loyalty to the Constitution is in the blood of everyone in the military. Loyalty tests towards one man don't go over well. That's reason for the Treason and if carried out it's a chargeable offense with a death penalty. UCMJ.
The second is that loss of seniority also affects the senior NCO ranks. That's where the proverbial rubber meets the road in the actual day to day chain of command. By creating a wholesale culling in the ranks can lead to loss of retention at all levels and MOSs, especially in critical occupational billets as people question their motivations for staying in, or by family pressures as the dependent population becomes unduly affected by decisions made in Washington. Which, by the way has already been observed in local news coverage if you're living in a population with much military presence. Creating a deleterious effect that weakens morale to a great extent, disrupts missions critical operations or forces components into unnecessary harm without reason and malice with forethought enters into the realm of Treason.... Especially, during a period of armed conflict, which arguably we are currently involved in with Iran.
In total, whatever the motivation of Washington really is in reducing upper level command level officers, and noting also that this is the second time, it appears to be not just a culling and a commensurate reduction in force (during a war), but more of a purge as seen in countries attempting a totalitarian takeover. Therefore, the argument would seem to be more about Treason.
Your thoughts?
What is your favorite political movie or TV show?