What can one say? Will General Mark Milley write a letter to the families of those who died? Doubtful. That duty will be forced on some ‘underling.’ And, if absolutely required, a machine or an NCO will sign Milley’s name. Will he admit that he oversaw and directed one of the worst fiascos in military history? And, that as a result, admit failure, do the honorable thing, and retire? Doubtful? Will he be given another meaningless medal to pin on his vastly overstuffed uniform? Probably. Will he accept it and consider the medal a great honor, earned honorably? Yes, without doubt.
As they say in the
military, the evacuation was FUBAR*.
What can one say about the President? Who, might I ask, is in the background
propping him up and scripting his speeches?
I noticed he had to remind us once again that his older son served in
Afghanistan. Reminded us I suppose (how
could we possibly forget it) to lend a note of empathy to the families that
lost loved ones in this tragedy. How
dare he? Perhaps, we should also recall
that his younger son was kicked out of the military for drug abuse.
And when the ‘festivities’ begin, the hollow speeches and
other nonsense transpires on September 11th 2021 – let us hang our
heads in shame.
As a personal aside, I wanted to add an experience I had in
the military – nothing like what I talked about above, nothing like that – just
a vignette from my life. I was a lowly Air
Force Lieutenant on temporary assignment to Chu Lai, Vietnam. It was 1968, shortly after Tet. I was having lunch at a table in the chow
hall and a Marine Major sat down with his lunch, saying “Mind if I join you?” I said, “No Sir that’s fine” as I stood up. He said, “sit Lieutenant.”
This was a Marine base, and he asked why I was there? I explained we were delivering updated tactical
communications and navaids equipment to the flight line – that it’s now
operational, and that we have almost completed revetting. It became clear that he principally wanted to
lecture me on the many differences between the Marine Corp and the Air
Force. I listened but didn’t say much. One comment stuck with me. “You know Lieutenant, if you were a Marine, I
could send you to attack a hill with your unit – knowing full well that you and
your guys would probably all be killed in the effort – and not think twice
about it.” I didn’t respond, other than “Yes
Sir.” As the years have passed, I always
remembered a part of his lecture… ‘and not think twice about it.’ I wonder… Is this the nature of military officers who ultimately become Generals?
True Nelson
*Military acronym meaning:
F..ked-Up Beyond All Reason or Repair.
