General Mark Milley; Kabul, Afghanistan … FUBAR

This is hard to think about; the tragic and stumbling withdrawal from Afghanistan resulting in the needless death and injury to US military personnel.  One feels incredibly sad (and angry) for the families.  This shouldn’t have happened.  Inept leadership was responsible.

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 11^th 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.