Reply #30: The OP makes a good point - Gen. M really didn't actually say anything that is insubordinate - but, [View All]

[leveymg]

he clearly tolerates a culture of insubordination and wisecracking disrespect by his aides. There is one "top advisor", in particular, who's comments are beyond impolitic and really could be categorized as such (and possibly chargeable) under the UCMJ. All that Gen. M had to do was say, "watch your mouth while the journalist is around." But, apparently he didn't, or the message wasn't received.

Look, we have to understand that all these remarks were on "deep background", but as is so often the case with journalists, that "rule" isn't observed. Things that are said on the spur of the moment by the water cooler often get back to the boss. Managers, like Generals, can catch hell for what subordinates say. Gen. M seems to have not cared about, or thought he was above, that rule of common sense bureaucratic survival. He's now catching hell for it, even if it is just a convenient excuse for Top Management to close down a losing product line.

That's all this is - office politics with Hellfire missiles.