Can/should wrecked military careers be resuscitated by the next pres, who **will** be a Democrat?

[Stinky The Clown]

The generals who have 'resigned' during the bush reign of terror were mostly not ready to do so. They were forced out. That's pretty much common knowledge - except for the war criminal, Tommy Franks.

My question to the DU cognoscenti is this: When the Dems take over the presidency in January of 09, should we offer these fired flag officers a chance to get back in and earn that extra star they all worked their entire life for? The fact is, any flag officer can be called back at any time for any reason.

I guess I'm thinking of guys like John Batiste, who decided that third star was less important to him than speaking out against Il Dunce.

What do you think?

(Note, asking them back is **not** tantamount to increasing the military's power or budget. It is simply rewarding people for doing something that goes toward the realm of selfless acts.)

[BOSSHOG]

1. I'm not sure if they would want to as their lives have moved on but

I'd love to see General Shinseki have a massive retirement ceremony at the White House. One he deserved but wasn't given because of the ignorance, spitefulness, arrogance and hatefulness of his civilian bosses. Imagine a drug addict punk O-2 deserter keeping a four star general from a fitting farewell.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. You're right, Boss, Shinseki was the first and most egregious example

I also agree that for most of them, their lives probably *have* moved on. If I had to guess, I'd guess no more than one or two would even consider going back, let alone actually do it.

It is more about the message such an offer would send. It is yet another example of *actually* supporting the troops, which includes respect.

[sarge43]

7. Concur Boss. n/t

[wakeme2008]

2. I want all Bush's Fundie Officers OUT

But that's my wants..

:)

[TacticalPeek]

4. Eminently reasonable.

Better yet, hire them back to the Absurdly Highly Paid Contractor Corps. After a thorough analysis project they can recommend the downsizing elimination of the bootlickers who went along. They could point out the taxpayer savings for lifetime pensions etc that might result from criminal/UCMJ investigations and incarcerations.

:patriot:

[JohnnyLib2]

5. Based on the past,

I'd expect some of them to turn up in government positions as civilians in the next administration. They may damn well be needed to resuscitate what Bush leaves of the armed forces.


Edit: They WILL damn well be needed............

[sarge43]

6. Yes, they can.

Unless they don't meet basic standards, all military retirees can be returned to active duty.

[SanCristobal]

8. Whats wrong with Franks?

He is the most successful general who served during the Bush administration, and retired after two major and revolutionary victories. Why all the hate?

[salin]

9. um... victory usuallly isn't declared

until the war is over... both of those conflicts are ongoing.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. He failed in his responsibility to push back about his orders to cut and run from Afghanistan

He's a war criminal. Lower level, to be sure, but a war criminal. He belongs in Den Haag, not on some wall of honor somewhere.

[NCarolinawoman]

14. He could have/should have gotten Osama at Tora Bora.

Instead he went along to get along; and opted for Bush's war in Iraq.

[ReadTomPaine]

11. The offer should extend to those outside the military who were forced out..

or accepted resignation rather than betray principle.

Moreover, I'd like to see Bush's appointments in every area of our government yanked out by the root - high profile, public dismissals when appropriate. This should be a fairly exhaustive process; Bush appointments have been numerous and many will be running silent after a shift in power. Breaking their political machine will require this, and more.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. I think we can stay fairly comfortable that the civilian appointees will be gone ....

Its a given that there are hundreds - maybe even thousands - of political appointees that shift every time there's a new president. Even if the new president is from the same party, there is still a near complete turn-out/turn-over of the civilian appointees.

[ReadTomPaine]

13. For the most part this is true, however let's not forget that high profile appointees like Tenant..

Norm Mineta, Louis Freeh, Alan Greenspan and others kept their jobs during executive branch turnovers. Even that short list contains quite a powerful group of holdovers.

Also, follow up changes will need to be made throughout the intelligence community, the structure of the DHS and more to repair the damage the Bush appointments have done, as well as prevent them from being able to easily reenter political life via bureaucratic backdoors and sweetheart deals with the agencies they have helped to shape.

No one can make a mess better than GWB. He is, himself, a weapon of mass destruction.

[NCarolinawoman]

15. Absolutely, for those Generals that have NOT joined the MIC.

Batiste has said he wants no part of this lobbying group, so he should definitely be brought back if he's interested. The only other General I know of that chose not to get involved in the defense industry is Wes Clark. There have to be others. At least I hope there are.