Admiral Mike Mullen, recently retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared on CBS Sunday Morning yesterday. For those not familiar with all that military stuff, the Joint Chiefs Chairman is a BFD (Big Fancy Dude.)
Adm Mullen and I have something in common; he gets grumpy when he is tired. Me too. It seems we experienced slightly different results from that behavior.
The most touching part of his appearance was evidence of his sincere feelings for those we have lost in our current wars. He wears a bracelet 24/7 with the name of one lost fighter, as a reminder of all those lost. Admiral Mullen is apparently a regular visitor to Arlington National Cemetery, and recently, with his wife, planted a tree in the section of that cemetery where those from the current wars are laid to rest.
Admiral Mullen feels strongly about getting our troops what they deserve. Something else we share.
I will add one thing to that list that the Admiral did not mention (and rarely gets mentioned by anyone.) How about some adult leadership? No, I am not talking about the military leadership; I speak of the civilian side of the equation.
It seems to me that if we expect millions of enlisted folks from diverse backgrounds and widely varied educational levels to come together as highly proficient team members not only in war zones, but in all other places and conditions which they serve world-wide, we should expect (demand) the same of the highly educated and highly compensated puffballs in Congress.
Yes, our military troops deserve much. We should remind our politicians that these troops first and foremost deserve civilian leaders who behave like adults and bring pride to this country for which our troops sacrifice daily.
Senators and Representatives, I will tell you what I and millions of others (including Mullen in years past) have heard over long careers: “There’s a job to do. Suck it up and get it done.”
Adm Mullen and I have something in common; he gets grumpy when he is tired. Me too. It seems we experienced slightly different results from that behavior.
The most touching part of his appearance was evidence of his sincere feelings for those we have lost in our current wars. He wears a bracelet 24/7 with the name of one lost fighter, as a reminder of all those lost. Admiral Mullen is apparently a regular visitor to Arlington National Cemetery, and recently, with his wife, planted a tree in the section of that cemetery where those from the current wars are laid to rest.
Admiral Mullen feels strongly about getting our troops what they deserve. Something else we share.
I will add one thing to that list that the Admiral did not mention (and rarely gets mentioned by anyone.) How about some adult leadership? No, I am not talking about the military leadership; I speak of the civilian side of the equation.
It seems to me that if we expect millions of enlisted folks from diverse backgrounds and widely varied educational levels to come together as highly proficient team members not only in war zones, but in all other places and conditions which they serve world-wide, we should expect (demand) the same of the highly educated and highly compensated puffballs in Congress.
Yes, our military troops deserve much. We should remind our politicians that these troops first and foremost deserve civilian leaders who behave like adults and bring pride to this country for which our troops sacrifice daily.
Senators and Representatives, I will tell you what I and millions of others (including Mullen in years past) have heard over long careers: “There’s a job to do. Suck it up and get it done.”
