Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testifies with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C., Sept. 4, 2013. DOD photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sean K. Harp
A War The Pentagon Doesn’t Want -- Robert H. Scales, Washington Post
Robert H. Scales, a retired Army major general, is a former commandant of the U.S. Army War College.
The tapes tell the tale. Go back and look at images of our nation’s most senior soldier, Gen. Martin Dempsey, and his body language during Tuesday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings on Syria. It’s pretty obvious that Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, doesn’t want this war. As Secretary of State John Kerry’s thundering voice and arm-waving redounded in rage against Bashar al-Assad’s atrocities, Dempseywas largely (and respectfully) silent.
Dempsey’s unspoken words reflect the opinions of most serving military leaders. By no means do I profess to speak on behalf of all of our men and women in uniform. But I can justifiably share the sentiments of those inside the Pentagon and elsewhere who write the plans and develop strategies for fighting our wars. After personal exchanges with dozens of active and retired soldiers in recent days, I feel confident that what follows represents the overwhelming opinion of serving professionals who have been intimate witnesses to the unfolding events that will lead the United States into its next war.
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My Comment: This blog knows a large number of military personnel who are serving (and have served) in the US military. I get emails everyday .... both supportive and critical .... and their feedback on military issues is always appreciative. On the issue of the U.S. launching a military strike against Syria .... I will be blunt ..... no one has been openly and vocally supportive of going to war. Instead .... I have been told in a number of correspondences that everyone is going through the motions .... doing their duty .... but when given the time to think about it .... this is a path that they do not want to pursue.
