The Perfect Job for Rahm

by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist


Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has his whine on.  The head of the U.S. Defense Department appears to be beside himself because he has lost control of the "Don't Ask - Don Tell" issue.  Gates is distressed that a federal judge has done what he and his boss, President Obama, have been avoiding for months - brought about an end to this goofball policy aimed at keeping gay military members in the closet.

According to Secretary  Gates, the military needs time to plan and train before making such a momentous change.  He would rather the matter be left in the hands of Congress where it could be ignored and gather dust for another seventeen years.

Well, Bobby, shit happens!  The judge has spoken and its too damned late for your unbecoming petulance.  If you seriously thought that training would be necessary to handle this certain eventuality, you should have started two years ago - on the day that Barack Obama got himself elected Commander in Chief.  Candidate Obama was outspoken in his condemnation of DADT (clue one), and he was very popular among young troops (clue two).  The fact that you have dawdled for two years speaks volumes to your obstinance or cluelessness - or both.

By and large our young soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have no problem serving with openly gay co-workers.  They are way out in front of the brass on this - and they are the future of our military and our nation.

I understand that you are retiring at the end of this year.  It is my sincerest hope that President Obama appoints as your successor someone who has the balls to stand up to the entrenched military establishment and remind them that their bosses are the people of America, and the military will not be run with reckless disregard for the needs and desires of our citizenry.

Recent news reports allude to the President's continuing frustration with our military leadership's absolute refusal to even discuss any options for leaving Afghanistan.  If that is true, the blame must fall squarely at your feet.  If the generals and admirals feel that they are in charge, that can only be based on their disrespect of you, or of your disrespect of President Obama.  Civilian leadership and command of the military seem to be sorely lacking - and you must own that.

Yes, Bobby, it's time for you to go.

Your replacement needs to be a rabid pitbull, a hungry jackal, or a pissed-off rattlesnake.  Your replacement needs to be someone who can turn the Joint Chiefs into a blubbering gaggle of school children with the briefest of memos.  Your replacement needs to be the meanest bastard to ever walk the halls of the Pentagon.

I hope that President Obama has the good sense to replace you with Rahm Emanuel.  Mr. Emanuel, who reportedly never uses the word "mother" as anything but an adjective, could move the military beyond "Don't Ask - Don't Tell" before lunch on his first day - and have a comprehensive plan for ending George Bush's Glory and Oil Wars  by the end of his first week at the Pentagon.

Rahm Emanuel for Secretary of Defense:  It's about putting civilians back in charge of the military - the way the Constitution set it up in the first place!