Posted by
Always To The Right on Tuesday, October 06, 2009 3:42:33 PM
How soon liberals forget: Is McChrystal the new Shinseki?
The principle of civilian control means that once the competent
civilian authorities have made a binding decision, military leaders are
obligated to support it and carry it out. If they cannot in good
conscience do so, they should resign. The principle does not
mean that military leaders are barred from publicly expressing their
best judgment as to the strategy and tactics best suited to the problem
at hand before the civilian authorities have made their decision.
The current situation is entirely different. McChrystal is offering his
professional judgment well in advance of a presidential decision.