I am very proud that since releasing my book Crisis of Command three months ago, we sold over 22K copies, and we did that without great store placement. We made the USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-seller list. For the rest of my life, I will continue seeking the reforms outlined in the book. But my vision is, and always has been, about the future. My writing, focus, and thoughts are being pulled forward… as I hope we all feel. 2022, for me, was all about closing a chapter. 2023, for me, will be all about starting a new chapter.
But before moving on to the next chapter… one reminder… Most writers, commentators, and teachers are critics. They are not doers. If you truly want an education about succeeding in life, surround yourself with the doers, and remain skeptical of those critiquing from the sidelines.
I recently read an article in last month’s Foreign Affairs titled “The Right Wing’s Loyalty Test for the Military.” The author, Risa Brooks, is a University of California San Diego Ph.D. academic without military experience. Yet she went on to become a senior fellow at West Point military institution from 2017 – 2020. She epitomizes the PhDs I illustrated in my book. In my book, I stated, “Too much importance was placed on academic PhDs with zero military experience. It was hard to take them seriously when they lectured me about my views. The PhDs also acted like tenured instructors only willing to put in the minimum effort.” Obviously, this criticism sparked an academic pushback against my thinking.
Risa built her argument in the Foreign Affairs article around the false assumption that “the military is a meritocracy.” This is blatantly false. The problems with the promotion system are clearly delineated in my book. Anyone who has served understands this. Unfortunately, like many others attached to the DoD, she lacks perspective.
Risa then went on to lump my thinking as “right wing” because “the right wing media embraced” me. Risa… I will talk to anyone brave enough to speak with me. The deeper question you should ask yourself is why the “left wing” media wouldn’t bring me on despite my best efforts and despite them initially covering my story. Or… better yet… what if instead of deflecting toward right and left politics, we objectively came together and analyzed the problems in the military and sought to reform them? Are we so divided that losing wars in a dramatically incompetent fashion becomes political finger pointing without objective criticism and accountability?
Are we so divided that losing wars in a dramatically incompetent fashion becomes political finger pointing without objective criticism and accountability?
Foreign Affairs… do better. I hope in the years to come, there are more people brave enough to push back against the inexperienced educated class standing in the way of true reform. If not, over time, inevitably, a stronger external force will drive the reform laid out in my book Crisis of Command.
We Can’t ALL Be Wrong.
This Country NEEDS far less "Politicians" (especially the "Career" type). It NEEDS (REQUIRES) Leaders that understand politics, not mere Politicians that THINK they know how to lead. There is one key factor separating those with arrogance and those with confidence...it is RESULTS. What has been the RESULT of this experiment in Democracy that our beloved United States has undergone? Who is leading/observing/documenting/altering the experiment? Well, evidently NOT leaders - and it DOES NOT serve the People which whom it effects the MOST.
"True power lies not in merely wielding the sword; but in when, where and whom it striketh." ~ KJ Carleo
Stu,
Keep in mind, Foreign Affairs draws authors from many areas. Some are exceptionally good, others less so. I remember looking through their archives for WWII era analysis and found a 1940 article "The Origins of this War -a German Perspective' by a paid Nazi Party propagandist - Alfred von Wegener.
Funny thing is, many of the reasons cited there in 1940 mirror the contemporary Russian propaganda for the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Once again, you called it perfectly, Stu. Every American who values our military should pressure the government to remove unqualified and biased people from positions of power in the military, whether in command or involved in education of service members. Reform is needed, as you so aptly outlined in your book. Keep fighting the good fight, whether it be through your writing, speaking, or in running for office. We are behind you. Merry Christmas!
I wonder if the "experts" who write these articles, really care about what they are writing. Some use them just to get published to enhance their credibility in the writing circles. Some like my daughter use them just to get a grade in college.
Semper Fi. 8th Marines. 83-87. Great book by the way. Was getting frustrated while reading it. Still no accountability. We'll see what happens starting the 118th congress. Not holding my breath.
I would respectfully take issue with your contention, as stated, that the military is not a meritocracy. It is my experience that in both the junior enlisted and junior officer ranks, advancement and promotion are predominantly meritocratic. The best and brightest routinely rise to the top.
Unfortunately, advancement to senior leadership positions has become (or maybe always was…) political in nature. Whether or not one advances to senior leadership positions is purely a function of subjective evals or fitness reports. If the senior officer or enlisted writing your evaluation likes you,, and has some degree of political capital himself, you will likely advance. In other words, if you’re an “ass kisser” and, like General Milley with his “I w…