US MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT SLAMS PRESIDENT OBAMA

AUM
MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT FAULTED OBAMA
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
On return from an assessment of the ground situation of war in Afghanistan, General James Conway, the senior most General of the US Marine Corps gave a free and frank opinion. His bold and blunt statement said that President Barack Obama’s schedule of withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan probably provided sustenance to the Taliban rebel-terrorists. It was a blunt criticism of the strategy adopted by the President of the United States. The critic in public is no less a person than the Commandant of the US Marine Corps.
PRESIDENT’S OPTIONS
There cannot be two opinions about the supremacy of the President in matters military because he is the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the United States of America. Nevertheless the President is duty bound to listen to the opinion of his generals who have war experience. The generals work with the troops in the war zone and are acquainted with the ground situation. What happens if the conduct of a general, professional or private, violates the code of conduct laid down by the Service Headquarters. Well, there are many examples from history that illustrate the point at issue. We may draw from anecdotes of military and civil clash both in British India and from the United States of America. However, before taking a peep into the history , we may recall that President Obama had forced another four star general, General McChrystal to go on retirement before time because his staff had made some critical comments on President Obama and his advisors that had found their way to the media.
The national security advisor was called a clown in a light hearted chat at the bar in Paris after a few rounds of drinks had been served. President Obama was also butt of many an anecdote when the general in question found him feeling intimidated in the presence of the military brass and that he lacked focus while strategic issues of the Afghan war were being discussed.
In view of this background the President has limited options open to him. He is not in a position to call General James Conway to the Oval Office and give a dressing down. General Conway is a professional soldier having 40 years experience behind him. He is professionally sound and knows what he is talking about. President Obama has no choice but to turn Nelson’s eye to the present situation. A confrontation is out of the question as the US Marines are heading the great push against the Taliban in Helmand and Kandahar. Any attempt to discipline the US Marine Corps Commandant at this juncture may be suicidal for the Obama administration.
CIVIL MILITARY UPMANSHIP
Calcutta was the capital of the British Indian Empire. Lord Curzon was the Viceroy. Lord Kitchener was the Commander-in-Chief of all forces of His Majesty in India. The war clouds were gathering in Europe. The Curzon-Kitchener tussle always made news not only in the Empire but in Europe too. The White Hall in London supported the two sparring knights by turns. The matter was referred to the constitutional expert Dicey. He opined that the Viceroy represented the King Emperor and was supreme in the British Indian hierarchy. The commander-in-chief was like a loaded revolver under the Viceroy’s pillow. The option was that of the Viceroy whether to use the revolver or not. That opinion, however, did not quell nagging doubts and there were feuds galore between the two. This subsided when both returned home one after the other.
The American Civil War between the supporters and opponents of slavery was at its peak. General Grant was a successful strategist for President Lincoln. Someone complained about the General’s drinking habits. President’s retort was; Grant drinks but he wins wars. Thus the President nipped the trouble in the bud.
General Douglas McArthur was the five star general who had accepted the surrender of the Japanese after the American atom bombs had destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was immensely popular among soldiers and civilians alike. He was rather strong headed and stuck to his guns, come rain come shine. President Truman was rated a weak man in the White House who did not want to cross the Yalu river and take the war in Korea to mainland China, notwithstanding China siding with North Korea in a shooting war against UN, read America. General Douglas McArthur criticised the President’s policy as weak kneed and made his opinion public. President Harry Truman dismissed the five star general and ordered him to fly back to the United States from Tokyo, Japan. The general had little choice but to obey the orders of the President of the United States.
General KS Thimayya, the Indian Army Chief had numerous tiffs with the then Raksha Mantri, VK Krishan Menon. In 1959 General Thimayya resigned in a huff. Although Pt Nehru, the then Prime Minister persuaded the General to withdraw his resignation appreciating his services in peace and war but eventually backed his bosom friend Krishna Menon. General Thimayya felt let down but swallowed the insult in the best interests of the Indian Army.
PRESENT AMERICAN SCENARIO
General James Conway, Commandant of the US Marine Corps is on a strong wicket and he sticks to his statement. He is telling the truth to his countrymen. There is a silver lining to the dark cloud. General Conway says that let the Taliban believe that the US forced would withdraw from July 2011 onwards. The Marine Corps units are going to stay on and keep on hammering the Taliban. The momentary morale raising of the Islamist rebels would take a severe beating when they find the Marine Macho men hammering them from all sides. The morale of the Taliban will be in their boots thereafter. It would be a strategic victory for the Americans and beginning of the end of the Taliban in Helmand-Kandahar region from where they had originated.
General James Conway has clear cut views on the new policy of the Obama administration in letting gay soldiers make their sexual preference public. “Don’t ask, don’t tell”, if that policy is going to be rescinded and gay soldiers are permitted to practise their philosophy in billets, the General would not permit his Marines to share rooms with gay soldiers. Marines are macho American young men who should not be spoilt by gays and their ambience. Thus the US Marine Corps Commandant is a preacher and a practitioner of the old school of Military Thought where Truth and Honesty were the cardinal principles for an upright soldier.
At the end of the day, it is the upright Marine General who has carried the military trophy by holding on to the motto : DUTY HONOUR COUNTRY.
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Email : upvanom@yahoo.com and sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com