The Best Possible Outcome from Yesterday's Abortive Lectures at Quantico

[MineralMan]

Although it's unlikely, there is one way that the hundreds of flag officers who wasted a couple of days flying to Quantico to listen to a snot-nosed, inactive Major and a blithering demented old man lecturing them for a couple of hours, that could send a potent message.

Again, unlikely, but here's a scenario: Every one of those flag officers is eligible for retirement. Based on their stone-faced silence following the scolding lectures, all of them would be justified in turning in their retirement papers this week or next week and calling it a career. They would not have to make any statements that might be branded as disrespectful or insubordinate. They could simply file their papers and retire.

Not that they'll do it, though, en masse. They could, though, and they are all smart enough to carry it off without saying a damned thing about the speeches they heard. Just say "Goodbye. I'm done here."

I would love to see that happen. It won't, almost certainly, but it would be an outstanding statement to make. A statement that would be completely understood by everyone. I'm certain that the idea has crossed every mind that sat in beribboned uniform and listened to those diatribes.

[johnnyfins]

1. Did you think that maybe thats exactly

What the " inactive Major and a blithering demented old man" want?

[MineralMan]

2. I do not think that is what they want. No.

[Walleye]

4. No, they went to fire them. Just resigning doesn't give them a thrill like firing people does.

[Walleye]

3. They should quit, they shouldn't have to put up with that adolescent shit from that drunk

Simply berating your people is not exactly motivational. I guess he got his technique from Elon, who doesn’t know how to manage people at all

[FakeNoose]

5. I don't know that I'd encourage our top military brass to all resign and leave

I feel a lot safer knowing they're still on the job. If Chump ever gets really deranged and tells one of them to "drop a nuke" on somebody, these guys will know what to do. They'll tell him to pound salt, is what.

On the other hand, if the most experienced military men all left en masse, who's coming in to replace them? It's a scary thought and I don't what to think it.

[electric_blue68]

7. TY. My thoughts were coalescing in your direction.

[wiggs]

6. I remain hopeful that some version of your post transpires, though it might only take a few respected

flag officers. There must be former TSF cabinet members, former elected goprs, and current flag officers who would be willing -- or who would feel DUTY-BOUND -- to combine efforts and make joint statements about the dangerous and reckless direction this administration is taking us and the world.

This must be the way forward. Elected dems normally get placed in positions to clean up gop messes, but this time is different and I don't think dems are in a position to do that.

[GopherGal]

8. I think we need to hope to keep around some infrastructure of people

with passing familiarity with the concepts of "ethics" and "rules of engagement".
We know they're not going to get those principles from the leadership at the VERY top of DOD, so we have to hope that some of the older hands remember them from their training.