The Best Possible Outcome from Yesterday's Abortive Lectures at Quantico [View all]

[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.