Former Deputy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, distinguished
combat veteran, and retired Navy Captain,
Wade Sanders is much published on matters
of national security in major newspapers and
the Naval Institute Proceedings. He is also
a news commentator for NBC News. His imaginative
and innovative initiatives were key elements
in the transformation of the Reserve Components
of the Armed Services from Cold War mobilization
assets to relevant providers of contemporary
support.
He presently is senior partner of
a law firm dedicated to matters of corporate
governance, ethics, and specializing in employee
owned companies, as well as providing government
relations assistance to major corporations.
He is also much sought after as a motivational speaker on topics related to leadership, management, and team building. Inquiries and/or booking requests should be directed to wade2000@cox.net.
Sound
Off! - Have an opinion about this
article? Visit the discussion forum.
On May 6, 2004, responding to the graphic and disturbing photographs of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, President Bush responded to the criticism of his Secretary of Defense (who had authorized exploring innovative methods of skirting the provisions of the Geneva Convention concerning treatment of prisoners of war) by declaring that his Defense Secretary, "has served our nation well."
Recently, conservative columnist, William Kristol, leveled a searing blast at Rumsfeld when he wrote, "Surely Don Rumsfeld is not the defense secretary Bush should want to have for the remainder of his second term," and went on to accuse Rumsfeld of "arrogant buck-passing" and of failing U.S. forces at war in Iraq. "These soldiers deserve a better defense secretary than the one we have." Kristol was joined by prominent members of his own party, Senators Hagel, McCain, and Collins. And, if one accepts the validity of a recent poll, only 18% have confidence in Rumsfeld. Over 80% said they had no confidence in the Secretary. President Bush defended Rumsfeld, declaring that he is "doing a real fine job," and that "underneath that gruff exterior is a real good man."
Surely the issue here is not whether Donald Rumsfeld is a "really good man," even if he can't take time from his squash game to sign letters of condolences to families who have sacrificed their sons and daughters. The reality is that there have been some real SOB's who have occupied the office of Secretary of Defense, sat behind the antique desk once used by General Pershing, and managed to do a great job. The real issue here is a failure by the president to accept responsibility and to honor the principle of accountability. A failure to live up to the Truman philosophy of "the buck stops here."
It is clear that President Bush is enamored with and relishes his honorific as "Commander in Chief." More than any other president, he likes to associate himself with the military. More than any other president in history, he has used massed troops in uniform as a background for his speeches (even though it is often obvious that the troops aren't thrilled with being props). Further, he is the only president to wear a military uniform while in office (even President Eisenhower, a former military man of some substance, refused to wear any military gear while president). Regrettably, President Bush doesn't seem to grasp that being a real Commander in Chief does carry with it certain pesky responsibilities. "Talking the talk" does beg that one "walk the walk."
Let me, for a moment, address the Commander in Chief directly. Sir, with all due respect, you would be well advised to acquaint yourself with the level of responsibility and accountability that accompany the title. If you really want to fill those shoes, if you want to parade about in uniform, if you want to use our men and women in uniform as your personal props, then please honor moral and ethical standards that go with the job. The ultimate responsibility for the success and failure of our troops around the world, their military leaders, or the civilian leaders you have appointed, lies with you, the man who calls himself "Commander in Chief." If 80% of those polled have stated that they have no confidence in Rumsfeld, then isn't that really a vote of no confidence for you as Commander in Chief.
Ponder this, Mr. President: those of us who have served in uniform, those of us who have been privileged to lead understand the harsh reality of the exceptional responsibility that goes with command. It is clear and simple. Military commanders are exceptionally and unremittingly responsible not only for their actions, but the actions of all who serve under their command. Period. This responsibility may be delegated, but that delegation does not relieve that commander of that responsibility. Further, if anything goes wrong, the commander is responsible and accountable for any error or consequence regardless of whether he or she was in any way cause of that error or consequence. That is why commanding officers receive medals for the performance of their troops and are punished when their troops fail or do wrong.
If he can manage to avoid controversy, I suspect that Secretary Rumsfeld will be gone in less than six months. Presidents do not relieve cabinet members in the middle of a crises, or public criticism, lest it appear that they are slaves to opinion. If all goes well, Donald Rumsfeld will leave under circumstances citing a "health" issue, or to spend more time with his family, or to pursue a new and lucrative position in the public sector (perhaps there will be an opening at Haliburton). He will receive his Medal of Freedom, joining other rather interesting choices like Paul Bremer and George Tenet.
However, President Bush, the Commander in Chief, will continue to serve out his elected term. I am hoping that at some point in time, the sooner the better, he will acknowledge the responsibilities that accompany the title he cherishes so much. Then, and only then, will he be a Commander in Chief personally deserving of the respect that accompanies the office.
Wade Sanders is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, a distinguished and highly decorated combat veteran, presently practicing law in San Diego, California. He can be reached at wade2000@cox.net.
