Small Wars Journal

Transition in Time of War

Wed, 06/18/2008 - 1:42pm
Gordon Lubold has an informative article in today's Christian Science Monitor titled Pentagon Ponders Transition in Time of War.

The Pentagon is making a pointed effort to ensure that the transition to a new administration in January 2009 -- the first time in 40 years that a handover of power will take place during wartime -- goes smoothly, minimizing the risk of disruptions or attacks on military operations during the changeover....

Well worth reading in its entirety - and we even get a plug.

Meanwhile, Gates's reputation for demanding accountability without trumpeting his own personality is popular across the department and in Congress, too. "I think he may be the best secretary of defense we ever had," says one active-duty Army officer in high-level circles.

Now, some would like him to stay on. One respected website devoted to irregular warfare called the Small Wars Journal contains an open letter to the new administration asking that whoever wins to consider keeping Gates.

Shortest, but Most Important SWJ Post to Date - Small Wars Journal, 13 June 2008

Comments

Bill Keller (not verified)

Wed, 06/18/2008 - 9:47pm

Dave;

For patronage repayment, support contractor business development league training, academic surplus holding, rich heir daycare, family annuity developement, ideology subsidy and regeneration, manipulative news sources and Fox News daytime audience.

Could also add Washington real estate price maintenance but that would be giving too much commercial savey to the currents.

Best, Bill

Bill,

If "there are enough competent professionals to hold the fort" then I think that must beg the question: why do we need so many political appointees? Dave

Bill Keller (not verified)

Wed, 06/18/2008 - 9:21pm

Appointees must go with the change of administration, immediately, as quickly as possibly.

The people speak with the election. There are enough competent professionals to hold the fort.

As many have stated, I think keeping Secretary Gates would be a good thing. However, in regards to the other political appointees in OSD, if their presence is so important to operations in the Department then the way to prevent the "nobody home syndrome" is to have a "stop loss" for political appointees that keeps them in their position until properly replaced by a confirmed follow-on political appointee from the new administration. Regardless of who is the next President I would bet that there would then be tremondous pressures on Congress to get the new appointees confirmed.