As we ponder the disaster that our foreign policy and military have become, I wonder what happened to Lloyd Austin. I was on Austin's brigade staff when he was a Colonel and I was a Major, and I spent quite a bit of time briefing him, and had the occasional one-on-one time. When I served under him (and after) I thought he was one of the most brilliant minds I ever served under, with amazing leadership skills. I would have charged into Hell armed only with a bayonet behind that man. I cannot explain what happened to him since, but obviously I am gravely disappointed. I think some minority of military leaders who gain great rank do so while preserving the qualities that got them there, whereas others (the majority) unwittingly and slowly transform into what David Hackworth used to call a "Perfumed Prince." Somewhere along the line Austin transformed into a Perfumed Prince tool of the Deep State, and I believe his current allegiance to fascist DEI ideology has something to do with it. So sad to witness, it really does break my heart. Who would have ever imagined that this great leader would become so incompetent and ineffectual?
@CynicalPublius I feel the same way towards McCrystal, Mattis and Petraeus.
@CynicalPublius I am very curious as to his involvement in Mogadishu and the failure to get authorization for AC130s and/or other support?
@CynicalPublius Not directly related but I was reminded of it. I vividly remember the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Your post for some reason reminded of Schwarzkopf. When I thought of him my very first reaction was “there’s no way they’d let that guy be a general today.” Sad but true.
@CynicalPublius Your opinion on Ret. General Flynn?