To the editor:

“Why would any president want to cut up his general officer corps at a time of constant war?” asks Robert Lee in his June 11 column. Though intended as criticism of President Obama, I think it is a fair enough question. Rather than some imagined agenda of this president, I believe the answer lies more in our constitution’s mandate of civilian oversight of our armed forces.

Sometimes presidents must rein in generals who want to fight too much, i.e., Harry Truman’s recall of Douglas MacArthur before the general could greatly expand the Korean conflict. Sometimes the generals do not fight very efficiently. Consider the numerous command changes before Lincoln found Ulysses Grant. Recall, too, Army Chief of Staff George Marshall’s sweeping changes in finding the uniformed leaders who produced victory in World War II. As Marine General James Mattis noted in 2013, “War is a tough auditor.”

I am heartened to see Mr. Lee cite former Defense Secretary Robert Gates. While taking a sober look at President Obama, Bob Gates also praised him for acting “courageously and boldly” in ordering our military’s surge strategy in Afghanistan. Mr. Lee could not have missed Gates’ observations about Sec. Hillary Clinton, noting, “we would develop a very strong partnership”, and, “it turned out we agreed on almost every important issue.”

Perhaps Mr. Lee will reflect and better appreciate the burden upon a president, if the nation is to maintain a credible democracy, to constantly weigh the demands of our security against such as James Madison’s 1787 admonition, “The greatest danger to liberty is from large standing armies”, George Washington’s wariness of involvement in foreign military alliances, and President Eisenhower’s 1961 warning against the “military – industrial complex.” While acknowledging his missteps along the way, Mr. Obama should enjoy due credit for maintaining that responsibility.

Douglas Smith

Rockingham

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