The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Veterans > Legislation

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-02-2019, 03:12 PM
Boats's Avatar
Boats Boats is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sauk Village, IL
Posts: 21,784
Question Shanahan begins as Pentagon 'CEO': 'Doesn't have the moral and ethical constraints th

Shanahan begins as Pentagon 'CEO': 'Doesn't have the moral and ethical constraints that Mattis has'
By: Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times - Monday, December 31, 2018
RE: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...tary-succeeds/

The U.S. military is waking up to a new boss with the new year, one who is definitely not the same as the old boss.

Outgoing Defense Secretary James Mattis, a retired four-star Marine Corps general, handed over the reins at the Pentagon on Monday night to a 30-year veteran of the aerospace industry, and military analysts say new acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan will bring his trademark business-like approach to the role and largely steer clear of the bitter policy fights with President Trump that doomed his predecessor.

Mr. Shanahan, who spent three decades as a top executive at Boeing before becoming the Pentagon’s No. 2 in July 2017, will serve in an acting capacity following the clashes over the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan and a host of other issues that led to the abrupt termination of Mr. Mattis‘ tenure earlier this month. Defense Department officials said the formal hand-off, done via phone call, took place just before the calendar turned to 2019.

Ahead of the transition, Pentagon insiders have expressed full confidence in Mr. Shanahan, stressing that he’s often been at Mr. Mattis‘ side during meetings with lawmakers, White House officials, diplomats and foreign defense officials. Inside the building, there’s little doubt the 56-year-old MIT graduate is capable of running the Defense Department and representing the Pentagon on Capitol Hill and around the world.

Mr. Mattis struck the same notes in a farewell address to U.S. troops on Monday, while offering what some saw as another subtle criticism of President Trump’s foreign policy approach and the president’s willingness to challenge traditional alliances.

“Our department’s leadership, civilian and military, remains in the best possible hands,” he said. “I am confident that each of you remains undistracted from our sworn mission to support and defend the Constitution while protecting our way of life. Our Department is proven to be at its best when the times are most difficult. So keep the faith in our country and hold fast alongside our allies, aligned against our foes.”

But Mr. Mattis‘ confidence in his successor doesn’t change the fact that Mr. Shanahan will now be leading a massive organization that, until 18 months ago, he’d never been a part of.

By his own admission, Mr. Shanahan’s job duties over the past 18 months have centered largely on the business side of running the Pentagon, not big-picture foreign policy decisions, and it’s unclear whether he has the same kinds of deeply developed, forceful views as Mr. Mattis, who fought in the first and second wars with Iraq and in Afghanistan and is considered a renowned scholar of military history.

“The secretary has the traditional role of being, you know, like, the CEO, if we were talking in terms of business vernacular,” Mr. Shanahan told CNBC in a recent interview. “Really, up and out. And my job is really down and in.”

Indeed, Mr. Shanahan has been in the trenches at the Defense Department on a host of issues. He’s taken the lead on developing the Pentagon’s massive budget — a task that proved even more difficult than usual this year amid changing spending plans from the White House. The president initially wanted to trim the Pentagon budget for the coming fiscal year from $733 billion to $700 billion, but abruptly reversed course and raised the figure to $750 billion.

The responsibility of adjusting budget preparations midstream fell to Mr. Shanahan.

“It’s the biggest budget in the government,” he said. “And it’s not an exercise in just taking inputs and then adding them all up. It’s an exercise that says, ‘If we spend the money on these things, will we be able to have a certain level of readiness? Will we be able to field new technology that works on a timely basis? Will we spend money in the right areas to recruit and retain an all-volunteer military?’”

In addition to the time-consuming role as budget point man, Mr. Shanahan also helped get the Pentagon’s first full audit in decades past the finish line. He’s taken the lead role in coordinating a host of competing — and occasionally feuding — interests across the military services in planning and implementing Mr. Trump’s new Space Force.

Mr. Shanahan also played a key part in setting up the Army Futures Command in Austin, Texas, which represents the branch’s most significant reorganization in decades.

Questions ahead

While there’s little doubt he has the business experience and acumen to run a massive organization such as the Defense Department, Mr. Shanahan’s background and lack of clear foreign policy view have left many questions unanswered as he assumes his new job.

For starters, lawmakers of both parties have raised concerns about his long career at Boeing, one of the largest Defense Department contractors and a company that hauls in huge amounts of taxpayer money each year.

In September alone, the company reportedly got nearly $14 billion in Pentagon contracts.

The late Sen. John McCain, who chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee at the time of Mr. Shanahan’s confirmation hearings, openly worried about the connection.

“I have to have confidence that the fox is not going to be put back into the henhouse,” the Arizona Republican and frequent Pentagon critic said at the time. “I’m not overjoyed that you came from one of the five corporations that receive 90 percent of the taxpayers’ dollars.”

Some progressives also have cast Mr. Shanahan in a similar light. John Nichols, a writer with liberal magazine The Nation, included Mr. Shanahan in a book that laid out “the most dangerous people in America” in the Trump era.

“If there was a living, breathing embodiment of the military-industrial complex, it was Patrick Shanahan,” Mr. Nichols wrote.

Insiders say Mr. Shanahan’s background earned him points with the president, who has shown that he values the opinion of those with experience in corporate America.

Beyond that, the White House could welcome a defense secretary who’s more willing to go along with Mr. Trump’s unconventional approach than was Mr. Mattis.

“Because he doesn’t understand national security, and doesn’t have the moral and ethical constraints that Mattis has, he’s made no enemies,” a former senior defense official told The New Yorker last week. “He hasn’t taken a position on anything.”

But critics say that his lack of international stature and policy expertise compared to his predecessor will leave Mr. Shanahan with less power in policy debates with other Trump aides, notably National Security Adviser John R. Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Pentagon officials strongly push back on the assertion that Mr. Shanahan doesn’t understand national security or foreign policy.

It’s unclear how long the former Boeing executive will serve in an acting capacity or if Mr. Trump eventually will nominate him to take the position.

The job requires Senate confirmation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Personal note: We don't need anymore wild cards in the Washington. Mattis was the best man for the job and Trump will regret not listening to the right information about the military issues of the day. His replacement will most likely be another shoe shiner or heal licker - of which we don't need. We need people with experience "not yes sir boss" - whatever you say.

Folks we are in trouble the political system is a mess. Not once have I heard Trump say anything about fixing - city water issues - air quality - or the US infrastructure. Playing War Games is not his forte. All our cities - and areas recently damaged by fire or storms along with our National Debt need to be addressed. Health care for everyone should be the same and not just for the rich.

Our Troops in the field have to know they will get what they need - when they need it.
Our Generals in the Field have to be backed by the President when needed. You can't play soldier not having any experience. Firing your Admirals, Generals and Field Commanders who've been on the line and knowing what is needed and should be backed up the Commander and Chief of the United States - not ridiculed.

Quit kissing our enemies asses take a positive hard line position and stand by it. Don't flip flop and put your foot in your mouth when you've never been there or done any fighting.
We also need NATO don't say we don't - they need us as well.

I know I will get hammered by the readers but I just had to say it as I see it. Forget Russia, China and North Korea threats. Showing weakness opens the door for them to take advantage - if they haven't already. Represent the U.S. not you're personal interest in making money later (or while office). We need a Nation Builder not a Hotel in NK - China or Russia.

What we all want is "Peace on Earth" - make it happen!

Boats
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.