tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762223684746484243.post2746145869714905489..comments2024-03-26T17:28:04.126-07:00Comments on Pick Your Battles: Good Leadership vs Great LeadershipPickYourBattles.Nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448529287854593110noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762223684746484243.post-54974401678558905382011-04-04T21:46:30.809-07:002011-04-04T21:46:30.809-07:00Thanks JB, I'll check that book out. As far a...Thanks JB, I'll check that book out. As far as my oath, I think my place is simply to refuse to obey any unconstitutional orders that might come down from political leaders. Our political leaders undermine the Constitution not infrequently, and it's nothing new. It's not right either, but of course there is room for healthy debate on what is violation and what is not. The Constitution isn't the clearest of all documents. Jefferson sent troops to Tripoli without Congressional approval, we locked up the Japanese, etc etc. We have processes to "remedy" these violations, and a judiciary to correct them. The way I see my professional part in all of this is to disobey unlawful orders. By saying that, I know I open myself up for criticism. What if I'm ordered to a conflict that hasn't been officially blessed by Congress, but that Congress and the people allow, as seems to be a trend in recent history and there is some legal justification for it. Do I refuse that? It's not all black and white, but the broad answer to your question is for those who have taken the oath to disobey unlawful orders. In my opinion. Thanks for the thoughtful comments, as usual.PickYourBattles.Nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16448529287854593110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762223684746484243.post-60546723747626248942011-03-29T17:05:25.080-07:002011-03-29T17:05:25.080-07:00Grab a copy of "The Ghosts of Cannae" by...Grab a copy of "The Ghosts of Cannae" by Robert L. O'Connell. There are leaders, and then there are LEADERS. The Romans had many brave and competent commanders who nonetheless were found lacking against Hannibal. How the survivors of Cannae were treated is rather illuminating. The values of any society are reflected in its leaders and their leadership, but the truly great leaders do not emerge fully until they are needed. <br /><br />America is on the brink of creating a military empire. Will our republic fall to oligarchs as did the Roman republic? Will we remain a republic in the spirit of Washington, or will we become an empire in the spirit of Augustus? As an USAF officer, you are sworn to uphold and protect the Constitution. What happens if our political leaders undermine that document and the government that is built upon it? Two years ago, I would not have thought such a scenario possible. Now I am not so sure. Veterans are protected from abusive bank practices, but ordinary taxpayers are not, r.e. http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/03/administration-acts-on-mortgage-fraud-against-military-denies-it-exists-anywhere-else.html.<br /><br />(You are welcome to delete this comment since it is tangential to your post. I offer it as food for thought.)jbmoorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09751110750712243573noreply@blogger.com