What will they do for Gen. Taguba?

In Yoo (sic) face, frat boy!

"ha ha, deal with it yourself"

A more succinct description of conservatism I could not imagine.

"ha ha, deal with it yourself"

A more succinct description of the way our veterans are treated I could not imagine.

As a veteran, I am thrilled with the choice of Gen. Shinseki to head up this post. Finally, I have some hope that my friends who require care, particularly help with PTSD, will actually get it.

Great post! We are proud of General Shinseki in Hawaii, and especially happy that he will serve in the administration of another favorite son, the president elect.

Caveat: I'm British, and an outside observer in this.

Why was this article written as if the US military is a separate entity and not actually part of the United States and its government?

"...Obama is clearly courting the military, not by giving into their every whim, or by ceding to them on matters of policy"

"with all Obama wants to accomplish, he needs strained relations with the military like he needs a hole in the head."

That's akin to saying the US "military" is a foreign country, with diplomats shuffling backwards and forwards keeping the peace between two equals. As the elected leader of the United States, President-designate Obama will tell the military top brass what to do and they will say "Yes, Sir" and go and do it. If they don't, that's called insubordination and resignation is the easy way out for the officers involved. That's what happened with President Bush and all the other Presidents before him -- the top brass could offer their opinions but if they were reluctant to carry out the orders from duly elected officials their alternatives were to resign, ask to be reassigned to other duties or carry out the orders given promptly, and that's it.

Is the "them and us" attitude because the US military has a bigger budget than many other countries governmental expenditures in toto? Why do US citizens revere uniforms in a manner usually reserved for banana republics and totalitarian Communist states rather than treating soldiers as fellow citizens pure and simple, as most other democratic countries do?

If Clinton fired Powell and the other generals who openly defied his executuve order on gays in the military, Clinton would have been impeached sooner.

Republicans (including about 90% of military officers) operate under two sets of rules. Loyalty to party takes presidence over their oath to the constitution.

And remember our major media outlets agree: compare and contrast the feeding frenzy over a triviality like MoveOn's "Paetreus/betray us" ad, and the silence on General Tabuga's firing.

Have anyone noticed that he is making some thoughtful choices? Isn't it nice to have a PEOTUS that is actually intelligent? Huge change from the last 8 years.

As a member of the military (and a democrat), I can't tell you how excited I am about this pick. I've been arguing with my boss for a couple of months to try to make him see what a pragmatist Obama is, and this might put some umph in my argument.
I will not take the ridiculous whining that occurs when we have a democrat in office (or even when not, as the Clinton gripes extended far past his administration's duration).
Thanks for the articulate support I always can use for these debates. I hope you are feeling well!

Having had worked within a office of the Department of the Army while this guy was Chief, sadly the most lasting thing he'll be remembered for is putting stupid little French hats on every soldier out of Basic, much to the annoyance of the Rangers, whose stupid little French hats he usurped.

Shinseki told the truth about the Iraq War, and for that he ought to be respected. He may have convinced the President-Elect he's the best man to head Veterans (damn, couldn't get McCain to take it?) in which case he probably is, and will have the President's full support, which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is going to need.

And let me agree that the Bushites have miserably treated both the active and retired military, with the knowing and active support of the Republican't controlled Congress. The simple fact that a honorably (in fact, anyone more than dishonorably) discharged serviceman or woman has to APPLY to get his Veteran's benefits, rather than just having his records forwarded from the Department of Defense is a clear demonstration that Congress-slime want to avoid paying the costs in maimed and mentally damaged Americans that their Boy George II's War of Choice has inflicted on the real people of this country. It is Congress that has failed to mandate the personnel system at DoD work with the systems at Veterans Affairs, in fact probably doing everything they can to see to it that the two systems are incompatible.

And of course it is the Republican'ts who have strived to maintain the U.S. Military as the last bastions of homophobia and theocratic wingnuttery in the country.

'they also believe that if a member of your unit has a problem, you should of course help him or her to overcome it; that just saying "ha ha, deal with it yourself" is neither a good way to end up with a well-functioning unit nor a decent way to act.'

Er, I realize it's difficult to make generalizations, but have you not heard all the stories of the military leadership, from the generals down to the sergeants, refusing to acknowledge PTSD as a real problem? "Suck it up and deal with it yourself" doesn't even begin to describe how it's treated; it's more "What the hell is wrong with you, you f*cking pussy?!". Harassment over PTSD or other mental illness is, to hear the news tell it, fairly common, if not routine.

and yet the first report i heard on the liberal media was how – once again – obama was "naming another high ranking member of the bush administration to his cabinet."

Marvelous appointment - Kudos to President-elect Obama

To Mr Sneddon, our Commander-in-Chief is not a Drill Sergeant - He doesn't yell at DOD to assemble for Police Call -

Calling those with PTSD "cowards" is reminiscent of scenes from "Path of Glory" and "Patton" - We need, neither Generals or viewpoints of such, in our military and post-service care.

But, VA is still limited - Three years ago, it took me almost 9 months from applying, to be granted a Primary Care physician - If you do not have a PC, then, you can't use the VA's pharmacies, unless, the prescription has been written by ER. Plus, Senators Larry Craig and Double Talk have both attempted to kick non-combat service vets off the rolls. As the job market has diminished for older workers, many former service men and women, without health care, have gone to the VA for medical care.
Craig and DT want them all to vanish.

To Mr Sneddon, our Commander-in-Chief is not a Drill Sergeant - He doesn't yell at DOD to assemble for Police Call -

It is a common misconception that the main management method used in the military is the direct order. Although one always has that as a last resort, final-foot-down option, using the Lawful Order in the face of firm "principle"-based opposition is likely to lead to many more problems than it immediately solves. Undermining of personal authority, subtle sabotage, etc., are all likely outcomes, and it is very difficult to "order" someone to stop despising or distrusting you. it is infinitely better to gain your people's trust, PERSUADE (or at least mollify) and thereby LEAD your subordinates to cooperate with your agenda.

Making use of so-called "soft power" (of which the most powerful is just being Damn Good) is actually just as important in military management as it is in civilian life.

--former US Air Force officer

"he needs strained relations with the military like he needs a hole in the head."

You know, sometimes you really do need a hole in your head. I needed one once. It happens when you have severe head trauma and fluid builds up, causing extreme pressure on the brain. They drill a hole in your head to drain the fluid. Amazingly, the procedure is fairly painless.

I wish Obama luck, but the officer corps is the last functioning organ of the CSA, and the military arm of the GOP.

Amazing. a really good nomination.

However, Obama has military policies of his own. He has said he would be willing to use military force if necessary to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. He has said he would order raids/incursions into Pakistani territory to get persons of interest if in his judgment the Pakistani government were insufficiently energetic in getting them. He wants to boost American military strength in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban there. Whatever he orders, there will be respected members of the military who oppose whatever he orders, and those opponents will rally at least 30% of Americans in their support, as Shinseki did. Then it will be his turn to overrule them, as Bush overruled Shinseki, Truman and FDR overruled MacArthur, and Lincoln overruled the opponents of Grant. When that happens, the military will do its duty and obey the civilian government. At that time, Democrats will rediscover the value of military obedience to civilian authority.

I think that the Shinseki nomination is very smart. It demonstrates memory for and respect for a man whose judgment probably informed Obama's judgment about the war. Obama's nominations have been very smart (possible flaws of Clinton and Holder notwithstanding). I hope he can keep it up.

Definently a poke in the eye with a sharp stick for the neo-conzis.

Good choice, and a poke in the eye to the idiot neo-con cabal is all well and good, but I was really hoping for Tammy Duckworth.

I took my dad to the local VA hospital 30 miles away for his outpatient care until he had a couple of bad falls a year ago and we had to take him to the local for profit hospital. Given my druthers we would have used the VA facility for all of his care. Even though he had Blue Cross backing up his Medicare and the local hospital's rep is what passes for good in our society their care was all geared toward what pays not what's healthy.

Îãðîìíîå ñïàñèáî çà ïîòðÿñàþùèå èäåè!!! Áóäó ñëåäèòü çà áëîãîì, ìíîãî âñåãî èíòåðåñíîãî. À ìîé áëîã î íàóêå, íàäåþñü, òîæå ïîíðàâèòñÿ ;)