Re: Frank Rich; Obama at the precipice

I am really coming to rely on Frank Rich for his intellectual and honest assessments of our politics. This is another of those really seminal critiques. Today's column (link here) is another superb example.

The military whose existence is predicated on the acceptability of violence is by nature conservative. Of course the rigid application of political neutrality is what has more than anything else set us apart from the banana republics. However under the Bush/Petraeus administration many have become convinced the military way of doing things is superior to traditional democratic civilian institutions way beyond the traditional purview of the military..

As an aside: We are seeing increasing insertion of military approaches into civilian security, law enforcement, school curricula; even Christian ministries!

This one person’s view is the Afghanistan question is an assertion of the political power of the military and the challenge to Obama could be indeed almost apocalyptic. We have a lot of folks out there believing the Obama government should be overthrown, preferably by force of arms. Could the military be persuaded to provide that? I hasten to say, I don’t think so now. I believe there are still many more within the military who will hold to the death traditional views of the their role. But it is a caution.

I think Rich is right on in shining the light on these decisions. It is time for Obama to assert his knowledge and stop appointing generals on the basis of credentials acquired under Bush.

There are just too many nuts in and out of government who would in a New York minute incite a military revolt.