I still contend that an outside look at the school, even by agovernment
contractor, is a positive step. Those who argue that military men, even
retired ones, are incapable of original (even controversial!!) thought are
simply wrong. When you think of military men, the picture you should envision
should be the General Marshall or General Powell, not the characature of
napalm dropping, baby killing storm troopers that some would have you
believe. Our military is made of people like you -- racially, socially,
economically, ethnically, and yes -- politically. And if you think that
defense contractors and military officers simple kiss the ring of their
government master, read some of Rand Corporation studies on a wide array of
security issues, or some of the studies on US strategy in El Salvador written
by Army Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels while studying at the JFK center ar
Harvard during the mid-1980's. You would be surprised at the range of
opinions and options debated in free and open forums before reaching a
decision on policy matters. But some of you have it right about one aspect
of the miitary, when a policy decision has been reached and when our civilian
leaders have given us the order to carry it out -- we do. That is what
separates a constitutional military from a mob.
Maj Mark Wilkins
Ft. Leavenworth, KS
Wilkins94@aol.com