The Change Mariner

Arrogance and Military Transformation

Washington Times Editorial

In his farewell address, retiring Army chief of staff Gen. Eric Shinseki warned against "arrogance," seen as a code for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and his supporters. Yet, arrogance has never been in short supply in the Pentagon, among senior officers as well as political appointees. Even among a leadership lacking in humility, there is widespread acceptance of the proposition that the Defense Department and the military need transformation and reform.

... The key question that will guide defense transformation must be: What will be the nature of future war? Unless one believes that all such future wars will end without the need for a continuing U.S. presence on the ground or military participation in enabling security and reconstruction, a capability and willingness to carry out such missions must be a critical part of any future U.S. military.