Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller's "initial" memo to DoD — is representatively meaningless

16 November 2020

Too unclear to lead anyone, anywhere?

The Lamestream tentatively interprets Acting Secretary Chris Miller's memo to the Department of Defense as if it indicates that President Trump is finally serious about leaving Afghanistan.

It does not indicate that, at all.

The memo is so filled with the verbose (often flowery) bullshit that the American military is known for — that it is essentially meaningless:

With a foundation built upon respect, professionalism, competence, and honesty, we will continue to transform our Department to compete in a new strategic environment. This requires changes in organizations, skills, and decision-making processes. But we know how to do this.

We have done it before - and no one on earth does it better. We will continue to aggressively challenge established paradigms, maintain and modify those that have value and courageously discard those that have run their course.

My thoughts. hopes, dreams, and prayers are with all of you and your loved ones as we resolutely lean into the future and update our processes and structures to guarantee that our Armed Forces remain preeminent and the beacon of justice and goodness in the world.

As we prepare for the future, we remain committed to finishing the war that Al Qaida brought to our shores in 2001. This war isn't over.

We are on the verge of defeating Al Qaida and its associates, but we must avoid our past strategic error of failing to see the fight through to the finish.

Indeed, this fight has been long, our sacrifices have been enormous and many are weary of war - I'm one of them - but this is the critical phase in which we transition our efforts from a leadership to supporting role.

We are not a people of perpetual war - it is the antithesis of everything for which we stand and for which our ancestors fought. All wars must end.

Ending wars requires compromise and partnership. We met the challenge; we gave it our all. Now, it's time to come home.

To all of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Space Professionals, and civilians:

Continue to be bold. Continue to be courageous. Continue to set the example of selfless service that is the envy of the world and an example for our citizens.

Our tasks are not easy. The burden is great. But together we will take our Nation to new heights. What a magnificent time to be a part of the Department of Defense and the United States Armed Forces. Our Nation needs you, and I'm enormously proud of you. I am humbled and honored to be on your team.

A direction-lacking rhetorical jumble

First, the war against Al Qaida must not end.

Then, contradictorily, it must.

And somehow, Afghanistan — unmentioned and apparently left up to readers' knowledge of the current military situation — is (we should probably also assume) a part of the war against Al Qaida.

Or is it part of something else?

Who knows?

Miller appears not to.

Indeed, a person (of even above-average sense) would have great difficulty interpreting what it is that Acting Secretary Chris Miller is saying that he, she and we specifically should do.

Notice another, broader point

Trump came into office proposing that we leave Afghanistan.

Now, a long and tweet-laden four years later, he may (or may not) be determined about it.

Even if Trump is serious about exiting Afghanistan, his remaining two months in leadership will not be enough time to get the massive and massively resisting American Military Industrial Complex to comply with his will.

From this four year procrastination, we can see how monumentally unfocused — and fundamentally unserious in general — President Trump has been.

The moral? — The US is predominantly led by people — who cannot think, speak or act with strategically wise clarity

"Kakistocracy" is the perfect word to describe our shared situation.

PeteFree.com

Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller's "initial" memo to DoD — is representatively meaningless