People ask: Why is firing generals such a big deal? Don’t we have plenty?
Yes, we have many generals and flag officers. They do important work, carry enormous responsibility, and possess decades of experience. We need them.
I spent more than two decades as a Marine Corps officer, including three combat tours, serving under presidents of both parties. I saw firsthand why senior military leaders must be able to give civilian officials candid advice, especially when that advice is unwelcome.
The danger in firing so many is not simply losing individual leaders. It is the message sent to everyone who remains: Give advice perceived as wrong, point out the dangers of a decision from above, or show insufficient personal loyalty, and you will be next…
