NYT, "The Not-So-Long Gray Line".

[necso]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/opinion/28truscott.html?pagewanted=print

[Demit]

1. It would be nice to have a little hint of what this article is about and

why you think we should read it.

[necso]

3. The article is rather long,

and I am not sure that I can do it justice within the paragraph limit.

My interest was in seeing that this editorial was not overlooked in the editorial index, as it has been some hours since this piece came out. Generally the longer the delay, the greater the risk of this happening... And it is worth a read.

But as you insist.

"However, the honor code (ed, most notably the breakdown in honesty and trust) broke down before our eyes as staff and faculty jobs at West Point began filling with officers returning from Vietnam. Some had covered their uniforms with bogus medals and made their careers with lies - inflating body counts, ignoring drug abuse, turning a blind eye to racial discrimination, and worst of all, telling everyone above them in the chain of command that we were winning a war they knew we were losing. The lies became embedded in the curriculum of the academy, and finally in its moral DNA."

Speaks to institutionalizing the corruption of core values (those values necessary for the efficient and effective operation of an organization) within an organization, in this case the Army. Once such corruption becomes institutionalized (that is, it becomes part of institutional culture), then it is much harder to root out. And, of course, this corruption (of core values) may well drive out the best of those serving, leaving behind a body consisting primarily of (and being controlled by) those who will accept this corruption of core values as the normal course of things

"'I feel like politicians have created a difficult situation for us," he (ed, a young officer serving in Iraq) told me. "I know I'm going to be coming back here about a year from now. I want to get married. I want to have a life. But I feel like if I get out when my commitment is up, who's going to be coming here in my place? I feel this obligation to see it through, but everybody over here knows we're just targets. Sooner or later, your luck's going to run out.'

At the time, he was commanding three vehicle convoys a day down a treacherous road to pick up hot food for his troops from the civilian contractors who never left their company's 'dining facility' about five miles away. He walked daily patrols through the old city of Mosul, a hotbed of insurgent activity that erupted in violence after the 101st left it last year. The Army will need this lieutenant 20 years from now when he could be a colonel, or 30 years from now when he could have four stars on his collar. But I doubt he will be in uniform long enough to make captain."

Contractors increasing the risks for the troops, the risk of long-term harm to the military, etc.

...

I was just looking to throw a life-preserver. This piece is worth one.

[Burried News]

2. Very good article. Last two paragraphs quoted below.

"When members of the West Point class of 1969 and other young officers resigned nearly en masse in the mid-1970's because of Vietnam, Washington had a fix. Way too late, and with no enthusiasm, the politicians pulled out of Vietnam, ended the draft and instituted the "all volunteer" military, offering large increases in pay and benefits. Now, however, the Pentagon has run out of fixes; the only choices appear to be going back to the draft or scaling back our military ambitions.

The problem the Army created in Vietnam has never really been solved. If you keep faith with soldiers and tell them the truth even when it threatens their beliefs, you run the risk of losing them. But if you peddle cleverly manipulated talking points to people who trust you not to lie, you won't merely lose them, you'll break their hearts. "

[Demit]

4. It's a good op-ed and a sad one.

--about how West Point grads are resigning from the Army as soon as they can because of disillusionment with the lies. How the Army will suffer down the road because they won't have these combat-hardened men to become their seasoned colonels and generals. How this same exact thing happened after Vietnam--they lose the best and the brightest and they have not learned from their mistake.

[Boo Boo]

5. I'll second that nomination! /nt

[ypsiguy]

6. Must Read

This is a must read. Nominate for Home Page

[newyawker99]

7. Hi ypsiguy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: