Posted on Oct 28, 2014
U.S. military defies the President (over Ebola)
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The U.S. military has indicated (actually, they have disobeyed) they will not comply with the White House's recommended measures to deal with the Ebola virus.
Now, this discussion is not about Ebola. It is, however, about the Department of Defense openly defying the executive branch of government.
Is this a first? Do you agree? Comments, please!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/28/obama-ebola-aid-workers-west-africa/18059485/
Now, this discussion is not about Ebola. It is, however, about the Department of Defense openly defying the executive branch of government.
Is this a first? Do you agree? Comments, please!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/28/obama-ebola-aid-workers-west-africa/18059485/
Leadership
Orders
Defiance
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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I read it the same way as SGM (Join to see). By reading the attached article, it seems the military is practicing the time honored past time of "adding to but not taking away from" a policy.
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PO1 Michael Burdick
Well said! To say it's disobeying an order is nothing but empty political rhetoric. Like you said, they can add to but not take away from a policy.
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Instead Of Sending Patients Back To America, Send A Hospital Ship Over There To Handle everything....
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Here's what John Q. Public had to say about it on FB:
"POTUS says that Ebola quarantine rules are different for military and civilians because:
1) Military members are not working directly with patients. (in what rational universe does this make sense?)
2) Military members aren't "volunteers" (while they probably are somewhat mortified to find out what they volunteered for, they are indeed volunteers. How does POTUS not understand this?)
3) The civilian volunteers are "taking time away from their families" (this is just offensive to anyone who has spent time in uniform, especially since 2001).
This might recommend to suspicion that we're not being told the truth about the Ebola support operation currently being conducted by our US military. It also raises fair questions about whether the President has any earthly idea what life is like for his all-volunteer service members. To the extent he doesn't "get it" ... shame on the advisors who are supposed to be making sure he does."
https://www.facebook.com/jqpublic?fref=nf
"POTUS says that Ebola quarantine rules are different for military and civilians because:
1) Military members are not working directly with patients. (in what rational universe does this make sense?)
2) Military members aren't "volunteers" (while they probably are somewhat mortified to find out what they volunteered for, they are indeed volunteers. How does POTUS not understand this?)
3) The civilian volunteers are "taking time away from their families" (this is just offensive to anyone who has spent time in uniform, especially since 2001).
This might recommend to suspicion that we're not being told the truth about the Ebola support operation currently being conducted by our US military. It also raises fair questions about whether the President has any earthly idea what life is like for his all-volunteer service members. To the extent he doesn't "get it" ... shame on the advisors who are supposed to be making sure he does."
https://www.facebook.com/jqpublic?fref=nf
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SSgt (Join to see)
If President Obama thinks that he is blithely get his way and IF something were to happen, you know the response from family would disastrously received and Democrats you need to hear the military on this.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
Since less than 1% of Americans serve, I'm not sure democrats are all that afraid of us as a voting block.
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PO1 Ron Clark
Capt, #1. A member volunteers for the military. #2. After you sign the contract and swear your oath of allegiance, then you are a GI, that's Goverment Issue. In other words a conscript to the government, YOU GO WHERE YOU ARE ORDERED! And lastly this Democrat could doesnt care who votes as a block!
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Lt Col (Join to see)
My only point was to SSgt Olson, that it doesn't matter how disastrously received any bad new is on the part of military families, because there just won't be enough of them to overcome any of the other special interest groups.
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LTC Strickland, I don't read it that way. The President's comments seem targeted to the general population. Military commanders have different guidance and operational readiness concerns. We'll need them to help maintain order and discipline if things go wrong.
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SGM (Join to see)
Capt Williams, if that is a fact, agree. However, there are usually other 'facts' unknown to us. My guess is the right hand and the left hand were not coordinated. If that is the case, the President might have swiftly corrected it; if not the case, you will see it drag out due to factors unknown to us.
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SGM (Join to see)
White House on back foot on Ebola
Officials grapple to justify differences between military and civilian approaches.
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LTC Jason Strickland
SGM (Join to see), excellent arguments across the board. And in your capacity as a Sr. Advisor in the EPA, I'll defer to your perspective. (For now, at least...let's see how this plays out)
Thanks for the candid debate!
Thanks for the candid debate!
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SGM (Join to see)
LTC Strickland, thank you. Often many things going on in the background that never see the light of day. Public perceptions may or may not be close to reality. I don't like that nor agree with it at all. Have even seen where policies were "tested" for reactions. That is not likely the case here. I really think we have some handlers/advisers who are very much out of touch because they don't understand the Doctrine of a Completed Staff Action--or choose to ignore it--coordinate with anyone remotely affected by your action or inaction.
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I have not a clue if this is a first time that the military has 'struck out on its own' for decissions...but I suspect not. I think that it is appropriate for DoD to determine what they can and cannot do, based on mission, need, and other variables that are not always understood by politicians (especially those that have no military experience). Often times, what is spoken sounds good, but if implimented, will not pass the sniff test in action. Military is proceeding with a 21 day quarentine, not recommended/deemed overkill by CDC... HOWEVER: military members come home and spread out, have concerned family members, community stresses because people at home don't really know WHAT they did, WHO they came in contact with, or exactly WHERE they were at. By placing in 21 days quarentine, while it may be overkill, it will lend credibility to the families, friends, and communities that are receiving these members back home. There is less chance for hostilities or worry against these team members.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
I don't think most people are upset about the quarantine itself. I think they are upset that military members, who the administration says "will not have contact with patients" will be quarantined, but civilians working with patients will not "because they are taking time away from their families".
I'd be on board with a quarantine for both. Or only for people in contact with patients. But to tell the military "you are going to quarantine, but these civilians can't spend any more time away from their families"? Seems somewhat unjust to me.
I'd be on board with a quarantine for both. Or only for people in contact with patients. But to tell the military "you are going to quarantine, but these civilians can't spend any more time away from their families"? Seems somewhat unjust to me.
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