Posted on Sep 6, 2021
Fired Marine’s question about leader accountability should not be dismissed
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Accountability
Analysis
Afghanistan
LTC
Marines
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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This quote is stupid: “Their exalted position shouldn’t permit them to execute without question an interminable and costly war to no end.” The military is an instrument of national power. It does not go to war unilaterally.
The rear view mirror is 20-20. I don’t recall anyone saying gosh we only have 11 days to evacuate because the country would fall in 11 days in a major Taliban offensive. Nobody predicted it, but many will act like we should have known about it.
Commanders have to make assumptions due to a lack of a crystal ball. They assumed they had more time which supported the orderly movement of troops and vehicles, but the fall in 11 days nullified the orderly movement plans. This loss was a team effort.
The rear view mirror is 20-20. I don’t recall anyone saying gosh we only have 11 days to evacuate because the country would fall in 11 days in a major Taliban offensive. Nobody predicted it, but many will act like we should have known about it.
Commanders have to make assumptions due to a lack of a crystal ball. They assumed they had more time which supported the orderly movement of troops and vehicles, but the fall in 11 days nullified the orderly movement plans. This loss was a team effort.
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Suspended Profile
MAJ Ken Landgren the last days, yes he owns it. It was the greatest national embarrassment since Saigon 75. Hate for Biden, please. He just has a weak team and they let him down. I’m big on leadership, there isn’t much right now.
MAJ Ken Landgren
Maj Timothy Robertson - Dude Biden was not the J-4 planning the movement. The military creates the movement plans, not the POTUS. Do you understand that concept? Anyone who says it is all Biden’s fault, you are ignorant and stupid.
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Suspended Profile
MAJ Ken Landgren you clearly don’t get it. Good luck. The fact that we ended up in the debacle at Kabul because we gave up Bagram escapes you. You need to familiarize yourself with the concept of accountability.
MAJ Ken Landgren
Maj Timothy Robertson - Bagram is only one piece. Is that all you have to say. Sounds pretty myopic on your part and your ignorance is luminous. There is infinitely more to leaving the country than retaining an air base. Adios!
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And it never should. We as leaders in the military need to ask this question when an order is given in our minds....it is ethical, moral, and legal. If it meets those requirements, then by all means carry out the order. What I often have challenges with are orders/directions that are made in a vacuum. Knee-jerk reactions instead of applying some critical thinking to the situation and coming out with the best solution that still meets the intent. We have to get better as a military of applying those skills and they truly need to be taught (if they aren't already) at every leadership school up and down the chain of command.
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TSgt Michael Brandt
Very well said
I would also look at the NCOs under your command and see what ideas they have.
I would also look at the NCOs under your command and see what ideas they have.
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LTC Michael Brantley
That is a great idea, but at this level it wasn’t the NCOs that needed to step up and provide insight and ideas. The GOs needed to provide the Strategic concepts that were absolutely missing. If they did provide then the Biden team completely ignored them. If the GOs didn’t then they all should be fired. The title of the thread is leader accountability. It is obvious there wasn’t leadership.
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CW3 Michael Bodnar
LTC Michael Brantley - we need it at every level unfortunately. I'm not 100% certain but I think the GO's did provide that insight only for it to be ignored. But, the other side of me feels the opposite. I've discussed this with many of my military colleagues (at all levels of rank) and they feel the same way I do in that there is no way they would've flown these people out of HKIA. You cannot secure that area and it was way too easy for someone to sneak something in and cause what happened. We are getting our asses handed to us on the international scene and we literally just opened the door up for Russia and China to swoop in and take control of that region.
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