Gen. Miller's Genuine Send-off

Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller--he of the "Gitmo-ize" Abu Ghraib fame--has just retired. From the NYT:

At his retirement ceremony Monday, General Miller received the Distinguished Service Medal, which is awarded for exceptionally commendable service in a position of great responsibility, Army officials said.

After all, it ain't easy ordering abuse and then lying to investigators about it.

UPDATE: Commenter Zathras makes a good point:

In the context of this administration -- to be fair, in the context of the modern Pentagon, Maj. Gen. Miller's retirement with a DSM is equivalent to a dishonorable discharge.  Other general officers with smaller stains on their records -- Ricardo Sanchez, for example -- have gotten promotions and more responsible assignments.

Miller had  become  P.R. problem and was summarily shoved off the plank. That's what counts as accountability in Pentagon and administration these days: Screw up so badly your name becomes synonomous with abusive interrogations and.... you get sent home with a fluffy cake and a big medal. (Zathras doesn't cite the administration--I do.)

Comments

[Zathras]

In the context of this administration -- to be fair, in the context of the modern Pentagon, Maj. Gen. Miller's retirement with a DSM is equivalent to a dishonorable discharge. Other general officers with smaller stains on their records -- Ricardo Sanchez, for example -- have gotten promotions and more responsible assignments.

This is a serious deficiency right at the heart of American military service. When things go very badly under your command you don't get relieved, or sanctioned in any other way. You get quietly eased out, later, with a nice parting medal. It like corporate governance, only with less expensive golden parachutes.

If George Marshall had run his Army this way from 1939 to 1942 we'd all be speaking German today.

[Eric Umansky]

Of course, good point. I've added it to the post itself.

[Zathras]

Incidentally, I don't think we disagree on this point about Bush administration civilian appointees. However, all these guys will be gone in two and a half years. The career military won't, and it concerns me greatly that the reluctance to recognize and punish failure that was such a big factor in the Vietnam nightmare is still alive in the uniformed services.

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