Some legacy media outlets are using the term “bloodbath”. No bloodbath, we simply need the best leaders in place to ensure conflict is deterred. This includes JAGs.
The initial culling of U.S. Military leadership was announced on Friday night by President Trump and Secretary of Defense Hegseth. There have been some hues and cries, but for the most part, the Deep State still seems to be in a state of shock.
The reality is that we are in the middle of a World on Fire including the American border and homeland - but President Trump is now in office, and he is the world’s best firefighter.
Eisenhower went from Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) in December 1939 to Five Star General (O-11) in December 1944. He had been identified by General Marshall, the General of the Army, as the key Army Officer to lead America to victory so Eisenhower was promoted over many officers, and many officers were removed as no longer being worthy of service or position. Nothing personal - the Country and Constitution come first.
Retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine was a General Officer who bucked the trend of “Woke-ism” and now has been nominated over many Generals and Admirals to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at this seminal moment in American history - just like Eisenhower was.
One interesting note was that the three Senior Lawyers (Judge Advocate Generals) of the Army, Navy, and Air Force were also fired. The Navy JAG covers Marine Corps and the Air Force JAG covers Space Force. I don’t really know for sure the reasons, but the trendline of “Lawfare” within the military was becoming untenable. In this context, “Lawfare” meant both JAG officers having undue influence on operational decisions as well as JAG Officers supporting the relentless and toxic Woke-ness that was taking over the military.
I’m all for JAG officers - we need them. I didn’t get through almost 40 years of Government service in uniform and as a civilian without being charged or indicted without excellent JAG officers and Government Civilian lawyers who I worked with very closely.
I first understood “Lawfare”, i.e. giving lawyers operational decision authority, in October 2001 when I was at Central Command. There was a situation where Bin Laden had been identified by an unarmed Air Force Predator drone. This was significant and within minutes there was a huddle of top leadership and a debate had broken out between General Tommy Franks and his senior legal counsel. The JAG officer argued that crashing the unarmed drone into Bin Laden would be considered assassination. The drone was waived off and the rest is history. A couple of hours after this spin up, I was walking down the hall back to my office spaces and a fellow officer pointed toward the Navy JAG Officer walking toward us and said - “She’s the one” who blocked the opportunity to get Bin Laden.
I love my lawyers and JAG Officers - they are to give best advice and counsel at all times, but in the end, the ultimate authority is with the Commander, not the lawyer.
