Why Peter Pace had to go

By Michael J.W. Stickings

I'll defer to Steve Clemons on this:

Pete Pace is out, and it's good for the country.

This is not quite on the same par as Truman firing MacArthur, but a civilian leader firing a general now and then can be healthy -- particularly when that General -- America's top general -- ventures into political matters that have absolutely nothing to do with his responsibilities as he did in writing a character commendation to the judge before Scooter Libby's recent sentencing...

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In a similar political spat, Pete Pace was brown-nosing the President (he thought) in his condemnation of homosexuals as immoral. Again, this is another political issue he should have remained out of -- but given his responsibilities in managing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, there is reason why he might have commented to some degree.

But Pace's comments weren't structural -- weren't designed to affirm "don't ask, don't tell." They were political and denigrated a group of Americans currently serving in the military with honor -- at exactly the same time he has allowed the issuance of over 125,000 "moral waivers" in the case of other Americans entering the military with serious criminal violations on their record.

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It's good to have Peter Pace out. The military is powerful enough in this country without inappropriate political posturing by its top commander in matters dealing with complex social issues like gay rights or weighing in on the degree of sentence deserved by a senior White House official convicted of a serious federal crime.

I would use stronger language than "inappropriate political posturing," but Steve's points are well taken. In just the past few months, Pace has proven himself to be an anti-gay bigot in league with the discredited lowlifes -- Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Bolton, Perle, Feith et al. -- who excused the felonious behaviour of Scooter Libby.

Yes, indeed, it's good he's gone.