Joint Chiefs Chairman Makes Case For Non-Military Solutions

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, U.S. Navy, addresses service members assigned to the U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., on Oct. 31, 2008. DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy. (Released)

From The L.A. Times:

Adm. Michael Mullen says the Defense Department should tell leaders when military force is not the best response and be able to transfer resources to other agencies when needed.

Reporting from Washington -- The country's top uniformed officer said Monday that the Defense Department should be ready to tell civilian leaders when military force is not the best response -- and be prepared to transfer resources to other agencies during times of crisis.

Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, previously has made the case for nonmilitary solutions to world problems, but his comments Monday were his most forceful to date on the subject.

They also came as he prepares to report to a new president who has pledged to strengthen America's "soft," or nonmilitary, power abroad.

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My Comment: He is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. What is he doing writing and reading reports on not using the military that is under his command?

If he was more concerned about non-military issues .... he should join the State Department or apply for a job as one of the President's advisers. But since he is the Chairman and not a University academic .... what he should do is write reports on how the military can be used effectively to solve world problems ... and why it should not be used in some other situations.

In short .... from my simple point of view .... it appears he is focused on issues that should be left to others .... and he is not focusing on what should be his responsibility ... which is to be a warrior who is ready to give the President military options when he is called upon.