Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller Robert Hale and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen testify to the House Armed Services Committee on the FY 2011 Department of Defense budget request at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 3, 2010. DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy. (Released)From Time Magazine:
Test pilots call it "expanding the envelope," and it means flying a new aircraft at varying speeds and conditions to ensure it's safe to do so. That blazes a trail for other pilots to follow. In the same way, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expanding the envelope for military accountability.
There have been so many heads lopped off at the Pentagon since Gates took over in 2006 it's almost as if he has launched a second French Revolution. First to go in early 2007 were a handful of senior Army brass following the revelations of poor conditions for wounded troops at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Army's flagship hospital. Then, in 2008, he canned the Air Force's top two leaders — one civilian and one military — over their sloppy handling of nuclear missiles and other atomic gear.
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My Comment: I have no problem with accountability in the military .... but Secretary of Gates has made some mistakes (i.e. the F-35 program), should he be held accountable for that? My guess is that he will not be held responsible.