Military Advice Quotes
There is frequently a disagreement between the military and civilian leaders just as there are disagreements among most political personnel. Hawks, and people who have had experience in the military tend to think that military advice on military matters should be determinative with the President and Congress. Others tend to believe that military advice should be considered, but if it were always adhered to, there would be no point in having civilian control over the military. See {639667} for an example of when military leadership advice prevailed and it was a mistake.
The only soldier ever so honored
The Pentagon had requested 2 more battalions of Marines to protect the Danang Air Base in Vietnam. The President was persuaded that since the South Vietnamese could not be motivated to fight, that we would not likely defeat the Vietcong and that we should negotiate a an American exit. However, his security and military advisors told Johnson that unless the manpower request was granted, our major airbase in Vietnam could fall to the enemy with large American Casualties. And there was no assurance that the North Vietnamese would even be willing to negotiate. Johnson realized at that point in time that the Vietnam War was unwinnable unless we resorted to nuclear weapons. With American lives that needed “protection” the President was caught in the dilemma that brought down his administration. He again escalated the war when he wanted to do the opposite but felt that he could not.
In his relationship with FDR General Marshall was the Senior Army Officer and Chief of Staff of the Army during WWII. What was amazing about Marshall was how he argued forcefully from his narrower perspective as the leader of the army, but did not resent it when President Roosevelt decided differently citing wider, non-military consideration. Roosevelt had the almost unique ability to make decisions from the big picture perspective and have most of his subordinates with narrower responsibility and perspective accept understandingly.
