What's the Languish perspective on Gen. Petraeus?

[The Brain]

-1 drink?

[Ed Anger]

-1 drink?

The booze was cursed. Should have had a wizard look it over first.

[DGuller]

He was the American version of Julius Caesar. The Soldiers loved him. He could have burned his political capital and marched on Washington to save the Republic and reestablish free-market capitalism. Instead he decided to get a job that would in time open his way to the Whitehouse, and Obama ordered his goons to scoop his emails for any incriminating evidence to take him out.

Saved for court-martial.

[Zanza]

He was the American version of Julius Caesar. The Soldiers loved him. He could have burned his political capital and marched on Washington to save the Republic

Wat?

[The Brain]

Americans save stuff by destroying it.

[The Minsky Moment]

He was the American version of Julius Caesar. The Soldiers loved him. He could have burned his political capital and marched on Washington to save the Republic

Wat?

OK, OK, but the free market capitalism part was right.
Or was that Cato?

[The Brain]

Cato?

[Jacob]

Was Cato Institutionalized?

[The Minsky Moment]

Was Cato Institutionalized?

No.   Arterial Emptying Individually.  But he left his Heritage.

[grumbler]

That makes sense, though the system appears a bit unfortunate if there is no way of retaining the services of successful fighting generals if they get too senior other than making them Army Chief of Staff, which they may not be suited for anyway.

Well, they can invent new and temporary 4-star positions, as they did for Petraeus, but ultimately, you are right.  That's kinda the deal when you put on your fourth star, though.  You get your turn in the barrel, and then retire so the next guy can get his fourth star. 

The guy who didn't get promoted because Petraeus got extended probably feels pretty strongly about that. 

[Barrister]

That makes sense, though the system appears a bit unfortunate if there is no way of retaining the services of successful fighting generals if they get too senior other than making them Army Chief of Staff, which they may not be suited for anyway.

Well, they can invent new and temporary 4-star positions, as they did for Petraeus, but ultimately, you are right.  That's kinda the deal when you put on your fourth star, though.  You get your turn in the barrel, and then retire so the next guy can get his fourth star. 

The guy who didn't get promoted because Petraeus got extended probably feels pretty strongly about that. 

Isn't that something of a problem throughout the US military?  That the whole place (or a good chunk of it) operates on an "up or out" mentality?

[grumbler]

Isn't that something of a problem throughout the US military?  That the whole place (or a good chunk of it) operates on an "up or out" mentality?

On the commissioned side, it is up or out.  On the far more important long-term-professional-enlisted side, that's not true to nearly the same extent.  I don't think that it is a problem at all.  Petraeus was almost 60 when he retired, and the military is a younger man's game (sorry, Siege).

[dps]

Isn't that something of a problem throughout the US military?  That the whole place (or a good chunk of it) operates on an "up or out" mentality?

On the commissioned side, it is up or out.  On the far more important long-term-professional-enlisted side, that's not true to nearly the same extent.  I don't think that it is a problem at all.  Petraeus was almost 60 when he retired, and the military is a younger man's game (sorry, Siege).

If you don't have that up or out situation, you end up with 55 year old 2nd lieutenants.  I'm not sure I 100% agree with grumbler's statement that the military is a young man's game when it comes to the high command types, but it certainly applies at the lower levels.

[Siege]

Isn't that something of a problem throughout the US military?  That the whole place (or a good chunk of it) operates on an "up or out" mentality?

On the commissioned side, it is up or out.  On the far more important long-term-professional-enlisted side, that's not true to nearly the same extent.  I don't think that it is a problem at all.  Petraeus was almost 60 when he retired, and the military is a younger man's game (sorry, Siege).

Racism!!!
I mean, Ageism!!!

I'm only 42, I max out my PT test (push ups and sit ups, not the 2 mile run), and I bring a lot of nasty skills to the table.
I know a lot of young sergeants that can't compete with me.
Though I also know a lot of young sergeants that out perform me physically by a large marging.

[11B4V]

I'm only 42

well it just goes downhill from there brother.