Rotation of Top Military Criticized
25 Nov. Washington Post - Rotation of Top Military Criticized.
Quote:
In generations past, when generals went off to lengthy wars, they tended to stay away for years. But consider the current case of Iraq. There, the Pentagon has adopted a policy of rotating generals about as frequently as it rotates troops, which means few have remained in the field longer than a year at a time.
Justifying the periodic changeover in top brass, defense officials cite a desire to keep commanders with the divisions and corps they lead and thus maintain unit cohesion. Other considerations play a part, too, officials say, including the grueling, unconventional nature of the conflict, a concern for sustaining a decent quality of life in today's all-volunteer military and the prospect that U.S. involvement in Iraq is going to last awhile and so will require a system for replenishing military leaders as well as their forces...
Still, with the U.S. military occupation of Iraq now well into its third year, some defense experts in Congress and think tanks have challenged the turnover in senior military posts, warning that it has led to a loss of experienced leadership in the field...
