Planning and the proverbial "Squirrel!"

[Fuchs]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_your_ass ?

So why exactly should a modern officer in a should-be command system have a need to cover his rear like that when officers who served under a murderous, micro-management-obsessed dictator didn't?


Isn't "CYA" an explanation for an interim solution instead of for a really good command system?

edit: Lest I forget; aren't spoken orders not actually preferable for "CYA" because their existence can be denied?