One Up, One Down
Two years ago, we celebrated the ascension of General Peter Pace to the nation's top military post, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Those of us wearing or who once wore Marine green applauded loudly. General Pace had become the first leatherneck to lay claim to the chairmanship. About time, we said.
But over four years as Vice Chairman and two as Chairman, General Pace became closely identified with a war whose course has been, to be kind, uneven. Thus, sadly, and shockingly, General Pace's tenure came to a premature end last month when Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that he was not going to recommend to President Bush that the general be renominated for what has been a de rigueur second two-year term for the CJCS.
Mr. Gates said his soundings among both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill had persuaded him that General Pace's Senate confirmation hearing would become a fractious and highly divisive forum for debating the President's Iraq War policies. The country didn't need that and neither did General Pace, the Secretary said.
The war had done in General Pace, just as it has ground up more than 3,500 American men and women who died wearing their country's uniform and thousands more who bear its battle scars. We salute the general, offer him a heartfelt Semper Fidelis, and thank him for 40 years of devoted and distinguished service.
We congratulate and extend our warm wishes to General Pace's designated successor, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Mullen. His two years as CNO have been productive and, at times, visionary. No one quite knows how his concept for the 1,000-ship navy, unveiled in the November 2005 Proceedings, will eventually play out, but that he embraced the idea is evidence of an agile mind.
There is, of course, more than meets the eye in the departure of General Pace and the elevation of Admiral Mullen. This month, in a rare but welcome appearance in the pages of Proceedings, our CEO, Tom Wilkerson, unpeels that onion. See page 12, "Kabuki in the E-Ring." In addition, Tom Bowman, military correspondent for National Public Radio, provides a profile of the admiral. You'll find "Mike Mullen's Surprise Promotion" on page 15.
Admiral Mullen's ascendance is another feather in the cap of the Naval Academy Class of 1968. The class can now count among its number one CJCS (Mullen), two CNOs (Jay Johnson and Mullen), a Commandant of the Marine Corps (Michael Hagee), a Secretary of the Navy (James Webb), and a U.S. senator (Webb again). Hats off to '68!
As always, there are enough stories in Proceedings to please most palates. But let me especially suggest taking a look at a short, powerful piece by Army Lieutenant Colonel Bob Bateman. It's called "A Parade You Don't Forget." You'll find it on page 18.
As most USNI members know, Proceedings has a sister magazine, the bi-monthly Naval History. This year marks the 20th anniversary of its birth. I have seen an advance copy of the August issue and I promise you it's a keeper. The cover, which highlights the issue's focus on the six-month Guadalcanal campaign, is as striking as any I've ever seen. It also includes a gatefold that chronicles in maps, photos, and text the key battles of the struggle to take and hold the island.
Naval History was the brainchild of my able predecessor, Fred Rainbow, and its first editor, Paul Stillwell, who guided it through its initial five years. Paul now writes a column for the magazine and is the Naval Institute's Oral History guru. Two highly knowledgeable and imaginative editors followed Paul. Fred Schultz, currently Senior Editor of Proceedings, held the reins for 13 years. Richard Latture came on board two years ago and quickly proved himself a worthy successor to Paul and Fred. We are pleased to be associated with such a fine publication.