Donna Diane

Is another Chowder Society needed? My gut says yes!

Updated June 15, 2010 to reflect on Gen Amos.

Robert Gates does not like the Marine Corps. From needing a committee to decline a Medal of Honor for Sergeant Rafael Peralta to canceling a vehicle that the Commandant of the Marine Corps has supported for the Marines, the warning signs have been there all along.

Is Gates obfuscating the true issue? The Department of the Navy wants to use the existing and unprotected LCAC to land Marines because Gates and the Department of the Navy claim we will never have to land Marines on a hostile beach again. How totally absurd to believe that you can accurately predict how warfare will unfold and that every thug who initiates hostile action against the US and our allies will abide by Gates’ assessment. It seems likely to me that we will indeed need the capability to land on a hostile beach so what is actually at play here with Gates and cutting the EFV?

Cutting funding for the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle gives Gates the appearance of being fiscally responsible. But it goes further to open the door for finding other ways to reduce the size and power of our Marine Corps under the guise of saving money, and therefore places our freedom and country in greater danger. Why greater danger? Because only the Marines can be sent to war with Presidential approval alone, congressional approval is not necessary for the initial deployment of Marines to protect us from eminent danger. Thus they defend us while our government decides how to proceed in the long term.

The Marine Corps accounts for approximately six percent of our military budget and the cost per Marine is $20,000 less than the cost of a serviceman from our other services. Our Marines are already on a strict budget with very little fluff. They are not trying to expand and take over the duties of the Army, Navy or Air Force. They are simply trying to make their force more efficient and effective. Getting Marines to the war quickly and in good shape certainly makes them more effective. Tinkering with the Marine Corps budget and equipment needs makes no sense to me at all, why would you want to weaken the one military service that can defend us at a moments notice, especially in this dangerous era?

Since it makes no sense to attack the Marine Corps budget in the face of the other services who never run lean, I ask: is there something more afoot here than budget cutting? What is Gate’s ulterior motive and is he the front man for someone else?

For those who read history, I see signs that we may be in need of another Chowder Society. I think whoever becomes Commandant will certainly need the behind-the-scenes support of the other contenders to help defend and strengthen the Marine Corps. In fact, all of our Marines need to be united in this effort.

I do believe that Gates respects the sacrifice of our service members. I once saw a video of him amid caskets returning from Iraq. The emotions on his face revealed a man who felt deeply for our fallen warriors. However, it’s evident that he’s weak and easily persuaded to do the bidding of other high level officers and politicians.

So, General Mattis, LtGen Dunford, LtGen Allen, and all other Marines: regardless of who is selected to be Commandant, your importance to the Corps extends beyond that position. We will need all Marines to act to defend and strengthen our precious Marine Corps. Even though I have no right to ask any Marine to do more than they have already done, I do ask my Marines to keep an eye open and if necessary emplace another Chowder Society.

The ghosts of Twinning, Thomas, Krulak, Hittle, Heinl, Edson, etal are watching….

On a final note, I hope to see LtGen Allen heading CENTCOM after Gen Petraeus.

Update: With Gate’s recommendation that General Amos be the next Commandant I see history repeating itself. Eisenhower selected David M. Shoup to be Commandant because he believed he could control him. Eisenhower was wrong. My guess is that General James F. Amos will take good care of the Marines.