Simper FI General Pace

As a veteran of the Army and many years serving on a big city police department, a quasi-military organization, I have spent the majority of my life in uniform and carrying a weapon. During all of those years I have had occasion to see men of high caliber, moral fiber and professionalism be forced out of a ranking positions, then as in all forms of military units the individual was simply expected to fall on their sword, as all good soldiers must do.

Thus, I read the decision of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Peter Pace to turn down an offer to voluntarily retire rather than be forced out of office as that of the caliber of men that made the Marine Corps into the proud unit it is today.

General Pace's only transgression is that he was the proverbial sheep led to slaughter for the Bush administration and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. They needed someone of high ranking to take the blame for a lot of the negative publicity they were receiving on the war in Iraq. What better person to send to the wolves then the chairmen of the whole ball of wax.

They knew he was a professional soldier and as such was expected to simply say yes sir, retire and fade away as General Douglas McArthur said all officers do and they were incorrect in their thinking.

General Pace is one man who felt taking this position when his beloved corps and the entire military, which he was in control of was fighting a war was simply not done and will serve out his remaining time of office.

General Pace should be proud of many of the things the military has accomplished while he has been in control. Yes, there have been incidents occur which he took the blame for as all men of high character do, but the truth in the matter is the orders for some of the programs came from individuals in a higher position then he.

My hat is off to a man who stands by his record and his decisions, simper fi General.