Bob McCarty Writes

After reading an article, Military Fears ‘Unknown Quantity, in the Washington Times today, I’m saddened to report that a man I once respected and admired seems to have succumbed to “Obamamania” and thrown his support behind Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama.

That man is retired Air Force Gen. Merrill McPeak. He is described in the article as a national co-chairman of the Obama campaign who abandoned his membership in the Republican Party as a form of protest (i.e., he believed the second war in Iraq was unnecessary).

As a young Air Force captain stationed at Kadena Air Base on the Japanese island of Okinawa during the late ‘80s, I had the opportunity to brief the four-star general on more than one occasion when he visited the base in his capacity then as Commander in Chief of Pacific Air Forces. And his reputation preceded his arrival.

During a long and distinguished Air Force career, General McPeak became known as a tough, to-the-point leader with a reputation for wasting no time when it came to sacking individuals who failed to meet his high standards. Most memorable about each of the briefings I delivered in the 313th Air Division conference room was the fact that the general spoke hardly a word and asked no questions of me.

Roughly ten minutes. Few words. No questions.

Maybe that’s the reason he’s supporting Obama now: He hasn’t asked the tough questions and, therefore, doesn’t know enough about the junior senator from Illinois.

On the other hand, maybe General McPeak is simply bucking for an Obama Cabinet post — perhaps as Secretary of Defense. That wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Any questions?