And, the job of the military is to do what they're told. And how they're told, and when they're told. "Ours is not to question why, ours is but to do and die." Now that's as I recall. A lot of effort was spent teaching that to people.

(A "Chief", at least those that I knew, had more latitude than anyone, including company-grade officers, in many, many areas. At least in the "how". And that still isn't much.)

The folks in the military seem to be in the position of several lifeguards being told to jump into the surf and rescue a drowning family. They do so, only to find out that it's not a live family out there, but a number of jewel boxes which belong to the Fire Chiefs' friends and family. They bring those back.

And give them to the Fire Chief, who shares them with his friends. And family. After all, the lifeguards are under the direction of the Fire Department, and the Fire Chief is the head of that. In the meantime one of them dies. His family is distraught, but the Chief ignores their cries.

The Fire Chief, who as a fireman and lifeguard was not always around, and never did jump into the surf, praises these lifeguards to the heavens for their great public service for bringing back the jewel boxes.

And there is no doubt the lifeguards were courageous, honorable, brave, and deserving of every bit of praise they get.

Several people really do drown while the lifeguards are busy out there rescuing that "family".

Now if one of the lifeguards said it was worth it, that even though there wasn't a drowning family out there the jewels are awfully nice for the Fire Chief's friends and family, while I would admire his prowess as a lifeguard, endlessly respect his courage as a human being, and honor his integrity, I'd probably ignore his thoughts on that particular matter.

Why does this all seem so simple?

Arf