Repercussions

The repercussions from this lie are that there are serious problems whenever and where ever General Shinseki appears to advocate ANY plan or vision on the Army of the future. Where there were four or five questions about an issue, there are now twenty or thirty. His ideas are now under the microscope in every manner and from every direction. He has damaged his credibility and therefore, as the Chief of Staff and most senior officer in the United States Army, cannot effectively advocate to fill the needs of an entire branch of service of the United States Military.

When he started out on this process, of wanting for some symbol to instill pride in the force, it would have been an easy matter for him to select anything, ANYTHING, other than the Black Beret of the Rangers. It has already been paid for in blood spilt in foreign lands, defending our nation's interests. A six year period from 1973-1979 that scattered Armour units wore the Black Beret is not a superior claim to wear the beret when compared to the 1951-2001 history of the Rangers. That is the big lie. It is an assault on the intelligence of every soldier serving today, to expect them to believe this lie. Nonetheless, it has been repeated time and time again by the Chief of Staff and his supporters.

Many soldiers throughout the Army will never forget that their service Chief lied to them about this. This era, if we would be ignorant enough to refer to General Shinseki's tenure as Chief of Staff as an 'era', as if it defined an important and unique period of history, is one that American soldiers had thought was over with the election of President Bush. The Clinton Administration ended, and hopefully, the military's disdain for it's top leader could end also. But alas, General Shinseki is like a rude hangover, willing to look down to the American Service member from the top, demanding good faith service, while lying to their faces.

Don't worry General Shinseki. You shall have their good service. They took an oath to deliver it and will be true to that oath. But know this: they look past you, just as those serving President Clinton looked past him, to a brighter future, hopefully filled with persons of integrity in powerful positions, such as the position you currently occupy.