What Shinseki Means

By Patrick Appel
A reader writes:

A year or two after the invasion of Iraq started, my boyfriend (who was a cadet at West Point at the time) used to pass Gen. Shinseki on the way to class every day, often greeting him amiably with a "hey! what's up sir!" ... until he was informed that this unassuming man in civilian clothing was actually the former Army Chief of Staff and a retired four-star general. Once we learned who Gen. Shinseki was and why he wasn't in uniform anymore, the lesson for us young people entering the officer corps became very clear: your superiors will not tolerate informed dissent, so keep your mouth shut unless you want to be retired and "put out to pasture" early.

I'm so glad Obama is broadcasting the exact opposite message.

Me too.