Critics Aren’t In The History Books
April 14, 2007 – 20:40 pm
I think that anyone who is in a position of command gets frustrated by the know-it-alls who make a habit of second guessing virtually everything they do. I have to admit that I have a lot of work to do in my effort to develop a more patient attitude toward these folks. Sometimes, (OK, quite often) I am not as politically correct in my responses as I could be. I guess that’s why I enjoyed the following quote that a friend recently sent to me. The e-mail was actually about a topic that was unrelated to the war in Iraq but the quote could have been taken from today’s newspaper.
It appears we have appointed our worst generals to command forces, and our most gifted and brilliant to edit newspapers. In fact, I discovered by reading newspapers that these editor/geniuses plainly saw all my strategic defects from the start, yet failed to inform me until it was too late.
Accordingly, I’m readily willing to yield my command to these obviously superior intellects, and I’ll, in turn, do my best for the Cause by writing editorials – after the fact.
No, the quote didn’t come from President Bush – but it could have. As I am sure you have already guessed, it is a quote from General Robert E. Lee in 1863. Isn’t amazing that the more things change, the more they stay the same – particularly when it comes to the media and other Monday morning quarterbacks.