Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Firing generals

I have a piece in today’s New York Times about why it is a good practice, both for the military and the nation, to fire generals. You know me, any excuse to give a shoutout to Terry de la Mesa Allen, who I think was probably the best combat commander the U.S. Army had in ...

567631_100624_terryallen2.jpg
567631_100624_terryallen2.jpg

I have a piece in today's New York Times about why it is a good practice, both for the military and the nation, to fire generals.

I have a piece in today’s New York Times about why it is a good practice, both for the military and the nation, to fire generals.

You know me, any excuse to give a shoutout to Terry de la Mesa Allen, who I think was probably the best combat commander the U.S. Army had in the ETO in 1942-43. Still, I think a policy of swift but non-terminal relief is a good one. 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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