"We Need a New Squad Leader!"

There is a country song titled "Beer for my horses, and whiskey for my men!" about an old Civil War cavalry unit. It is bawdy and fun to listen to, it also speaks to the bond soldiers have to one another, and how leaders in combat love their men.

Sleeping, eating and bathing with people on a daily basis can be very bonding. Lying in the dirt, with explosions and gunfire can even be more bonding. Nobody depends on others more than a member of the military in a combat situation. Each member of every squad; each squad in every platoon; each platoon in every company and each company in every battalion depend on everybody doing their parts to insure a successful mission, with the least amount of death and injury: this all hinges on trust and loyalty; all forged under the heat of firefights. Squad leaders depend on their men to protect each other; even before they protect themselves; it's all about survival and love of compatriots.

Our soldiers, marines, air force and navy are the finest men and women in the world; and deserve the very best support America can supply. Men and women in service know what they need more than any politician. Even we old "vets" can't say what is necessary in today's battlefields; all conflicts are unique. One thing we can all agree on is the bond between warriors. We know the value of trust and loyalty.

A recent Gallup Poll has shown that the majority of the military view Barack Obama as "less than favorable" in his presidential leadership capabilities toward the needs of our fighting forces. Non-military folks give Mr. Obama a 48% approval rating, while only 37% of the active military polled give him a favorable review; about a quarter of a million military people were surveyed. What does this say about our current Chief Executive? When I served there were always jokes about Richard Nixon and Ho Chi Min; but Nixon was still Commander-in-Chief, and we all held him in a measure of respect. Nixon did serve in the Navy during WWII, and had some grasp of what those serving go through on a daily basis; and knew the importance of rapid supply of men and equipment in times of combat. Soldiers know if they are "running out of bullets", and "fresh troops"; lack of both can get men killed quickly.

Perhaps Mr. Obama's low approval rating goes back to him sitting on his hands about adding troops last year for nearly six months. One hour of waiting in a combat situation seems eternal; it only takes seconds for a comrade to die.

Oddly, no group surveyed was over the 50% approval mark in support of this President. What does this say about how America views the leadership ability of Barack Obama? Along with our troops, is America being left in a "foxhole" with no relief in sight? It's time for a new "squad leader", one who cares about his "troops"!