About the phrase, "Perfumed Princes of the Pentagon".....

That's a phrase I first noted when it flowed from the pen of one of the best military journalists of my lifetime...  Army Colonel David Hackworth (Ret). 'Hack' died in 2005 from a bladder cancer related to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam....   If you are unfamiliar with him or his name and reputation - you might oughta Google him and his bio!  Started as a grunt private, and retired as super highly decorated Army colonel.... who had refused the opportunity for higher rank when he became disgruntled with the Pentagon and it's 'perfumed princes'.... 

Now to today's story of a current example of Hack's irreverence.... y'all remember the barely reported story of the 9/14 raid on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, I am sure:

"...three days after the deadly siege on our consulate in Libya and after months of prior security incidents and warnings. Fifteen jihadists disguised in stolen American combat fatigues penetrated the complex. They used rocket-propelled grenades, assault rifles and other weapons to wipe out nearly an entire squadron of Marine Harrier jets worth an estimated $200 million.

Along with the most devastating loss of U.S. airpower since Vietnam, two heroic U.S. Marines -- Lt. Col. Christopher Raible and Sgt. Bradley Atwell -- were killed in the battle, and nearly a dozen others were injured. Military officials refused to release details of the fateful budget and strategy decisions that led to the attack. But Deborah Hatheway, aunt of Sgt. Atwell and the family's spokesperson, and other Camp Bastion families learned on their own that their loved ones were left vulnerable to attack by military leaders who outsourced watchtower security on the base to soldiers from Tonga."

Details are starting trickle out at last.... and it would appear that much of the blame falls on the shoulders of the commander, Major General  Charles Gurganus, under whose command, base security was either outsourced altogether or seriously reduced.  General Gurganus, you may recall, is the general that ordered Marines to disarm -- because he wanted them "to look just like our (unarmed) Afghan partners." 

The Military is finally (nine months later) reluctantly probing events -- as a result of steady pressure from the KIA marine's families -- (?) -- as it seems like this sterling example of one of Hackworths's Perfumed Prince brigade .... is being considered for promotion!!!!

For more on this sorry event - go here --- or here --- or just Google 'Camp Bastion'...

Keep the faith -- even if it gets tougher every day!