Accountability breaks out in the Marines as the commandant fires two generals -- for inadequate performance in combat

The Marine Corps
commandant fired two generals for inadequate execution of their duties in
Afghanistan.

Yow. This is good to see.
I am weary of generals being relieved for zipper malfunctions and other
personal issues, while all sorts of combat and professional incompetence are
tolerated. For too long the message sent has been, you can do things that get
troops killed, as long as you don't make the team "look bad."

To my knowledge (and
I studied this issue for several years while writing The Generals), this is the first relief of an American
general for combat incompetence since the firing of Army Maj. Gen. James Baldwin in 1971. That incident
actually was pretty similar to what happened to the Marines at Camp Bastion:
Baldwin commanded a division that had an outpost, Firebase Mary Ann, with poorly
prepared defenses. It was raided by the Viet Cong, 30 American soldiers were
killed and 82 were wounded, and Baldwin was blamed.

The Marine action is a major signal
about enforcing accountability for the top ranks. It also sends a message to
the troops that "different spanks for different ranks" will not occur here,
with sergeants getting punished while generals escape reprimand.

All in all, I am pretty impressed. Youse?