General Markus Laubenthal
On August 1, 2014, the new chief of staff for the United States Army Europe was announced, causing conservative heads to explode, especially those of the chicken hawk variety. What about this announcement could possibly have them so upset? After all, it's not like the chief of staff of the U.S. Army Europe is a household name. Hell, I served in the U.S. Army Europe and I have no idea who the chief of staff was when I was there.
Turns out, our right-wing friends are so upset because a German general, Markus Laubenthal, has been appointed as the chief of staff. Now, the chief of staff does not command troops—he commands the general staff office. He answers to the commanding general of the U.S. Army - Europe, Lt. Gen. Donald M. Campbell Jr., U.S. Army. Of course, those on the right tend to be oblivious to facts:
In a stunning move that insults every single WWII veteran, not to mention any veteran of the US Army, President Obama has declared a German General in charge of the US Army in Europe.
A stunning move that was
announced last March, and by the way, the chief of staff is not in charge of the U.S. Army in Europe; Lt. Gen. Donald M. Campbell Jr. is in charge of the troops in Europe. Of course, that does not stop them from claiming this is an insult to the every single World War II veteran. I'm not quite sure how this is an insult, given that the war has been over for 69 years and America has been an ally of Germany as a part of NATO since 1949.
Jump below the fold for more crazy.
Of course, these are the same people who have difficulties with the definitions of communism, socialism, and fascism, so it's possible for those on the right to think that Germany is still under Nazi rule; after all, these are the same misinformed alarmists who are still fighting the Cold War against the Soviet Union, while at the same time idolizing Vladimir Putin.
The panic of the right over a German general serving as chief of staff for the U.S. Army in Europe is ludicrous. The right's argument is like saying the White House chief of staff has more power than the president of the United States.
The American right has become willfully ignorant—that is the only way to explain this absolute stupidity, and in case you think this is just one article showing this outrage, here is a sampling of comments from Stars and Stripes. (There's more on Free Republic, Red State, and other sites, but I won't subject you all to that tripe):
Bet the WW2 vets are rolling in their graves. What can we expect next from this outlaw administration? Maybe a Japanese commander for the Pacific fleet.
Not like Germany has been our ally for 65 years or anything.
How can you have a foreign chief of staff of a US Army? I like the Germans and the Bundeswehr is the closest thing to competent army on the continent, but there are issues of security and loyalty that just make the blood to boil.
And you have to wonder what the circumstance is in the following comment:
Only one circumstance should another countries generals ever be placed in charge of US forces, friendly or not! And this does not meet the criteria for such an action!
And obviously, this
Stars and Stripes commenter is an expert on national security:
United States have been dropping the ball in security issues. Its not the first time I have seen it.
And of course, we have one gentleman who seems to know every thing about the German army:
Well alright already, if this can happen, why are we there any longer? I have worked with the German Army, attended a course at their light infantry school at Hammelburg, had German local nationals work for me in bunches and knew most trees and bushes at Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels and numerous other locations as such. Furthermore, was the liaison between 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and Panzerbrigade 12 at Amberg and the Bundesgrenzschutz in Bavaria. Lazy is as lazy was and the Twelvers were pretty lazy when the wall was up so now that it is down, Herr Laubenthal is the man for the job. USAREUR, you got a shutdown closer so your odds for the World Serious is great.
The stupid ... it hurts.