Posted on: Sunday, August 22, 2004
EDITORIAL
Change of leadership here offers challenges
The climate of change at the Pentagon instigated by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has reached Camp Smith with the appointment of Air Force Gen. Gregory S. Martin to take over the U.S. Pacific Command, arguably one of the toughest military/diplomatic jobs in the world.
He replaces Adm. Thomas Fargo, an accomplished and popular commander who plans to retire here.
Martin's appointment is clearly controversial, as it reflects Rumsfeld's transformation plans, which include breaking the services from any sense of ownership of regional commands.
That applies in spades to Pacom, traditionally a "water command" run by an admiral. Fargo, for instance, had previously served just down the hill as Pacific Fleet commander.
When it was first rumored that an Air Force general might replace Fargo, back in May, Hawai'i Sen. Dan Inouye bristled at the idea, although he now says he has no plans to oppose the appointment, which must be confirmed by the Senate.
The huge Pacific Command spans half the globe, and its commander is responsible for a variety of missions in the region, ranging from high-level diplomacy and preparation for traditional war-fighting through the new, complex war on terrorism.
It is a post that can ill-afford much getting-up-to-speed. There's a potential blow-up in Asia for every service: A naval blockade of Taiwan could call for U.S. seapower, a nuclear threat in North Korea might be answered with air power, while a North Korean invasion of South Korea might require extensive ground forces.
The Pacific forces commander must be on top of all these contingencies — but his most important role may well be in working with his foreign counterparts to prevent any of them from happening.
At this level, we're somewhat concerned that Martin's Asia-Pacific experience dates to his time in the cockpit of fighter planes. His background since then has been in acquisition and information technology.
His previous exposure to diplomacy was as commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe. that's sure to be helpful. We've seen Pacific commanders set back most often, not by military tactical errors, but by putting their feet in their mouths.
That argues for military proficiency heavily counterweighted by a knack for diplomatic nuance.
Inouye makes the point, and we agree, that some quick regional damage control is required. While Martin's appointment is all about transformation, it's likely to appear from Asia as a downgrading of the Navy's role somehow linked to the drawdown of tens of thousands of soldiers from south Korea and Okinawa.
That will be an immediate challenge for Martin. Good thing he's nicknamed "Speedy."
