The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country.
Quotes about commander-in-chief (15 Quotes)
One might also argue that untruthful charges against the Commander-in-Chief have an insidious effect on the war effort itself. I'm unwilling to say that, only because I know the character of the United States Armed Forces -- men and women who are fighting the war on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other fronts.
I thought that the administration needed bipartisan support, and I was for our commander-in-chief. Because I felt at that time it was the right thing do. If I knew then what I know now, I would have never voted for the war.
Reached later, Master Sergeant Corine Lombardo said the soldiers had discussed their answers, but knew what they wanted to say, and practiced to appear articulate before the Commander-in-Chief. And a top spokesman for the Department of Defense also put out a statement trying to further clarify what happened. Saying in part text on screen 'No one intended to tell them what to think or how to express themselves. Going through likely questions in advance was meant solely to help the troops feel at ease. We certainly regret any perception that they were told what to say. It is not the case.' Still, what has happened with this is it has been a distraction from the message the White House wanted to give, and that was to highlight tomorrow's vote. Katie.
There are three issues in the campaign, but it all really boils down to leadership, ... What kind of leader do you want Do you want a commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the United States who will respect them and give them what they need to defend the nation properly.
Bill Clinton is not my commander-in-chief.
It is the duty of every good officer to obey any orders given him by his commander-in-chief.
... Recalling back to Operation Desert Storm, I can't help asking myself Wouldn't it be great for our armed forces and for America if we could have another commander-in-chief named George Bush with Dick Cheney on his team.
It's clear that Hillary Clinton does not understand that anger is not an agenda. While the junior senator from New York is busy attacking our commander-in-chief, the president is focused on taking the fight to the terrorists. ... It's a pre-911 world view.
What we heard today was not fiscal leadership from our Commander-in-Chief, what we heard today was a political broadside from our Campaigner-in-Chief.
This action would be an absolute last resort. Every attempt would be made to go to the highest chain of command, all the way to the commander-in-chief.
The authority of the Commander-in-Chief to engage and defeat the enemy encompasses the capture and detention of enemy combatants wherever found, including within the nation's borders. That is particularly true in the current conflict in view of the nature of the September 11 attacks, which were perpetrated by combatants who had assimilated into the civilian population and launched their attacks from within the United States,
The Bush administration did not seek a broad debate on whether commander-in-chief powers can trump international conventions and domestic statutes in our struggle against terrorism. They could have separated the big question from classified details to operations and had an open debate. Instead, an inner circle of lawyers and advisers worked around the dissenters in the administration and one-upped each other with extreme arguments.
I anticipate that the views of the commander-in-chief will eventually prevail, and that the country will settle back and suddenly realize -- maybe not suddenly, but gradually realize -- that the administration did the right thing.
The business of the English commander-in-chief being first to bring an enemy fleet to battle on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean that of laying his ships close on board the enemy, as expeditiously as possible) and secondly to continue them there until the business is decided.