The Truth Came To A Good Marine, And Died In His Arms
There is no shame in telling the truth, particularly when, by doing so, you acknowledge your accountability and accept responsibility. Last week, General John Kelly, Mr. Trump’s chief of staff, had the perfect opportunity to be the exemplar of truth, accountability, and responsibility. That he chose to turn away from that opportunity, degraded him in my eyes, and, I think, probably will haunt him for a long time.
It saddens me to say that about Kelly—his service to the country, his deeply personal loss of a son in combat in Afghanistan, and his leadership as a Marine cannot be disputed. Until last week, I held him in the highest regard. Now, I have my doubts, and am reminded, once again, that absolute power corrupts absolutely. I have yet to understand why such a man would have taken on the Stygian duties of White House Chief of Staff.
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