<p>How many times have you heard something along the lines of “if I were President I would” …you can add your choice of achievement or initiative. Or “If I had that power I would….” </p>
<p>In reading the summary of events it suggests an impotent chief executive apparently incapable of making the system work to achieve his objectives. Was it a case of executive incompetence and a lack of leadership skills or was he intimidated by the brass? How could he think using a back channel to obtain information would lead to a better outcome, unless the objective was keeping the obvious from public view? The story paints a remarkable and very disturbing picture of a dysfunctional system of leadership on the civilian and military side.</p>