Thomas Schweich, a Republican who served in the Bush administration as ambassador for counter-narcotics in Afghanistan and deputy assistant secretary of state for international law enforcement affairs, warns about the gradual takeover by military officials of positions traditionally held by civilians. The trend started with President Bush and is continuing with Barack Obama. Obama’s choice for national security advisor, James L. Jones, is a retired four-star Marine general; his apparent choice for director of national intelligence, Dennis C. Blair, is a retired Navy admiral. The current director of national intelligence, Mike McConnell, is a former Navy admiral. Michael V. Hayden the current director of the CIA, is a four-star Air Force general

The Pentagon is Muscling in Everywhere. It’s Time to Stop the Mission Creep (by Thomas A. Schweich, Washington Post)

Mike McConnell (AllGov)

Michael Hayden (AllGov)