Jack Reed: “reclaiming my time, first of all, the Senator from Alabama made a compelling case about the demands upon this Senate.…”

“reclaiming my time, first of all, the Senator from Alabama made a compelling case about the demands upon this Senate. They range from cyber security issues to a host of other important issues that we have to deal with. Yet he insists we have a vote. Now, he has very subtly made a distinction between four or five senior officers, and forgotten the 245 other officers who play very critical roles in the military. And if one respects the Marine Corps and one respects the proposed Commandant, the first thing I believe you should do is allow a vote very quickly so that there is no period of time that he is an Acting Commandant. And an Acting Commandant is different than a Commandant. Their policies cannot be firmly established because they are just ``acting.'' He is capable, but he is just ``acting.'' If we want leadership that is confirmed, that has not only the trappings of authority but every bit of influence generated by such authority, then we have to vote. That is why the Congress is required to confirm military officers. We are in a situation where just pure obstinacy is inhibiting our servicemembers. And I am amazed that someone would stand up and say: The quality I look for is a military officer who is not political, but what I do is make these officers political pawns in a game I am playing with national leadership. It is civilian leadership who proclaim these policies, which are legal and consistent with the history of the Armed Forces.…”