This letter originated at FLAG OFFICERS 4 AMERICA
The retired Flag Officers signing this letter are calling for the resignation and retirement of the
Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) based on
negligence in performing their duties primarily involving events surrounding the disastrous
withdrawal from Afghanistan. The hasty retreat has left initial estimates at ~15,000 Americans
stranded in dangerous areas controlled by a brutal enemy along with ~25,000 Afghan citizens who
supported American forces.
What should have happened upon learning of the Commander in Chief’s (President Biden’s) plan to
quickly withdraw our forces and close the important power projection base Bagram, without
adequate plans and forces in place to conduct the entire operation in an orderly fashion?
As principal military advisors to the CINC/President, the SECDEF and CJCS should have
recommended against this dangerous withdrawal in the strongest possible terms. If they did not do
everything within their authority to stop the hasty withdrawal, they should resign. Conversely, if they
did do everything within their ability to persuade the CINC/President to not hastily exit the country
without ensuring the safety of our citizens and Afghans loyal to America, then they should have
resigned in protest as a matter of conscience and public statement.
The consequences of this disaster are enormous and will reverberate for decades beginning with the
safety of Americans and Afghans who are unable to move safely to evacuation points; therefore,
being de facto hostages of the Taliban at this time. The death and torture of Afghans has already
begun and will result in a human tragedy of major proportions. The loss of billions of dollars in
advanced military equipment and supplies falling into the hands of our enemies is catastrophic. The
damage to the reputation of the United States is indescribable. We are now seen, and will be seen for
many years, as an unreliable partner in any multinational agreement or operation. Trust in the United
States is irreparably damaged.
Moreover, now our adversaries are emboldened to move against America due to the weakness
displayed in Afghanistan. China benefits the most followed by Russia, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea
and others. Terrorists around the world are emboldened and able to pass freely into our country
through our open border with Mexico.
Besides these military operational reasons for resignations, there are leadership, training, and morale
reasons for resignations. In interviews, congressional testimony, and public statements it has become
clear that top leaders in our military are placing mandatory emphasis on PC “wokeness” related
training which is extremely divisive and harmful to unit cohesion, readiness, and war fighting
capability. Our military exists to fight and win our Nation’s wars and that must be the sole focus of
our top military leaders.
For these reasons we call on the SECDEF Austin and the CJCS General Milley to resign. A
fundamental principle in the military is holding those in charge responsible and accountable for their
actions or inactions. There must be accountability at all levels for this tragic and avoidable debacle.
Signed
RADM Philip Anselmo, USN, (ret)
MG Joe Arbuckle, USA (ret)
BG John C. Arick, USMC (ret)
BG Billy A. Barrett, USAF (ret)
RADM Jon Bayless, USN, (ret)
BG Charles Bishop, USAF (ret)
BG Don Bolduc, USA (ret)
MG William Bowdon, USMC (ret)
LTG William Boykin, USA (ret)
MG Edward Bracken, USAF (ret)
VADM Toney Michael Bucchi, USN (ret)
MG Bobby Butcher, USMC (ret)
BG Jim L. Cash, USAF (ret)
LTG James E. Chambers USAF (ret)
MG Carroll D. Childers, USA (ret)
RADm Arthur Clark, USN (ret)
VADM Ed Clexton, USN, (ret)
MG John J. Closner III, USAF, (ret)
BG Peter b. Collins, USMC (ret)
MG David L Commons USAF (ret)
MG James l. Dozier, USA (ret)
BG Keith B. Connolly USAF (ret)
BG Bob Floyd, USA (ret)
MG Larry Fortmer, USAF (ret)
BG Jerome V. Foust, USA (ret)
BG Jimmy E. Fowler, USA (ret)
BG Jerome V. Foust, USA (ret)
RADM J. Fraser, USN (ret)
MG John T. Furlow, USA (ret)
MG Francis C. Gideon, USAF (ret)
MG Lee V. Greer, USAF (ret)
BG John H. Grueser, USAF (ret)
MG Ken Hageman, USAF (ret)
Gen Alfred Hansen, USAF (ret)
MG Bryan G. Hawley, USAF (ret)
MG John W. Hawley, USAF (ret)
BG Norman Ham, USAF (ret)
RADM Donald Hickman, USN (ret)
MG William B. Hobgood, USA (ret)
MG Bob Hollingworth, USMC (ret)
MG Jerry D. Holmes, USAF (ret)
ADM. Jerome L. Johnson USN (ret)
RADM John King, USN (ret)
BG Douglas E. Lee, USA (ret)
MG J.S. Lynch, USMC (ret)
RADM(L) Grady L. Jackson USN (ret)
RADM Ronny Jackson USN (ret)
MG Anthony Kropp USA (ret)
RADM Chuck Kubic, CEC, USN (ret).
MG James E. Livingston, USMC, MOH (ret)
MG John D. Logeman, USAF (ret)
MG Jarvis D. Lynch, USMC (ret)
LTG Fred McCorkle, USMC (ret)
LTG Thomas McInerney, USAF (ret)
BG Michael P. McRaney, USAF (ret)
BG James M. Mead, USMC (ret)
BG Joe Mensching, USAF (ret)
MG John F. Miller, USAF (ret)
RADM John A. Moriarty, USN (ret)
RADM David R. Morris, USN (ret)
BG Ben Nelson, USAF (ret)
BG Joe Oder, USA, (ret)
MG Ray O’Mara, USAF (ret)
MG Joe S. Owens, USA (ret)
BG John a. Paterson, USAF (ret)
RADM Russ Penniman, USN (ret)
MG Richard Perraut, USAF (ret)
VADM John Poindexter, USN (ret)
RADM J.J. Quinn, USN (ret)
LTG Clifford H. Rees, USAF (ret)
BG Teddy E. Rinebarger, USAF (ret)
RADM Norman Saunders, USCG (ret)
LTG Hubert G. Smith, USA (ret)
MG James Stewart, USAF (ret)
RADM Jeremy D. Taylor, USN (ret)
LTG William Thurman, USAF (ret)
BG Robert Titus, USAF, (ret)
LTG Lansford E. Trapp Jr, USAF (ret)
BG Richard J. Valente, USA (ret)
MG Paul Vallely, USA (ret)
BG William L. Welch, USAF (ret)
MG Kenneth W. Weir, USMCR (ret)
MG Mike Wiedemer, USAF (ret)
MG Richard O. Wightman, Jr. USA (ret)
BG Robert E. Windham, USA (ret)
RADM Denny Wisely, USN. (ret)
BG Robert V. Woods, USAF (ret)