Rumsfeld's fiefdom

I am no expert on military matters, certainly. And I understand that civilian oversight of the military is a key provision of our democracy. But given the politicization of intelligence in the run-up to the Iraq invasion, the insertion of political appointees like the "stupidest fucking guy on the planet" in key roles in the military, and the ongoing, relentless use of the military as props in Bush campaign-style events, this seems like a pretty significant change at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (AP) - The three military service chiefs have been dropped in the Bush administration's doomsday line of Pentagon succession, pushed beneath three civilian under secretaries in the inner circle of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

A recent executive order from President Bush moved the Pentagon's intelligence chief to the No. 3 spot in the succession hierarchy. Mr. Rumsfeld is No. 1, and the second spot would be the deputy secretary of defense, but that position is vacant at the moment. The Army chief, who long held the No. 3 spot, was dropped to sixth.

The changes, announced last week, mirror the administration's new emphasis on intelligence gathering versus combat in 21st-century wars.

The line of succession is assigned to specific positions, rather than the people holding those jobs.

But this version of the doomsday plan moves up the top three under secretaries, who are Rumsfeld loyalists and who previously worked for Vice President Dick Cheney when he was defense secretary.

Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, said the changes were recommended because the three under secretaries have "a broad knowledge and perspective of overall Defense Department operations." He said the service leaders were more focused on training, equipping and leading a particular military service.

Thomas Donnelly, a defense expert with the American Enterprise Institute, said the changes would centralize power and make it easier for the administration to assert political control.

"It continues to devalue the services as institutions," Mr. Donnelly said.

Loyalty to Rumsfeld and Cheney is the only sure ticket to success in Washington. Regardless of other qualifications, if you are seen as not having sufficient supplies of that, you need not apply.