Pentagon Cancels Pricey Holiday Party Because of Recession
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.
If you didn't know that the two-war Pentagon was operating on shoestring, here's the latest evidence. Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has just canceled his annual Christmas party. The chief has just sent out cards announcing that he and his wife have decided to "forego their holiday reception this year" in light of the "trying financial times." The Mullens had been famous for welcoming friends and associates during back-to-back parties at their decked-out Foggy Bottom digs. The parties drew an eclectic mix of Pentagon brass, federal lawmakers, foreign military attachés, journalists, and stars bound for the annual USO Christmas tour for troops overseas. Last year, musician Kid Rock mingled among several dozen guests enjoying heavy hors d'oeuvres and a glass or two of their fave beverage while military singers and musicians dazzled with an array of holiday classics. According to the card, shown above, the Mullens will host a small gathering for wounded service members, their families, and the families of the fallen. So far, Mullen is the only one taking such drastic action as Wall Street, Main Street, and the incoming Obama administration grapple with job losses, evaporating retirement accounts, and depressed consumer sentiment.
Tags: Mike Mullen | Pentagon
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Impressive
To honor service members and the fallen will go a lot further than a merry social gathering. I suspect they will still need "Caterers, wait staff, purchass of food and drink,"
Let us see who else realizes that in these failing economic times, we can actually do more with less.
I think its the right message to send to our nation and our armed forces
I believe that Admiral Mullen is doing a great job at setting an example. Just to give an understanding of how this works, the party is catered by military members, not outside vendors so no revenue is being lost. The typical people who are invited to this shindig are senior officials and high ranking military officers, a few celebrities and some politicans. Very few ground level troops ever get to attend. Canceling a splashy party in favor of a smaller appreciation gathering with the people who most deserve it, our wounded troops, is the right message to send to our nation and our armed forces. Most soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen never get to meet the Chairman. That he would personally decide to do this shows that he cares and understands what people are going through during this critical time in our nation. And most of these service members are really honored and excited to spend time with the most powerful man in uniform in the armed services and spend time conversing with him. It is equivalent to an average citizen being invited to meet the President personally.
By the way, I am a Democrat who was a former service member.
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