He is out there. Somewhere.

It is unlikely that he is at the rank he will someday attain. But he has some significant rank. It may be lieutenant colonel or colonel or even brigadier general. Conceivably, he is a major general who is just about to retire, tired beyond measure of political games.

He is probably a bit younger than his peers, because he tends to end up where it's "hottest." His officer evaluations might say something like "Not a team player", the military equivalent of "does not play well with others." What it means is that he speaks brutal truth and be dashed to how people "feel."

He will tend to be either unusually genteel or extremely brusque with women in uniform. He probably either curses or drinks more than is thought "proper". He might be considered either a misogynist or a "tail chaser" by his peers. He is not a plaster saint.

And he might just save us all.

In May of 1861, Ulysses S. Grant was a clerk in his father's store, an officer who had resigned his commission under a cloud, failed at virtually everything he had put his hand to, a "known drunk", a man who was close to the bottom of the ladder.

In May of 1861, George B. McClellan was a major general, a successful businessman, a person who was suggested as a candidate for president. He was a brilliant organizer, a fine engineer and no mean politician. After the disaster of Bull Run he was appointed commander of The Army of the Potomac . Then he met a fellow called Robert E. Lee on the battlefield.

On April 9th, 1865 , Robert E. Lee surrendered. Not to the brilliant organizer and successful businessman (and no mean politician), but to the drunkard and "complete failure." Because Ulysses S. Grant had that knack, that strange, wonderful, horrible ability, to command a battle.

This is not something for which there is any sure test. And countries tend to have the wrong commanders at the beginning of a war. The reason for this is simple. In between wars it is the generals that can win in the committee room that shine. It is the officers that can put on the best "dog and pony" show, that can hold the thin red line against budget cuts and who can avoid offending the politicians and their staff who are promoted.

George Patton, a man who was considered by the Germans the most dangerous battlefield commander on the Allied side, was a military attache when we invaded Africa . But after the disaster at Kasserine he took over and started kicking tail, on both sides. Bill Slim was in an out-of-the-way campaign in Iraq when the British were getting their tails wiped all over Southeast Asia in 1941. He was dropped into Burma with no support, got kicked out ignominiously and four years later went back and smashed the Japanese hard and cold.

Neither of these guys was "well regarded" by their military before the war. Too maverick, too different, too rough, too something. Too willing to do whatever was necessary to win.

Occasionally, you get an officer who is both a good politician and a good field commander. Robert E. Lee was one such. But they are rare, abysmally rare. Historically there have been perhaps three in the top one hundred generals. Of all the officers I knew who could fight their way out of a wet paper bag, only one was a good "politician." And even he was hated by the press. But war calls for Pattons, and peacetime calls for Politicians.

We are not at peace any more. And the reality is that right now we have many of the wrong officers and processes at every level. In the year 2001, moving an infantry company takes a twenty minute PowerPoint presentation and two thousand pieces of paper. In the year 2001, artillery spends hours ensuring that all the range safety protocols are in place. That simply will not cut it in a war. And when the bullets fly they will still spend hours; you train how you fight.

We will take unnecessary casualties. They will be reported as such. Obvious, bone-headed mistakes, such as the company commander in Grenada who killed himself, will be made. Because right now the "best and the brightest" are the best politicians and the brightest staff officers.

We may even lose battles or sustain horrific casualties. At times we will look like fools to the world.

But that's okay.

Because he's out there. Somewhere.

And he's getting ready to kick some tail.

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