SLudwig wrote:
Speaking of which, where are the actual Cabinet members to weigh in....
The members of the Cabinet have already weighed in pertaining to this issue. Cliff sent me an email requesting that I place this matter before the Cabinet. I honored his request. The answer from the Cabinet to creating a new army designated as the Republic of Haiti was universally "No". Upon receiving that answer, Cliff took his petition to the members of the club at large via this forum. Well, more particularly to the very few members who actually read and participate in this forum.
This issue here is not Haiti. Cliff is not Haitian as far as I know. Cliff is an American, just like me.
The real issue is that Cliff wants to be promoted in rank commensurate with the OBD points that he has accumulated. Chuck Jensen refuses to promote him beyond the rank of Colonel and will not assign him to a command position. This is an issue between an officer and his army commander. Just that simple.
In an effort to circumvent Chuck's roadblock, Cliff is advocating the creation of a new army in the club. He is not advocating the creation of a brigade within an existing army such as my Hanoverians. He is advocating the creation of a new army. To grant his request, Cliff would immediately become an Army Commander, having equal status with Anton, Marco, Chuck and you. He would be able to decree his own promotion to the highest rank in his army. He would create a website, he would establish a system of medals, he would generate a structure of command based on the historical structure of the Haitian Army (if such a thing actually existed which I admit that I do not know), etc.
If this is allowed within the club, it would set a precedent whereby every individual who disagrees with his Army Commander would be fully justified in starting his own army. I personally think that would be a very, very bad precedent to set for this club.
If we grant Cliff's request to form an independent army, he will need to also be placed on the Cabinet, as all of the club's armies should to be represented there. Once his request is granted, I expect a long line of others will step up with a request for Army Command. Having a precedent to cite, they will be fully justified in receiving their own private armies. I have some very serious concerns as to what this club will become if that is allowed to happen.
My answer to Cliff's proposal as it currently stands is "No". This is a simple matter where Cliff and Chuck need to find a way to coexist, or go their separate ways. Now, if the club as a whole wishes to weigh in on this matter and place pressure on Chuck to grant Cliff a promotion commensurate with the OBD points that he has accumulated, that is their decision. In my opinion, which I have often stated, it should be the will of the membership that determines the future of our club. I am told that Cliff is not the only Colonel in LGA that has sufficient OBD points for the promotion to a higher rank. If Cliff receives this promotion, all of the other qualified Colonels should be given the same consideration as well.
Scott, I specifically remember your question to me in this forum during the 2011 NWC Presidential race. You asked whether or not I would directly interfere with the management of the individual armies should I be elected as the Club's President. You were very concerned that the Army Commanders be allowed total control over their armies, and that the President of this club should never interfere with such absolute, army rule. This issue is a matter of direct interference with Chuck's handling of La Grande Armee. Cliff wants to be promoted beyond the rank of Colonel; Chuck thinks Cliff is too outspoken to act as a representative of LGA's higher command. That is the impasse here.
The question is not the formation of the Republic of Haiti. The question is whether or not an Army Commander within this club has the right to run his army in any manner he chooses, without regard to any outside interference. Personally, I think we should be much more consistent in our actions across the board and that all armies in the club should operate under the same general guidelines. That is not what we currently have. We have nothing anywhere close if the truth be known. If the members of this club wish to generally step forward and dictate the actions of LGA's Army Commander, then so be it, but realize the precedent that will be set by such an action. The issue on the table is a major question as to how our club operates. If you are looking for a controversial issue, I think you have certainly found one.
I have “weighed in” as requested. As the elected President of this fine club, I now defer to my personal bosses, the membership of this club, or at least the small portion that actually participate in our forums, to weigh in on this issue and make their opinions clearly known.
As always, I am listening. Talk to me.
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