Home > Uncategorized > Army Col. Lawrence Sellin, a Green Beret, fired after griping online about PowerPoint – New York Daily News

Army Col. Lawrence Sellin, a Green Beret, fired after griping online about PowerPoint – New York Daily News

November 14, 2012 Leave a comment Go to comments

WASHINGTON – All Army Col. Lawrence Sellin wanted to do was be a real warrior killing Taliban, not a PowerPoint Ranger killing time in Afghanistan‘s rear echelon.

  • Army Col. Lawrence Sellin was fired after griping about PowerPoint duty. >

 

After the Green Beret with a Ph.D. piped up about it in an online column, he got sacked from Afghan war boss Gen. David Petraeus‘ staff – and catapulted into cult status as a military folk hero.

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commande...

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of Multi-National Force – Iraq, briefs reporters at the Pentagon April 26, 2007, on his view of the current military situation in Iraq. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“I had added no value to the war effort,” the Special Forces officer and native of Saddle Brook, N.J., lamented after getting booted out of Afghanistan.

Sellin’s critique of a top-heavy military bureaucracy in Afghanistan adds another chapter to the never-ending debate on how to fight America’s longest war, just as Bob Woodward‘s new book, “Obama’s Wars,” chronicles the policy struggles in Washington.

Sellin, who did combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, was sent packing three months into his job as chief of current operations for NATO‘s International Joint Command in Kabul’s airport.

He was ordered home after penning a snarky poke at PowerPoint briefings for “cognitively-challenged generals” running NATO’s “bloated” command, where “you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a colonel.”

While that might have been career suicide for the Army Reservist, he unexpectedly became a hero in the ranks for standing up to bureaucratic inertia – which he fears will cost G.I.s’ lives.

Sellin told the Daily News the upper echelons are overly concerned with font sizes and bullet points in a bureaucratic stalemate that will “likely prolong the war effort and create more casualties.”

“Failures at that command level can have serious consequences for the ordinary soldier,” Sellin said….

EXCERPT!!!!!

via Army Col. Lawrence Sellin, a Green Beret, fired after griping online about PowerPoint – New York Daily News.

Related articles

 

Enhanced by Zemanta
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
  1. jericho777
    November 15, 2012 at 2:59 AM | #1
    Quote

    Reblogged this on Jericho777's Blog and commented:
    They are systematically getting rid of our top officers and I bet you, they are being replace with Obama kissing ass wipes who could care the less about America’s best interest over their own personal gains. I said it a year ago and I say it now, Obama isn’t going to build an army from the ground up, he’s going to take our existing Military and implant his own people…
    Sounds far fetched aye, but so did this Ghetto Cracker winning beating a cultist, who would have ever thought that possible????

  2. Gunny G
    November 18, 2012 at 9:13 AM | #2
    Quote

    Reblogged this on CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL and commented:

    He was ordered home after penning a snarky poke at PowerPoint briefings for “cognitively-challenged generals” running NATO’s “bloated” command, where “you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a colonel.”

    While that might have been career suicide for the Army Reservist, he unexpectedly became a hero in the ranks for standing up to bureaucratic inertia – which he fears will cost G.I.s’ lives.

    Sellin told the Daily News the upper echelons are overly concerned with font sizes and bullet points in a bureaucratic stalemate that will “likely prolong the war effort and create more casualties.”

    “Failures at that command level can have serious consequences for the ordinary soldier,” Sellin said….

  1. November 15, 2012 at 8:48 AM | #1
    Is Obama hiding the truth about Benghazi because the truth would impeach him? « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  2. November 15, 2012 at 9:17 AM | #2
    » Homeland Security graduates first Corps of Obama’s Brown Shirts (“The federal government calls them FEMA Corps. But they conjure up memories of…”) – Homeland Youth Alex Jones’ Infowars: There’s a war on for your mind!
  3. November 15, 2012 at 1:25 PM | #3
    22 Signs That Voter Fraud Is Wildly Out Of Control And The Election Was A Sham « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  4. November 15, 2012 at 3:42 PM | #4
    JFK believe it or not: Oswald wasn’t even a shooter! | Veterans Today « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  5. November 15, 2012 at 5:31 PM | #5
    Mitt Romney Says Bill Clinton Told Him Hurricane Sandy Won Obama Election….. « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  6. November 16, 2012 at 9:05 AM | #6
    David Petraeus Could Nail Obama To The White House Wall On Benghazi… (“There is no doubt in my mind that the American people were fed a load of lies. There is also no doubt in my mind that it was done for two specific purposes.”) «
  7. November 16, 2012 at 9:27 AM | #7
    Obama nominates black homosexual judge to ‘ensure that the judiciary resembles the nation’ « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  8. November 16, 2012 at 11:27 AM | #8
    Family Security Matters « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  9. November 18, 2012 at 10:42 AM | #9
    Now it Gets Ugly
 « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  10. November 18, 2012 at 1:13 PM | #10
    David Crockett To Bono: “It’s NOT Yours To Give” « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  11. November 19, 2012 at 7:58 AM | #11
    FBI agent: I saw angels at 9/11 crash site « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  12. November 20, 2012 at 7:57 AM | #12
    Tribal America… (“… Kirsten Powers argued that Republicans needed to deal with the reality that America is becoming what she called a “brown country.” “) « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  13. November 20, 2012 at 12:53 PM | #13
    Military Suicides ‘Out of Control’ « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  14. November 21, 2012 at 10:52 AM | #14
    GyG: WND NEWS!!!!! JUST CLICK LINKS!!!!!!!!!!!! « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ THE.GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL
  15. November 28, 2012 at 12:55 PM | #15
    Benghazi explained: Interview with an “Intelligence Insider” « AMERICAN ONLINE: GUNNY.G WEBLOG & EMAIL
  16. November 29, 2012 at 3:51 PM | #16
    Rush: Just Walk Away, Republicans « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG & EMAIL
  17. December 7, 2012 at 8:30 AM | #17
    Military Drones Prowl US Skies (Smile!! You’re on camera or will be soon!) « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG & EMAIL
  18. December 7, 2012 at 10:55 AM | #18
    Fox-Murdoch offered Petraeus Prez Race Funding | Veterans Today « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG & EMAIL
  19. December 8, 2012 at 9:01 AM | #19
    Breaking Through… “Lift Up Your Hearts We’re winning, and the establishment is terrified, says Eric Peters.” « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG & EMAIL
  20. December 11, 2012 at 2:46 PM | #20
    (Col Sellin) ~ Let the Second American Revolution Begin – Divide California « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG & EMAIL
  21. December 16, 2012 at 1:31 PM | #21
    (“If Barack Hussein Obama is permitted to take the oath of office in the face of the documentation offered in the books cited above and the clear language of the U.S. Constitution, it will mark the end of the efficacy of law in America…..&#822
  22. December 17, 2012 at 11:11 AM | #22
    ‘Tea party’ group fights for Islamic causes « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG & EMAIL
  23. December 18, 2012 at 8:38 AM | #23
    The Executive Branch Is More Important Than You « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG & EMAIL
  24. January 2, 2013 at 2:14 PM | #24
    Third Term For Obama? Absolutely!… (“If Obama remains in power and not removed due to his ineligibility, I don’t think he will ever leave…”) « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  25. January 2, 2013 at 2:27 PM | #25
    It’s time we became leaders… (“If you are reading this, you are a leader. As leaders, we must unite and discuss how to accomplish this, and do it now. While we still can……..”) « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAI
  26. January 4, 2013 at 1:27 PM | #26
    Taxpayer Bill for Obama’s Hawaii Vacations: $20 Million… « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  27. January 6, 2013 at 5:38 PM | #27
    Second Hand Lions Bar FIGHT Scene – YouTube « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  28. January 8, 2013 at 2:39 PM | #28
    Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal says military-style guns don’t belong on the streets of America « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  29. January 10, 2013 at 9:28 AM | #29
    The giant, gaping hole in Sandy Hook reporting « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  30. January 14, 2013 at 12:39 PM | #30
    Rubio Outlines Bold Plan Giving 12 Million Illegals Legal Status « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  31. January 14, 2013 at 1:10 PM | #31
    How the Sandy Hook massacre went down | Veterans Today « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  32. January 14, 2013 at 1:47 PM | #32
    MIT’s Noam Chomsky: Obama’s Running a “Global Assassination Campaign” « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  33. January 14, 2013 at 9:59 PM | #33
    The Kindness of Strangers… « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  34. January 15, 2013 at 9:13 AM | #34
    Petition: Eliminate armed guards for the President, Vice-President, and their families… « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  35. January 15, 2013 at 10:04 AM | #35
    QUESTION: HOW MANY GUNS PROTECT THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN CHIEF? « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  36. January 15, 2013 at 10:44 AM | #36
    Meese: Obama Risks Impeachment If He uses Executive Order for Gun Control « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  37. January 15, 2013 at 11:46 AM | #37
    How Many Bullets Are Enough? ~ (GyG: What “The Folks” Are Saying about This…) « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  38. January 15, 2013 at 2:15 PM | #38
    Obama Plans to Surround Himself with Children During Gun Control Announcement « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  39. January 16, 2013 at 9:25 AM | #39
    Understanding the Obama conspiracy & U.S. takeover « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  40. January 16, 2013 at 9:41 AM | #40
    Why don’t Dems shove gun control down America’s throat–ObamaCare style? « Coach is Right « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  41. January 16, 2013 at 10:24 AM | #41
    Obama’s Kiddie Human Shields. The president trots out children to deflect legitimate criticism. « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  42. January 16, 2013 at 1:57 PM | #42
    Darby Rides Again – Paul Greenberg – Page 1 « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  43. January 16, 2013 at 2:53 PM | #43
    OBAMA THE DRAMA | Veterans Today « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  44. January 16, 2013 at 4:22 PM | #44
    Obama Provokes the American People… (“Why is Barack Obama literally trying to push people to snap? Why is he doing this?”) « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  45. January 16, 2013 at 7:10 PM | #45
    Gun Owners React To My Novel.. (GyG: Or, Are “The Folks” Clamming Up???) « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  46. January 17, 2013 at 10:43 AM | #46
    Lawmaker: Doctors shouldn’t be asking patients about guns « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  47. January 17, 2013 at 12:06 PM | #47
    Obama, Clinton Silent on Hostage Crisis (….too busy dis-arming American citizens?) « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  48. January 17, 2013 at 1:15 PM | #48
    MILLER: Obama is coming for your guns « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  49. January 17, 2013 at 3:43 PM | #49
    Time honored tradition trashed for Chief Petty Officers in the Navy « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  50. January 17, 2013 at 9:15 PM | #50
    (“…shut down five states at a time and search homes for undeclared firearms, until the whole nation had been purged of its defense to resist a global governmenttakeover. In other words we would not be able to…”) Obama gives Himself Control of All
  51. January 17, 2013 at 9:15 PM | #51
    (“…shut down five states at a time and search homes for undeclared firearms, until the whole nation had been purged of its defense to resist a global governmenttakeover. In other words we would not be able to…”) Obama gives Himself Control of All
  52. January 17, 2013 at 9:16 PM | #52
    (“…shut down five states at a time and search homes for undeclared firearms, until the whole nation had been purged of its defense to resist a global governmenttakeover. In other words we would not be able to…”) Obama gives Himself Control of All
  53. January 17, 2013 at 9:16 PM | #53
    (“…shut down five states at a time and search homes for undeclared firearms, until the whole nation had been purged of its defense to resist a global governmenttakeover. In other words we would not be able to…”) Obama gives Himself Control of All
  54. January 18, 2013 at 8:35 AM | #54
    Neo-Communism Out of the Closet… ~ “I consider the reception of this latest Stone travesty to be a significant cultural event signifying a final coming out of the closet of what can only be termed the Communist left.” « AMERICAN BL
  55. January 18, 2013 at 12:03 PM | #55
    The Gun Is Civilized… « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  56. January 18, 2013 at 4:26 PM | #56
    Col. Larry Sellin: Obama’s Eligibility Must Be Dealt With Before 2012 Election – 7/11/11 – YouTube « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  57. January 18, 2013 at 6:05 PM | #57
    Democrat: Please Don’t Release That Document Showing We Actually Do Want to Confiscate Guns « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  58. January 19, 2013 at 8:46 AM | #58
    Ted Nugent on Obama “When a man, can dictate to another man… ““If you want another Concord Bridge, I’ve got some buddies”” « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
  59. January 19, 2013 at 8:13 PM | #59
    Caruba: Comparing Two Inaugural Speeches, Reagan’s and Obama’s … « AMERICAN BLOGGER: GUNNY.G ~ WEBLOG.EMAIL
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 669 other followers