Chairman Joint Chiefs Claims Climate Change is ‘Serious Threat’ to US: So What? Little Known FACTS Regarding JCS

These guys are in-charge of two things, “Jack” and “Shit”… and Jack just left town.

I’ve posted about this before, and much like a stalker ex-girlfriend, this gigantic pain in the ass keeps showing up. Sadly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff are again all in the headlines.

On the heels of Chinese Resident Chou Bia-Dung telling a group of Air Force weenies in England that years ago he was informed by the JCS that so-called global warming was “the greatest threat” to the United States.

Of course, the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Milley, US Army, was quoted by Military.com (don’t let the name fool you. They are civilian owned and operated);

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley told lawmakers Thursday that climate change is a serious threat facing the United States — one that the military must take into account.

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to discuss the Pentagon’s proposed fiscal 2022 budget, Milley said that China is the top military threat facing the United States, and Russia is also a considerable “great power competitor.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., asked Milley about Biden’s comments about global warming being America’s greatest threat.

Milley replied that climate change has had a significant effect on military operations that must be considered.

Folks, who seriously gives a damn what Milley or any other member of the JCS has to say?

Remember, the Joint Chiefs have VERY little command authority over any members of the Armed Forces. In fact, the only troops actually under their command are recruiters and those assigned to the various training commands. That’s pretty much it.

Even according to the official website of the JCS, their entire purpose in life is (emphasis mine);

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military adviser to the President, Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council (NSC), however, all JCS members are by law military advisers, and they may respond to a request or voluntarily submit, through the Chairman, advice or opinions to the President, the Secretary of Defense, or NSC.

Since its establishment in 1947, statute has prohibited the Joint Staff from operating or organizing as an overall armed forces general staff; therefore, the Joint Staff has no executive authority over combatant forces.

That’s why I couldn’t help but chuckle over Colin Powell briefing the press and the nation during the Gulf War, Part I.

At that moment in time, Powell became little better than the world’s highest paid Public Affairs Officer.

For what it’s worth, they’re also the ones who testify before Congress as to why they need more money.

And cocktail parties. I hear they attend an awful lot of cocktail parties.

But if you really want to know who’s calling the shots, look to the regional Combatant Commanders.

They’re the Flag Officers in-charge of the various geographical areas of the globe, and when I say in-charge, I mean in-charge. Keep in mind that Combatant Commanders are almost always officers with four stars, be they generals or admirals.

They’re the ones who sent troops into combat, not the Joint Chiefs.

It doesn’t matter which uniform you wear. If you’re a US Marine assigned to an operational amphibious command ordered to Liberia, you answer to the Commander Africom. NOT the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

If you’re a soldier from an activated unit of the South Dakota Army Reserve who’s assigned to to a regimental combat team participating in a multi-nation exercise in Australia, you answer to the Commander Indo-Pac. NOT the Army Chief of Staff.

So in essence, who cares what the Joint Chiefs say? They’re basically toothless dogs. They may make you feel safe, but they’re incapable of doing anything of substance.