DOD Inspector General Should Inspect JAG

When any federal agency grows from a few hundred to over ten thousand, and is affecting decisions made by a major federal agency right down to the lowest level, one would expect both that problems would occur and that they’d be investigated.

That investigation has not occurred for JAG, the military’s Judge Advocate General, whose legal officers are now present right down to the company level.

I previously wrote about how “JAG Needs Refocus,” and that “JAG At Center Of Lawfare Vs. Warfare Conflict.”

Now, with the runamock trials of the Haditha Marines, their present and future effect on combat operations and morale, as well as the concentration of the military upon developing better counterinsurgency doctrine and tactics, the role of JAG urgently requires in-depth investigation.

One would think the Defense Department’s Inspector General might be a good place to start. It says its mission is “Promote integrity, accountability, and improvement of Department of Defense personnel, programs and operations to support the Department's mission and serve the public interest.” And, the Inspector General Act of 1978 doesn’t restrict the IG’s scope.

In the Congress’ zeal to investigate anything to do with trying to knock down the Bush administration, how about demanding an investigation of an agency that has grown during his administration into a national embarrassment and possibly deadly one at that.