Route the Pentagon's rebuttal to the incoming reviewers

Brett Sylvia's departure from the Joint Staff planning role is confirmed.

I understand changing the people, very familiar with changing people. But when I ask what happens NEXT, somebody has to know which drawer it's in. Can't have the whole military pointing to a nameplate that's been unscrewed.

Pete, I still need the plans.

The planning function continues to require an accountable lead.

I want one name at the top. A person, preferably.

No successor is identified in the cited reports.

Don't put 'Transition' there. I've never met Transition, nobody can get him on the phone, and somehow he's responsible for everything. Find me an actual General.

The public endorsement and the reported questions are both retained.

I can ask a question about a person I have confidence in. That's a very normal use of a Question.

What I don't need is every answer arriving dressed for a Victory Parade, flags on the numbers, little band playing over the difficult part. I like a parade, nobody likes one more than me (ME!), but the briefing has to tell me whether we can get down the street.

The Pentagon disputes the suggestion that the operational picture was withheld.

I want the complete picture.

No new personnel action has been inferred from the reporting.

Keep the confidence statement, keep the questions. I have room for both, it's a large desk. Stop trying to make the desk decide.

Pete has volume. I have never had to ask him to speak up.

The proposed budget remains subject to congressional action.

I want the votes counted before the music starts.

The impeachment effort is reported as planned, not completed.

They all want a fight, Pete has a fight, Massie has a fight, then somebody sends ME the invoice for the microphone. I would like a meeting where the person with the spreadsheet gets through one whole number without somebody declaring a new front.

I'm perfectly capable of reading a quiet budget. Big numbers can be quiet, people don't know that.

The requested amount has not been recorded as enacted funding.