3 military services without confirmed chiefs amid senator standoff

THE ARMY, MARINES, AND THE NAVY ARE ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ‘OFFICIAL’ LEADERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY –

BECAUSE THE PROCESS THAT TYPICALLY CONFIRMS THE NOMINATIONS OF MILITARY HIGHER-UPS IS BEING HELD UP BY A LONE SENATOR –

WHO IS TAKING A STANCE AGAINST WHAT HE CALLED “WOKE POLICIES” INSIDE THE MILITARY.

IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR – REPUBLICAN SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE OF ALABAMA PROMISED HE WOULD UPHOLD THE PROCESS THAT PROMOTES MILITARY MEMBERS TO HIGHER RANKS – UNTIL THE MILITARY STOPPED USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR SERVICEWOMEN TO TRAVEL TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

PAYING FOR OUT-OF-STATE ABORTIONS FOR WOMEN STATIONED IN STATES WITH ABORTION BANS – WAS A POLICY PUT IN PLACE AFTER ROE VERSUS WADE WAS OVERTURNED LAST YEAR.

FOR 8 MONTHS – TUBERVILLE HAS KEPT HIS PROMISE.

IN THAT TIME FRAME – HUNDREDS OF MILITARY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN AWAITING CONFIRMATIONS THAT WILL PROMOTE THEM IN THE RANKS – NOW – THAT INCLUDES THE HIGHEST POSITIONS IN THREE MILITARY BRANCHES – ARMY, MARINES, AND NAVY.

THE PENTAGON’S CURRENT DISPLAY OF ITS CHIEFS OF STAFF HAS THREE PHOTOS MISSING – BUT IF THE HOLD OUT CONTINUES — SOON IT WILL BE FOUR – AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF MARK MILLEY IS EXPECTED TO RETIRE AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

RIGHT NOW – THERE ARE OFFICIALS WHO HAVE TAKEN OVER THE RESPONSIBILITIES IN THESE VACANT ROLES – JUST NOT OFFICIALLY WITH THE TITLE AND BENEFITS.

AS OF NOW – THERE’S NO SENSE THIS HOLD OUT WILL END ANYTIME SOON.

TUBERVILLE IS INSISTENT HE WON’T BE HELPING THE MILITARY PROMOTE ITS MEMBERS AS LONG AS THE PAID ABORTION POLICY STANDS –

AND THE MILITARY SAYS THEY’RE KEEPING THE POLICY AND NOT BENDING TO THE SENATOR’S DEMANDS.

IT’S A DEADLOCK.

BUT – IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE.

THE SENATE HAS THE ABILITY TO FORCE A VOTE ON ANY NOMINEE AWAITING CONFIRMATION.

AND WHILE ITS NOT FEASIBLE TO CALL 300 SEPARATE VOTES TO PROMOTE THE MILITARY MEMBERS AWAITING CONFIRMATIONS – THEY COULD TAKE THREE VOTES TO CONFIRM THE THREE CHIEFS OF STAFF.

AS THEY’VE DONE IN THE PAST FOR THESE HIGH-RANK POSITIONS.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER –

SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO CALL A VOTE.

ALLOWING THE POLITICS OF THE NOMINATION PROCESS – TO PLAY OUT.