NationStates Jolt Archive

Peter Pace, current Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, impresses me as a dedicated professional, a man of honor, and a very intelligent human being. I was particularly impressed when he corrected Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during a press briefing, not just once, but twice. That takes guts, especially when you consider that Rumsfeld in his boss.

I don't know what his political preferences are, but I would vote for him regardless of which party ticket he ran on.

What do you think?


PETER PACE

General Peter Pace was sworn in as sixteenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Sep. 30, 2005. In this capacity, he serves as the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. Prior to becoming Chairman, he served as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 2001 to August 12, 2005. General Pace is the first Marine to serve as Chairman. He also holds the distinction of being the first Marine to have served as the Vice Chairman.

General Pace was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in Teaneck, NJ. A 1967 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University and attended Harvard University for the Senior Executives in National and International Security program. The General is also a graduate of the Infantry Officers' Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Ga.; the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, in Quantico, VA; and the National War College, at Ft. McNair, Washington, DC.

In 1968, upon completion of The Basic School, Quantico, Va., General Pace was assigned to the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam, serving first as a Rifle Platoon Leader and subsequently as Assistant Operations Officer. He was later assigned to Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, where he served in a number of billets, to include Security Detachment Commander, Camp David; White House Social Aide; and Platoon Leader, Special Ceremonial Platoon.

General Pace has held command at virtually every level, and served in overseas billets in Nam Phong, Thailand; Seoul, Korea; and Yokota, Japan. While serving as President, Marine Corps University, then Brigadier General Pace also served as Deputy Commander, Marine Forces, Somalia, from December 1992 - February 1993, and as the Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force - Somalia from October 1993 - March 1994.

After an assignment as the Director for Operations (J-3), Joint Staff, Washington DC, then Lieutenant General Pace served as the Commander, U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic/Europe/South. He was promoted to General and assumed duties as the Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command in September 2000.

As the Vice Chairman from October 2001 to August 2005, General Pace served as the Chairman of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, Vice Chairman of the Defense Acquisition Board, and as a member of the National Security Council Deputies Committee and the Nuclear Weapons Council. In addition, he acted for the Chairman in all aspects of the Planning, Programming and Budgeting System including participation in the Defense Resources Board.

General Pace's personal decorations include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal, with two oak leaf clusters; Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal with Combat V; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with gold star; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V"; Navy Achievement Medal with gold star; and the Combat Action Ribbon.

General Pace and his wife, Lynne, have two children, Peter and Tiffany Marie.

You'd vote for him without knowing what his intended policies would be?

You'd vote for him without knowing what his intended policies would be?
All things being equal, yes. I tend to vote for the character of the candidate, not his or her "policies" or politics. Most campaign promises have a way of fading from view rather quickly once the reality of Washington politics sinks in. The one exeption I made to this rule of mine was when I voted for GW Bush. I've never liked him, but the other options were too horrible to contemplate.

The one exeption I made to this rule of mine was when I voted for GW Bush. I've never liked him, but the other options were too horrible to contemplate.
thats exactly how i feel

thats exactly how i feel
Having your choice forced to the lesser of two evils sucks, yes? :(

http://www.jcs.mil/mainimages/bio_photos/pace.jpg

Scary looking guy. And anyone who sticks it Rumsfeld twice is quiet likely worth a vote. Unless he's secretly a Nazi or something.

democracy sucks (oops):eek:

Scary looking guy. And anyone who sticks it Rumsfeld twice is quiet likely worth a vote. Unless he's secretly a Nazi or something.
It's highly unlikely that he has any secret wierd political leanings. If they do a background check on everyone who enters the military, how much more thorough would they be on someone who rises to the level of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?

Why do you say he's "scary looking?" :confused:

A Marine from my home town. I would certainly listen to what he had to say and give him some serious consideration.
I like him already though.

A Marine from my home town. I would certainly listen to what he had to say and give him some serious consideration.
I like him already though.
General Pace is from your hometown? Kewl!

All things being equal, yes. I tend to vote for the character of the candidate, not his or her "policies" or politics.

Hmmm... Interesting way of doing it. I could never do that.

I wonder if it's got something to do with how politics and elections work in the US, as opposed to over here in France. We have two-round elections, which gives greater prominence to small parties, especially since all parties in any election, however small, are given equal time in the media.

We tend to see the Republicans and Democrats as having a lot in common, anyway, although they do have their differences. There's a lot more diversity in policies and politics here. Perhaps that explains it? I *always* take into account a candidate's party and suggested policies when voting.

[Edit:] I'm not criticising, btw. I just find it interesting. ;)

Why do you say he's "scary looking?" :confused:

His eyes freak me out.

His eyes freak me out.
LOL! Why? They just look like eyes to me. :p

His eyes freak me out.
:confused: they look pretty norm to me

General Pace is from your hometown? Kewl!

Yeah-It says he was born in Brooklyn, NY.

LOL! Why? They just look like eyes to me. :p

I don't know. I just googled his picture, and my gut reaction was "Scary guy".

LOL! Why? They just look like eyes to me. :p
He has the cold, dead eyes of a killer!

Yeah-It says he was born in Brooklyn, NY.
Oh. Well, I still like him anyway! ;)

All things being equal, yes. I tend to vote for the character of the candidate, not his or her "policies" or politics. Most campaign promises have a way of fading from view rather quickly once the reality of Washington politics sinks in.

Ulysses S. Grant was a military man of high character too don't forget.

The one exeption I made to this rule of mine was when I voted for GW Bush. I've never liked him, but the other options were too horrible to contemplate.

You let your personal hate of Kerry allow an incompetent fratboy to continue running the nation into the ground.

It would be interesting if both he and McCain ran. Could you imagine it? Finally having a real choice for who becomes president.

It would be interesting if both he and McCain ran. Could you imagine it? Finally having a real choice for who becomes president.

Assuming the Republicans don't turn on McCain like they did when elevating Shrub? Yes.

Oh. Well, I still like him anyway! ;)

You'd love a lot of the guys from Brooklyn if you knew them.

All things being equal, yes. I tend to vote for the character of the candidate, not his or her "policies" or politics. .

Like another poster, I find that interesting too :) That a widely held truism in America?

I have to say, I don't think I could vote based on that criteria - character and personality seems too easy to fake on campaign/public life, surely?

Why do you say he's "scary looking?" :confused:

He is a creepy looking dude...

...and in this day and age of television, I don't think he's good looking enough to win the presidency. Don't think that matters? Unfortunately it most definately does.

If it comes down to Peter Pace vs any non moderate republican, Pace gets my support.

If it comes down to Peter Pace vs any non moderate republican, Pace gets my support.
I just can't help liking the man. He's obviously quite dedicated, has every indication of good character, obviously takes care of himself physically, has been in command positions for most of his career and so knows how to manage, and anyone who can do an effective job of managing the prima donnas who are the various service Chiefs of Staff has great diplomatic skills as well. :)

Ironic that his last name is Latin for peace and he is in the military! I don't think he looks too scary.

And what's the nonsense about being forced to vote for the lesser of two evils? There are always third parties. But that would be wasting a vote, now wouldn't it?