CJCS and SECDEF Understatements of the Week

I have intentionally avoided any commentary on Mosul-al-kerfuffle for this simple reason; regardless of what it was, it was gobsmacking grabassery of the highest order, and I wanted nothing to do with it until the adults have spoken.

Well, here you go;

General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Central Command would "take the appropriate action" once the inquiry was complete.

One would think.

A U.S. military official who briefed news media about Iraq's upcoming offensive to retake Mosul provided inaccurate information but should never have publicly discussed war plans anyway, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday.

Carter's criticism of the February news briefing by an official from the U.S. military's Central Command was accompanied by an assurance from the top U.S. military officer to Congress that the matter was subject to an internal inquiry.

"That clearly was neither accurate information, nor had it been accurate, would have it been information that should have been blurted out to the press. So it's wrong on both scores," Carter, who took over as defense secretary in February, told a hearing by the Senate Armed Services Committee.
...
Carter described the briefing about the Mosul offensive as "an instance of speculation." He declined to offer a timeline, saying Iraqi forces would go into Mosul when they were ready.

I still have no idea why this even became a thing - but regardless - we should just hurry up and put a head on a pike outside the main gate at MacDill and be done with it.