Monday, October 24, 2022

The Uganda Ebola outbreak is spreading in Kampala and causing concern. Interesting meeting this AM at the Pentagon. At the invitation of general Charles Brown, I was given a tour of the Pentagon. Apparently, a lot of people at the Pentagon admire me very much and wanted to have the opportunity to show me around the facility. I spent close to two hours getting a tour that was truly fascinating and enjoyable given my love of the history of wars, and the response to me was very moving. Several women civilian employees as well as military officers came over to me wanting selfies and in their telling me how much they admired what I have done throughout my career, more than one of them actually broke into tears as they were telling me how much they appreciated me. It was very moving. I also had the opportunity to have a chat with Secretary Lloyd Austin as well as my friend Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. Mark was amazing. He gave me his new Joint Chiefs Chairman challenge coin as well as a signed copy of three books: the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, And Washington's rules of civility. He was also hilarious and telling me that President Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, himself, and I are going to be attacked by the GOP if they take over the house and the Senate. Mark’s comments to their attempts on attacking us amounted to two words that he told me: “Fuck ‘em”. He told me he was not going to take any shit from them. As a military officer he will act with civility, but if they try to push him around and embarrass him and humiliate him publicly he will blow them away. It was refreshing to hear him and his response to what I will almost certainly be facing, and I totally agree with him. PRESS: Extensive profile interview with Der Spiegel with Raphaela von Bredow