Retired officers: Army secretary nominee ‘unfit to serve’

Ten retired military officers have joined the chorus of opposition to Army secretary nominee Mark Green, calling him unfit to be the service’s civilian leader.

“As retired Flag and General Officers, we believe Mark Green is unfit to serve as the next Secretary of the Army,” the officers wrote in a statement provided first to The Hill by the Palm Center, an independent think tank that researches issues of gender and sexuality, and has been active on the military’s LGBT policies.

“We urge President Trump to withdraw his nomination as Secretary of the Army immediately.”

The signatories are retired lieutenant generals, major generals, rear admirals and brigadier generals from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard.

{mosads}Green’s nomination has drawn fierce opposition over comments he’s made and bills he’s supported as a Tennessee state senator.

Among the controversial statements, Green has said that “transgender is a disease” and cited a Bible verse on “crushing evil” to explain his opposition to both Syrian refugees and allowing transgender people to use the bathroom matching their gender identity.

Green also had a notable Army career, having served as a special operations flight surgeon who was the emergency physician during the operation that captured Saddam Hussein in 2003. He was the first person to interrogate Hussein following the capture.

The Palm Center previously released a statement from current and former professors at military service academies, war colleges and other military universities opposing Green.

In their statement Friday, the retired officers said Green’s Army career on its own would be positive for a nominee.

“However, his statements and actions since that service disparage thousands of men and women who have also served the Army admirably and honorably,” the officers continued. “Mark Green’s professional history suggests that he is not​ prepared to treat all military members and their families with the respect and dignity they have earned.”

Appointing Green, they added, “would risk creating uncertainty, favoritism and unequal standards.”

In an interview with The Hill, retired Navy Rear Adm. Michael Smith, who signed the letter, added that Green’s statements are fresh enough and passionate enough that denouncing them at a confirmation hearing would not be enough to instill confidence in Green. 

“Everyone around him is going to question his integrity because clearly he believes the other, but he’s willing to say anything,” Smith said. “This is just a flawed candidate. There are numerous, wonderful candidates that could be chosen to be secretary of the Army. I just don’t understand why they’re choosing such a flawed candidate.”