TBSG,
for you to say that this type of comment and response should cause us to look at the place our profession has in the modern world would be ridiculous if it were not so laughable. Try telling all the people who have carried the burden of Ops for the last 6 years that we are in a position where we can consider losing assets and highly trained people on 1 target, however valuable. If we have such a depth of reserve then let's see some of it today to alieviate the burden.
This comment was not thrown out as a hypothetical discussion point - AOCs in front of a roomful of junior officers do not do that! In the silence that followed his comments no-one put themselves forward to say they thought such an idea was repellant. That being the case, then if he did not immediately say that the topic was simply an extreme view and that there is no way that he would countenance such a thing, he leaves no other impression than that he thinks it an option.
Ignoring the ridiculous concept that someone could be ordered to attempt to fly into a target on the basis of dodgy dosier type int, where would that place us morally. We quite rightly parade our outrage and indignance at the reprehensible actions of suicide bombers in the middle and far east. How would this type of action play on Al Jaz television?
For a whole plethora of reasons, this is simply a "larger than life", vaguely cartoon character allowing his ego to run amock.
SOTB, hi fella-tally the village!. We posted at the same time so excuse edit to reflect.
There is no point in a "leader" stimulating debate and then leaving the topic in the air. He asked a question, the floor gave no answer and so what are his views? Where does that leave us? Where does that leave the shiney new QWI who now doesn't know if his AOC is a thought provoking and inspirational leader or completely raving hatstand! That is not decisive leadership, that is at best some-one on a raving ego trip and at worst someone who poses a difficult question and then doesn't have the balls to answer it if no-one else will.
As to what I think, and having had the priviledge of operating under his command, I refer you to my previous post re An-22!