General Caine’s nomination must be heavily scrutinized

General Caine's nomination for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff raises concerns about potential politicization of the military's senior leadership. His selection by President Trump appears motivated more by perceived personal loyalty than by merit or established precedent for this critical role. As a recently retired 3-star general, Caine would be an exceptionally unusual pick, with all previous Chairmen having achieved the rank of 4-star general or admiral prior to confirmation. His promotion to that level seems contingent on Senate approval, inappropriately tying his advancement to a political endorsement rather than objective military criteria. The Chairman must provide impartial, apolitical guidance to the President and represent the interests of the armed forces and American people as a whole, not any individual's agenda. Nominating a perceived loyalist risks compromising this principle of civilian control of the military. I urge you to scrutinize this nomination carefully and consider whether Gen. Caine can truly set aside any perceived debts to the President who appointed him. Preserving confidence in the integrity and independence of the Joint Chiefs is paramount.