What do you call making the President Commander in Chief if not the founding fathers making a statement on civilian control of the military?
Running the DoD is a full-time job. In order to keep it civilian controlled we needed a SecDef. The President simply does not have enough time per day to make every decision, that's what a cabinet is for.
Civilian control of the military is an absolute necessity. Not only because military control leads to coups but because generals often under or overestimate our own capabilities or needs. If the generals were calling the shots in 1962, we would have had a nuclear exchange over Cuba. It was McNamara and Kennedy who made the final decisions, thankfully. It is Rumsfeld and Bush who make the final decisions now as well, and I am equally thankful.
Truman got it dead solid perfect when he said
Quote:
If there is one basic element in our Constitution, it is civilian control of the military

I have read the Constitution, and apparently Truman has as well. I suggest you re-read it.
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