Economic times are tough, ignore your Pentagon holiday party invitation
In one sign of the tough times that Barack Obama鈥檚 newly announced economic team will face, the nation鈥檚 top military officer is disinviting people from his annual holiday party.Citing 鈥渢hese trying financial times鈥� Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Michael Mullen and his wife, Deborah, last week mailed formal printed cards, topped with the admiral鈥檚 pale-blue flag with four stars, disinviting guests from the annual holiday party the Chairman traditionally holds.
鈥淧lease disregard your December 7 Holiday Reception invitation,鈥� the note says. 鈥淲e sincerely regret any inconvenience and greatly appreciate your understanding,鈥� the 4 陆 by 6 inch card continues. 鈥淎ll the best for a joyous holiday season,鈥� it concludes.
An unusual message
It is a 鈥渞ather unusual" note, admits the chairman鈥檚 spokesman, Navy Captain John Kirby. Admiral Mullen 鈥渂egan to grow concerned about鈥� the party鈥檚 suitability, Kirby said. Unfortunately, the decision to forgo the holiday gathering came after the first batch of invitations had already been sent.
In normal years, several hundred Defense Department executives, diplomats, and members of the press attend the chairman鈥檚 party, with invitees arriving in shifts. It is a 鈥渂ig party and it is fairly expensive,鈥� Kirby said. (Full disclosure: Guests in the past have included your loyal correspondent and my college-aged sons.)
A party with punch and a view
The traditional setting for the gathering, which features a military string quartet playing holiday music, is the chairman鈥檚 quarters at Fort Myer, Virginia, at the top of a hill offering stunning views of Washington and its monuments.
But when he was chief of naval operations, Mullen lived in large home on a government installation near the State Department, in the Foggy Bottom section of Washington. He stayed in the home when he was sworn in as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on October 1, 2007. So last year, the party was held there.
Welcoming a deserving group
While diplomats and reporters won鈥檛 be sipping punch and chatting with the chairman this year, he will be holding a much smaller holiday gathering for a much more deserving group. In their note disinviting reporters, Mullen and his wife said they would be hosting 鈥渁 small gathering for wounded service members, their families, and the families of the fallen.鈥�
