McCaffrey, as shown above, is outspoken. He never shies from confrontation. And in the constellation of egos that swirl in the rarified air of four-stars, his ability to cut through political bullshit is equally rare. He will not tolerate bureaucratic turf wars or grandstanding on this critical issue. In assuming the drug-czar duties, McCaffrey will be forced to end abruptly a stellar military career.
Federal law bars military officers from civilian law enforcement.
And while this White House has held to the letter of that law, it has increasingly blurred it. McCaffrey's nomination does nothing to buff what is supposed to be a bright shining line. McCaffrey may divorce himself from the military, but he will not divorce himself from his own internal compass nor his closest advisors, and both are military-based. He believes that the military should be more involved in drug policy and has said so publicly. Beneath that thinking is a darker framework.