Tilting at Windmills (Scott Brown, Janet Napolitano, and Leon Panetta) (Viewpoint Essay)

Subordinate power It was troubling to see Janet Napolitano and Leon Panetta be so defensive about the obvious failures of their respective agencies. Napolitano has an excellent reputation, and I have admired Panetta for years. But good people can become prisoners of their subordinates. Especially in their first year or so heading an agency, leaders are anxious to win the loyalty of their troops. In their eagerness to show that they are on the side of their subordinates, they are reluctant to face what the subordinates are doing that is wrong. After awhile what is wrong becomes part of the leader's record so that he continues to feel compelled to defend it.