This may be the most ironic official Air Force photograph of all time: Maj. Gen. James Post — who was fired from his old job earlier this year for telling officers they would be “committing treason” if they advocated to lawmakers for keeping the A-10 Thunderbolt in service — face-to-face with a Warthog.
Pacific Air Forces recently posted the photograph of Post, taken during his Nov. 12 visit to Osan Air Base in South Korea, late Tuesday night. It did not go unnoticed by military observers — especially Warthog fans who raked Post over the coals for his treason comments earlier this year. Said Doctrine Man:
"Sir, I'm not sure I can brief you on the awesome capabilities of this aircraft without committing treason."… https://t.co/qnLPOzgZA2
— Doctrine Man (@Doctrine_Man) November 18, 2015
And blogger Tony Carr, who broke the news about Post’s treason comments on his John Q. Public blog, said on his Facebook page: “Who better to send to Osan for a visit than a guy who thinks supporting the A-10 is treasonous. Not only didn’t the USAF sideline James Post, they moved him higher in the organization.”
Lawmakers such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., were angered by Post’s comments. The Air Force’s inspector general investigated, and concluded that he did use the word “treason” before more than 300 airmen at Nellis Air Force Base in January, which, intentionally or unintentionally, “had the effect of attempting to prevent some members from lawfully communicating with Congress.”
Post apologized for his “poor choice of words,” was reprimanded and removed from his post as vice commander of Air Combat Command in April. He is now director of current operations and deputy chief of staff for operations at Air Force headquarters.