"Moral courage is more difficult than physical courage. There are times when you disagree and you have to suck it in and say, 'Yes, sir,' and go do what you are told. There are also times when you disagree and you have to speak out, even at the cost of your career. If you're a general, you might have to throw your stars on the table, as they say, and resign for the sake of some principle or truth from which you can't back away."

General Anthony Charles Zinni
United States Marine Corps (ret)
- Battle Ready (2004)

In his remarks to the Middleburg Town Council on January 13, Eccentric columnist, Bruce Smart, a long time resident of the area, a WWII veteran, CEO, and public servant noted pointedly that, in his view, Middleburg Police Chief Steve Webber's duty was "to protect us" against the treatment meted out to the Editor-in-Chief of this paper on November 30, 2011.

For Smart, as for many of us, Webber's apparent lack of action was as worrisome as his participation in the set-up, execution, and post-event publicity surrounding what, by all accounts now appears to be, at the very least, a great mistake in judgment.

It would have taken great courage to insist that a senior State Police Officer change his mind about the timing and execution of an arrest.

It would have taken even more courage to refuse to aid and abet behavior that he believed to be wrong.

Chief Webber has been given every opportunity to explain why he thought it proper for the Police to arrest Hubbard rather than simply issue a summons for her to appear before a magistrate. He has also been given every opportunity to explain why he became an active participant in the regrettable events of 29 and 30 November.

To date, he has declined to explain himself to the press and the public he serves.

Chief Webber wears the eagle, globe and anchor of the United States Marine Corps on the chest of his Middleburg Police uniform. For that service alone we are in his debt.

We hope, however, that, in the future, he will find the courage described by Marine Corps General and former Chief of Staff Zinni, and "throw his stars on the table" before allowing something like the events of 30 November to ever happen again.