Obituary: General Michael Jackson

General Michael Jackson, a distinguished former head of the British Army, passed away on October 15 at the age of 80. He was often referred to as “the Prince of Darkness,” a moniker that reflected his intense, heavy-lidded stare and gravelly voice. Jackson’s military career was marked by a defining moment during the Yugoslav wars when he famously defied an order from his American superior, a bold decision that he believed could have led to the outbreak of World War III.

In June 1999, General Jackson served as Britain’s senior military leader in the Balkans during a critical period when NATO forces were deployed to Kosovo to enforce the withdrawal of Serbian troops. In a surprising turn of events, Russian soldiers, who were allies of Serbia, seized control of the airfield near Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. This maneuver prompted General Wesley K. Clark, the American and NATO supreme commander, to issue a directive to General Jackson to block the runways with tanks and troops to prevent further Russian landings.

In a historic display of military independence, General Jackson refused, stating firmly, “No, I’m not going to do that. It’s not worth starting World War III.” His insubordination became a topic of discussion among both men’s superiors: General Henry H. Shelton, the American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Jackson’s British commander. Ultimately, the dispute was resolved in favor of General Jackson, a testimony to the gravity and wisdom of his decision, as recounted by General Shelton during congressional hearings.

In the British media, General Jackson earned the nickname “Macho Jacko” for his staunch rebuke of General Clark. While the American accounts of the incident were somewhat subdued, the British press highlighted Jackson’s assertiveness, quoting him as saying, “I’m not going to start the Third World War for you,” an assertion that encapsulated his approach to leadership and military engagement.