[lit-ideas] Re: The US Army in mutiny?
- From: Robert Paul <robert.paul@xxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 16:58:19 -0700
Eric Yost wrote:
For all anyone knows, an unfavorable opinion of Rumsfeld is
what certain vengeful lobbyists hope to install in the public...get
Rummy out, put a new guy in, and bring the Crusader Mobile Howitzer back
to costly life.
Isn't possibility great? It contains multitudes. With the strange excuse
that 'for all anyone knows…certain vengeful lobbyists' are now trying to
get Rummy because they (these unnamed Furies) want to revive the
Crusader mobile howitzer program, Eric decides to cut Rummy a break. By
parity of reasoning, for all anyone knows, Rumsfeld has written a sequel
to War and Peace, which will soon be published by Heisenberg House,
under the pseudonym Georges Clemenshovich. Hey, there's no evidence that
it hasn't happened.
There is though evidence, contrary to what Eric assumes, that the
Military Industrial complex isn't behind the complaints of the Generals
who have now come forward: their concerns seem directly focused on the
conduct of the War in Iraq. None of them has called for überweapons;
none for more expensive toys.
Here's a brief account of what they've said lately.
Major General Paul D. Eaton (Army, commanded training of Iraqi security
forces until 2004):
“First, his failure to build coalitions with our allies, what he
dismissively called ‘Old Europe’ has imposed far greater demands and
risks on our soldiers than necessary. Second, he alienated his allies in
our own military, ignoring the advice of seasoned officers and denying
subordinates any chance for input.”
General Anthony C. Zinni (Marines, former head of United States Central
Command):
“We are paying the price for the lack of credible planning, or the lack
of a plan…
"Ten years worth of planning were thrown away, troop levels dismissed
out of hand…
"These were not tactical mistakes. These were mistakes of policy made
back here. Don’t blame the troops.”
Lieutenant General Gregory Newbold (Marines, director of operations,
Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2000 to 2002):
‘My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was
done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of
those who have never had to execute these missions.
“The troops in the Middle East have performed their duty. Now we need
people in Washington who can construct a unified strategy worthy of them.”
Major General John Batiste (Army, former commander, First Infantry
Division in Iraq):
“I think he should step; aside and let someone step in who can be more
realistic.
“I think we need a fresh start. We need leadership up there that
respects the military as they expect the military to respect them. And
that leadership needs to understand teamwork.”
Major General John Riggs (Army, former director, Objective Task Force):
“They only need (sic) the military advice when it satisfies their
agenda. I think that’s a mistake and that’s why he should resign.”
(I grant that Major Riggs' complaint isn't especially telling, but at
least he went on record.)
Robert Paul
The Reed Institute
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