Posted on 03/30/2006 1:46:47 PM PST by Anthem
Eric Haney, a retired command sergeant major of the U.S. Army, was a founding member of Delta Force, the military's elite covert counter-terrorist unit. He culled his experiences for "Inside Delta Force" (Delta; $14), a memoir rich with harrowing stories, though in an interview, Haney declines with a shrug to estimate the number of times he was almost killed. (Perhaps the most high-profile incident that almost claimed his life was the 1980 failed rescue of the hostages in Iran.) Today, he's doing nothing nearly as dangerous: He serves as an executive producer and technical adviser for "The Unit," CBS' new hit drama based on his book, developed by playwright David Mamet. Even up against "American Idol," "The Unit" shows muscle, drawing 18 million viewers in its first two airings.
Since he has devoted his life to protecting his country in some of the world's most dangerous hot spots, you might assume Haney is sympathetic to the Bush administration's current plight in Iraq (the laudatory cover blurb on his book comes from none other than Fox's News' Bill O'Reilly). But he's also someone with close ties to the Pentagon, so he's privy to information denied the rest of us.
We recently spoke to Haney, an amiable, soft-spoken Southern gentleman, on the set of "The Unit."
Q: What's your assessment of the war in Iraq?
A: Utter debacle. But it had to be from the very first. The reasons were wrong. The reasons of this administration for taking this nation to war were not what they stated. (Army Gen.) Tommy Franks was brow-beaten and ... pursued warfare that he knew strategically was wrong in the long term. That's why he retired immediately afterward. His own staff could tell him what was going to happen afterward.
We have fomented civil war in Iraq. We have probably fomented internecine war in the Muslim world between the Shias and the Sunnis, and I think Bush may well have started the third world war, all for their own personal policies.
Q: What is the cost to our country?
A: For the first thing, our credibility is utterly zero. So we destroyed whatever credibility we had. ... And I say "we," because the American public went along with this. They voted for a second Bush administration out of fear, so fear is what they're going to have from now on.
Our military is completely consumed, so were there a real threat - thankfully, there is no real threat to the U.S. in the world, but were there one, we couldn't confront it. Right now, that may not be a bad thing, because that keeps Bush from trying something with Iran or with Venezuela.
The harm that has been done is irreparable. There are more than 2,000 American kids that have been killed. Tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis have been killed ñ which no one in the U.S. really cares about those people, do they? I never hear anybody lament that fact. It has been a horror, and this administration has worked overtime to divert the American public's attention from it. Their lies are coming home to roost now, and it's gonna fall apart. But somebody's gonna have to clear up the aftermath and the harm that it's done just to what America stands for. It may be two or three generations in repairing.
Q: What do you make of the torture debate? Cheney ...
A: (Interrupting) That's Cheney's pursuit. The only reason anyone tortures is because they like to do it. It's about vengeance, it's about revenge, or it's about cover-up. You don't gain intelligence that way. Everyone in the world knows that. It's worse than small-minded, and look what it does.
I've argued this on Bill O'Reilly and other Fox News shows. I ask, who would you want to pay to be a torturer? Do you want someone that the American public pays to torture? He's an employee of yours. It's worse than ridiculous. It's criminal; it's utterly criminal. This administration has been masters of diverting attention away from real issues and debating the silly. Debating what constitutes torture: Mistreatment of helpless people in your power is torture, period. And (I'm saying this as) a man who has been involved in the most pointed of our activities. I know it, and all of my mates know it. You don't do it. It's an act of cowardice. I hear apologists for torture say, "Well, they do it to us." Which is a ludicrous argument. ... The Saddam Husseins of the world are not our teachers. Christ almighty, we wrote a Constitution saying what's legal and what we believed in. Now we're going to throw it away.
Q: As someone who repeatedly put your life on the line, did some of the most hair-raising things to protect your country, and to see your country behave this way, that must be ...
A: It's pretty galling. But ultimately I believe in the good and the decency of the American people, and they're starting to see what's happening and the lies that have been told. We're seeing this current house of cards start to flutter away. The American people come around. They always do.
This has been pulled at least once today. You might want to make a comment about how you feel about this...or it's gonna go bye-bye.
He has those RAT talking points down to an art form.
Here's a ping for you guys.
Utter nonsense.
It makes me feel terrible.
Is this guy for real? What does he suggest we do after he tears apart everything we have done?
CBS wouldn't be working with this guy if he wasn't a Bush hater. Just another guy with a book to sell.
I don't think we're going into Iran, regardless. There is too much cooperation in place with Iran already, and their society is more western than the propaganda indicates.
Eric Haney thank you for your service to our country in the past but right now you are giving aid and comfort to the enemy of the United States.
i have my doubts. He sounds more like John Kerry than a tough Special Ops soldier.
I did a search on the article title.
Bookmark.
Have we found David Hackworth's replacement now that he is gone?
Who is a John Kerry Supporter for $500.00?
Whatever the merits of his other arguments, it cannot be argued that removing Saddam was not a favor to the world. Only problem is, the world didn't support it, but instead has in large part given support to the terrorists.
I don't know, but I sure miss Hack.
The international community loved us too. The French, the Germans, the Canadians....oh wait, they didn't love us before or after 9/11 did they?
There are lots of guys who may be tactically brilliant, but haven't a clue about politics and a strategic overview. This dude is living proof.
. The reasons of this administration for taking this nation to war were not what they stated. (Army Gen.) Tommy Franks was brow-beaten and ... pursued warfare that he knew strategically was wrong in the long term. That's why he retired immediately afterward. His own staff could tell him what was going to happen afterward.
So this guy is a jerk too. I predict "The Eunuch" is going down in flames.
that is not necessarily a bad thing
While everyone in special ops is intelligent and usually conservative, there are a lot of very strong personalities, and some diversity, and they are not the type to be shy about their opinions when off duty.
I thought Hackworth died.
Why? He became an embarassment to those who love the military.
If removing Saddam was necessary for whatever strategic reasons, then we should not have added nation building to the agenda. That's Clinton/Berger stuff and it's what's killing our guys.
Anyone who tries to speak for General Franks is a jerk, General Franks can and has spoken for himself.
He probably gave the money to Kerry in order to the ringing endorsement for local dog catcher.
Greatful for the man's service, but there is nothing, NOTHING as disheartening as a military liberal! Makes me cringe every time I hear one of these guys spout off as if they don't remember their oath, don't remember service, and don't remember loyalty. Thank God his impact now is on television and nothing important.
Petro45acp
MSgt (Ret) USMC
Hmmm, not what my Operation Iraqi Freedom Vet friend (now a LTC) says.
"The Unit" was a good show up to last week when they went on an anti-Christian tirade and portrayed missionaries as addle-brained fools. They couldn't even go five shows without getting on the usual liberal soap-box. I so hate Hollyweird.
I've never believed that the WMD thing was Bush's main reason for pursuing the "regime change." I've had a couple personal theories that made sense to me, like the idea that it would be necessary to clean up the Middle East to end the threat of Islamic terror, but did the President himself ever really give clear and specific reasoning for the action?
Let it go bye bye.
Me neither, Iran is the sword we leave hanging over the heads of our "allies" in Europe.
Until BushCo wrecked the neighborhood, it was all sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows.
How does this idiot know Gen. Franks was "browbeaten." Was he in the General's office when Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Co. were there berating him? Sounds like another disgruntled leftie with an axe to grind and a book to sell. How many of them have been discredited?
Franks fought in Vietnam. He served 36 years. I believe he did not retire earlier BECAUSE he felt it important to stay long enough to take Iraq.
The muzzies will/would re-act like a rug pulled out from under them..
Bush is wrong on a hundred issues but goin into Iraq was not one of them..
Obviously this guy is a democrat they never get anything correctly..
O.K. maybe a RINO.. (like theres a difference)..
Absolutely, enlisted men aren't paid to be strategic thinkers. My dad was a SM and he definitely wasn't a strategic thinker. ;-)
"Tommy Franks was brow-beaten" True? False?
"We have fomented civil war in Iraq" True? False?
"our credibility is utterly zero" True? False?
"Our military is completely consumed" True? False?
"You don't gain intelligence that way [torture]" True? False?
Personally I don't believe torture is/was an accepted policy/practice. Anyway is most of above true or false? Just fact checking.
Another James Webb. These prima donnas have huge egos, and they know better than Franks, or Abuzaid, or anybody who's on the ground in Iraq today, don't cha know?
Indeed this gentleman fails to point out that AQ and Saddamites have done most of the killing. So he indicts America with others' evils.
Nice.
Yeah, i tried to watch it but the SUCK it generated almost consumed my house
I know, just thought you like to see the other comments.
I wonder if after you get out of the military your brain disconnects?
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