RUMSFELD UNDER FIRE(Wesley Clark has accused Rumsfeld of putting troops at risk )

SKY NEWS ^ | 03/26/2003 | SKYNEWS

[KQQL]

The former supreme allied commander of Nato has accused US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld of putting allied troops at risk through poor planning.

Wesley Clark said Mr Rumsfeld's insistence on a smaller invasion force had left troops vulnerable and the 300-mile oil supply line between Kuwait and Basra open to guerilla attack.

Troops had been tied up in "messy fighting" around Nasiriyah and Baghdad, he said, leading to "logistics problems".

He added that hopes of a quick victory spurred by a popular revolt against Saddam had been dashed.

"The simple fact is that the liberation didn't quite occur. They didn't rise up."

Other war veterans have also spoken out against the early stages of war planning.

Miscalculations

Ralph Peters, a military scientist and former Army officer, wrote in the Washington Post that a coalition victory would be achieved "despite serious strategic miscalculations by the office of the Defence Secretary".

The "shock and awe" strategy of aerial bombardment had failed to shatter the will of Saddam's regime, he said, and if anything had encouraged greater resistance.

"It delayed essential attacks on Iraq's military capabilities," said Mr Peters. "This encouraged at least some Iraqis in uniform to believe they had a chance to fight and win.

"Now our forces advancing on Baghdad face the possibility of more serious combat than would otherwise have been the case."

Coalition commander General Tommy Franks's draft invasion plan proposed using four or five heavy divisions moving slowly towards Baghdad.

New warfare

Mr Rumsfeld is said to have rejected this, complaining that it was too similar to the strategy used in the 1991 Gulf War. Instead he insisted on a smaller, lighter force relying heavily on special forces and air power.

Retired US Army General Barry McCaffrey, commander of the 24th Infantry Division 12 years ago, said Mr Rumsfeld had ignored warnings that he was underestimating the number of troops needed.

"I think he thought these were generals with feet planted in World War Two who didn't understand the new way of warfare," he said.

"If the Iraqis actually fight it's going to be brutal, dangerous work and we could take a couple to 3,000 casualties."

Mr Rumsfeld insisted his strategy was working.

"It's a good plan everybody agrees to, and it is a plan that in four and a half or five days has moved ground forces to within a short distance of Baghdad."

[nopardons]

Again with the J'Accuse of " personal attacks " ? What's with you ? You've been on FR long enough, to know the difference between a " personal attack " and fact/opinion.

You've also been on FR long enough to know, or you should, that anyone, who is completely incapable of proving the verasity of his or her opinion, is in deep trouble. You haven't proved a thing ; other than the FACT that YOU don't know anything, whatsoever, about war, battles, strategy, and what's going on . This IS considered to be a WASTE OF BANDWIDTH around here. It's also inane, banal, and patently ridiculous to add NOTHING, whatsoever, to a discussion, and then whinge about having the same rights as everyone to state an opinion.

WHOM DID YOU VOTE FOR, IN THE 2000 ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT AND WILL YOU VOTE , IN 2004, FOR PRESIDENT BUSH ?

[Cold Heat]

Come to think of it, I have not been called a Bush Bot in months!

[Cold Heat]

LOL! ROFLMAO!

[Howlin]

Don't worry, it will be coming back to a thread near you one way or another. Robot? Lockstep? Bootlicker?

[ggekko]

Wesley Clark is a military joke. He is also running for President because the Dumbocrats need to insulate themselves from the "soft on defense" rap.

There will be a lot of red faces after this campaign is over.

[wcbtinman]

Oh yeah, I'll bet Rummy is just lying awake at night worrying about what Wesley the Clerk thinks.

[info_scout]

>>>...And I wonder what your agenda is.<<<


Hmm... Questioning motives. At least that's not a personal attach. Just stating opinion. Good discussion on FR. It's not often what is used to be several years ago, but there are some good folks around.

Got to get some sleep. Regards

[Cold Heat]

OH YEAH! lOOking forward to it! (neocon, rino,cino paleocon)

[Howlin]

I think if someone called the current President a traitor it would be grounds for banning.

A compilation of your greatest hits on ONE thread

[Howlin]

If you ever figure out which one we are, let me know, okay?

[wcbtinman]

Isn't Clark the military asshole who authorized the use of Delta Force at Waco?

[Howlin]

It's not often what is used to be several years ago, but there are some good folks around.

Oh, that old rag.

Just as I thought; a disruptor.

[Cold Heat]

Sure will!

As soon as I figure it out!

[TLBSHOW]

LOL

Save that post from that thread for your TLBSHOW collection as it was a classic AND YOU KNOW IT.......

Someday we can trade em back and fourth. :>)

[nopardons]

I HAVE " focussed on your ideas "; that's what you're perpetually whinging about ! You, Y-O-U said that these seven days of war, has been a D-E-B-A-C-L-E. YOU said this. You also have stated that all YOU have heard is " spin " from Rummy, Bush, the Generals running this thing and that they'll all be daily changing what they " spin " on air, for the next 90 days. Those are YOUR opinions. I and EVERYONE else have refuted you again and again and again ... FACTUALLY, trenchently, with logic and historically accurate facts !

Why is it that YOU are incapable of STAYING ON TOPIC ? WHY ? Why do YOU ignore and/or avoid answering any and ALL questions put to you ? WHY ? Why is it that you complain, whinge, whine, and pout , but refuse attempt to refute the rest of us, using FACTS ? WHY ?

WHOM DID YOU VOTE FOR, IN THE 2000 ELECTION AND WILL YOU VOTE FOR PRESIDENT BUSH IN 2004 ?

[info_scout]

>>>You are not disagreeing.

Calm down. I AM disagreeing, I AM a conservative, I AM NOT Scott Ritter, and I was not even a teen ager when Vietnam ended.

One question, if we are 'winning this war' why are you so agitated? Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the glorious victory.

[TLBSHOW]

That was a classic thread. Thanks, and nice of you to say so.

ps (before you call me names)
Yes I know your being a pain! But I can't stop laughing.

[Howlin]

You think it's a classic to have your posts insinuating George W. Bush is destroying this country from within and is in bed with terrorists linked?


I wonder if you have ANY sense of how silly you look even trying to laugh it off.

We won't be trading anything as I have never said anything remotely as FOS as you have.

You may laugh it off, but people won't forget.

[TLBSHOW]

I got my question answered after an hour. :>)

We will have to do freepmail again soon as its been awhile!

Night all.

[Howlin]

That was a classic thread.

Somehow, I don't think most people on this board think it's "classic" to call the sitting president a traitor.

What say you, Grampa?