Posted on 04/25/2010 6:22:04 PM PDT by patriotgal1787
It was a blowout. All the American people were waiting for was for Reagan to convince them that the lies about him being a "warmonger" or "stupid" were not true.
105 million people tuned in (still the record) to get their answer.
Carter insisted on minimal force and minimal footprint. There was absolutely no margin for error. Anyone who has ever been close to the military knows that screw ups and error are inevitable on an operation of this nature. Zero margin for error is a risk worth taking only when there is no alternative.
A disaster of this magnitude was NOT inevitable but it WAS possible. We had other resources in the region which could have turned this disaster into a diversion rather than complete mission failure.
Carter had opted to go against military advice for a larger operation to allow for margin of error because he said any failure would alert the Iranians and cause them to disperse the hostages, making any further rescue attempt impossible. Of course, the press tried their best to cover for him, but it didn't take the public long to learn the sickening truth.
Of course, I do not know whether the bigger plan recommended by the military would have succeeded. But we do know that the worst case scenario envisioned by Carter as a reason to scale down the operation is exactly what happened anyway. Too many good men had to die to ensure the worthless CIC wouldn't be elected to a second term.
Ah, yes. I was 22. I remember it clinched the deal for me...removed all doubt. Gip kick his arse. My first vote ever. Haven’t been so lucky, since.
My briefing told the story accurately, and one of the students from Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah asked why our war readiness was in such bad shape. I answered honestly: The Carter administration doesn't want to spend the money necessary to support our national defense."
Later that afternoon my boss's boss, General Marquez, stopped by my cubicle and said, "I hear you stirred up the Warner Robins (Georgia) people today with your briefing--one of them called my office to complain about it." He then laughed and said, "Keep up the good work!"
That sort of gaff by the swimmer could have easily been NON covered by the adoring Kennedy press, but when Teddy attacked Carter who was FINALLY doing something, that screwed Teddy with the Scoop Jackson democrats.
To this day, the Russians regret not taking their best shot 30 years ago.
Shortly after the debate, Roger Staubach was working as a commentator on an NFL game. One of the teams was trying to make a comeback, and the other commentator asked Staubach about what the defense would do. He said, "Well, I talked with my daughter Amy, and she was most concerned about the bomb."
Great story!
Craig Shirley even mentioned that in his terrific book on the 1980 campaign, "Rendezvous with Destiny". Great reading if you're a political junkie. Long book, though...600 pages.
I always thought the day Kennedy lost it (aside from the day he drowned Mary Jo), was when he was asked why he wanted to be president and he gave this long meandering answer that didn’t say anything. The announcer sat there stunned, as it was the biggest softball he could throw Kennedy, and the guy just sounded like he was drunk and incompetent. Basically, he sounded like himself without handlers.
I’m glad somebody documented it. I was working off memory, and 1980 was a long time ago.
One of the major reasons the mission failed is that Carter, a former Navy submariner, put the Navy in charge of the operation. The Navy opted to use their helicopters, which were built for sea operations, not desert, and the sand and dust caused them to fail. Enough of the helicopters failed or turned back that there weren’t enough to carry out the mission. The coup de grace was when the Navy helicopter crashed into the C130 on the ground, destroying both and killing a number of Delta Force people and aircrew.
They had them, but removed them to reduce weight.
I remember it well. It was Rodger Mudd doing a 60 Minutes piece just after Kennedy announced.
Joint Task Force commander was U.S. Army Major General James B. Vaught.
I was a medic in HQ company, 3rd of the 4th ADA. The then air defense battalion for the 82nd. I ran the medic supply room, such that it was and one day my section Officer told me a couple of guys would be coming over and get them their shot cards, and give them anything they wanted. Which was really odd, as noted it was the Carter military and we hung on to aspirins like they were gold, let alone a ‘give them what they want order’. Two Staff Sgts, came in and I gave them their shot cards, and then asked them what they wanted. They weren’t sure. I asked them were they were going( cold or hot?). They said they couldn’t tell me. I asked them if they thought they might get shot. They said they might. So, I kitted out a brand new aid bag, with a some IV’s, down to aspirin. I went into the Physician’s Assistants fridge, and gave them some morphine suretts, some wide spectrum antibiotics, and such, and wrote some simple instructions. I gave them new standard bandages for their web belt. I then wrote it up.
The guys were senior Red Eye missile operators. I can’t remember if I ever saw them again. I think I did as one of them said he got to use a dirt bike and ride out into the desert a few miles and do a over watch post for any incoming enemy aircraft. ( or maybe I read it. )
Back then Delta was just down the road a half mile in ‘Old Division’.
If I remember correctly the mission was a failure because Carter couldn’t make up his damn mind whether or not to give the go signal, and they sat out in the desert for hours waiting - He finally gave the go order after a sand storm had started. Idiot.
Great story. Thanks for posting.
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