Gingrich breaks ranks to attack US 'failure'

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 12/08/03 | Alec Russell

[Pokey78]

An influential member of the Pentagon's main advisory body has broken ranks and criticised America's record in post-Saddam Iraq saying that after taking Baghdad America "went off a cliff".

Newt Gingrich, a senior member of the Defence Policy Board which advises Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, said yesterday that America had been prosecuting an ineffective military campaign at the expense of the political moves essential for victory.

He told Newsweek that the army had not learned the lessons of Vietnam in how to run a counter-insurgency campaign.

Mr Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, said the army had failed to tackle the aftermath with a swift handover of responsibilities to the Iraqis.

He added: "I am very proud of what Tommy Franks [the commander in the war] did up to the moment of deciding how to transfer power to the Iraqis. Then we go off a cliff."

[PhiKapMom]

Please tell Newt didn't really say this and his remarks were taken out of context!

[Pokey78]

Dissent in the Bunker

Someone made Newt ride in tha back of the plane agan, so he's got his panties in a wad.

[PeteFromMontana]

I have always had a soft spot for Newt but he does have an ego the size of Texas and he will occassionally go over a cliff himself.

[Cicero]

Well, in Vietnam there was already a stable civil government in place under Ngo Dinh Diem. Unfortunately JFK ordered the assassination Diem, and things went downhill from there.

In Iraq, the case is exactly opposite. There are no obvious candidates to step in and take over the government, at least until things are stabilized. But we ARE turning security over to Iraqi police and security people as fast as we can, without risking giving the country back to the Saddamites or, equally bad, to a gang of Shiite fanatics supported by the Iranian Mullahs.

[SubMareener]

Unfortunately, it seems to be the only way for him to get back in the news. If he says good things about the Administration, then it isn't news.

[mercy]

So you think we actually know what we are doing in Iraq? I don't. I think we have our heads up our ass. Japan and Germany are not where they are today because we mollycoddled them in war. We CRUSHED them and then repressed them brutally untill they proved they were worthy, after a couple decades, of returning to the human fold. Peace comes AFTER victory .... not after extensive politically correct cluster f__cking.

[deport]

said the army had failed to tackle the aftermath with a swift handover of responsibilities to the Iraqis.

---

How in the world do you do a swift hand over to the Iraqis that have been for many years under an oppressed ruler with no governing training amongst themselves? Yes they should be put in charge as quickly as possible but hell it's only been some 9 months at best that they've even been liberated... with infrastructure torn to hell...

[exit82]

What's the matter, Newt? Hillary fan your FBI folder in your face again?

Newt is a failure, a blowhard, and I have no respect for him. His moral failures helped to let a truly treachorous President slide by. Newt even slept with a Dem staffer of all people.

Smart? Yes. Trustworthy? Absolutely not. He is the Republican Dick Morris, in my opinion.

He can go off his own cliff. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[lilylangtree]

Never did like Neutered Newt.

[clintonh8r]

Jimmy Durante said it best...Everybody wansta get intada act!

[marktwain]

He is the Republican Dick Morris, in my opinion.

Uhh... Dick Morris is a Republican, even if he is a RINO.

[PhiKapMom]

How did you manage to register and post on here when it says your sign up date is tomorrow?

Don't take it personal, but I do disagree vehemently with Gingrich and want to know why he is on any panel to advise Sec Rumsfeld and who put him there. He hasn't learned one lesson about shooting off his mouth if he really said this!

Am around the Air Force a lot and Gingrich is off base IMHO!

[PhiKapMom]

I think you are right -- he would rather be in the news anyway he can get the attention. What a sad commentary on a former Speaker of the House!

[woofie]

He was just talking about pr imo...He wants Iraquis pictured on a web site...Fine but I heard on Fox news that they are doing most the things he said we should do.

Too much instant gratification causes ADD

[observer5]

Newt is right on. They fumbled the thing starting with allowing the country to plunge into chaos. They needed to simply exchange the leadership in the Army and use them for security. Then gradually introduce "freedom" and democracy, just like they did in Germany.

[PhiKapMom]

Very well stated and so very true! I cannot believe he could even think this and then come out and say what he thinks we did wrong. You are so right -- infrastructure is missing. Guess he wanted us to hand it back to Saddam!

My opinion of Newt wasn't very high before this and it just went lower.

[PhiKapMom]

He can go off his own cliff. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

My sentiments too!