Military Commanders’ Decisions in Fallujah Overridden by Politicians (CONFIRMED)

Fox Live Broadcast / USA Today Interview ^ | 5/3/04 | Jim Michaels

[Anti-Bubba182]

I get the sarcasm there, but it does bring up the point that they will spin whatever we do. We should have finised the assault in the first place.

We have left the insurgents in place. They will look like the winners and stiffen resistance elsewhere.

Other things to look for. If there is no substantial turn over of heavy weapons or a following Marine assualt, that will point to more trouble.

[The Mayor]

this sucks

[Last Dakotan]

Ok, I got your insults, still waiting for the posts.

[lentulusgracchus]

Stop letting the media play you.

Sy Hersh couldn't play me if he had a cello and a map. He's the scum of the universe, a teacher-spoiled Best Boy who didn't have the guts to run for office and take responsibility himself. He's a Bob Macnamara wannabe.

[Redleg Duke]

Don't use the term "our boys". You have already cut and run. You left your right to an opinion at the border.

[Proud Legions]

Hmmm,

I really don't know too many folks who are claiming "everything's going great in Fluke!" I think some of us are just not so quick to claim "the sky is falling," "politicans have ruined the war," or "Bush has failed" everytime something does not go according to someone's idea of how the war should be fought.

A different idea is fine...just I hate to see so many FReepers want to throw Bush and his folks out with each days news.

If D-Day happened today, with all those casualties and some of the mistakes that were made, the press and many Americans would be screaming for Eisenhower's head on a platter and for the military to be withdrawn from the French coast immediately...for all was certainly lost. I guess I am glad they had more patience back then (or less news coverage perhaps).I expect this from the left...just hard to swallow from the right.

War is an ugly thing. We may be doing it all wrong. But then again, maybe not. I am just saying folk's need to take chill pills at times.

[Proud Legions]

Fluke=Falujah

[McGavin999]

Ah, well then, vote for Kerry or one of those 1% candidates if it'll make you feel better about yourself.

[CasearianDaoist]

Lord how I hate people like Hersh. I tell you who is stuck in a quagmire - it these filthy traitors that cannot ever leave the sixties behind. I would like to stick this jerk in a fire team on the front of a hot perimeter somewhere. I might even try to help him. It is more than I can take. I am glad that the JAG officer was there. How I despise these people. The damage that they do to the nation. It is beyond belief.

[proud American in Canada]

"It accomplishes nothing to go in there and slaughter 15,000 civilians, "innocent" or not,"

Thank you for such an insightful post.

I would love to have your opinion about the possibility of GW speaking to the Iraqis on this whole prison humiliation mess.

Personally, and I've been posting on it this weekend, I think it might go a long way to mitigate the damage done. Or at least some way. And I think something more must be done than Larry King appearances or other news sound bites.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1128894/posts?page=96#96

[MN_Mike]

In the words of the great orator, Jay Leno, there is the media and then USA Today.

I don't know of many soldiers who don't want to get things done. God bless them all.

Mark my words on your calendar: the Fallujah mission will be successfully accomplished in full by 5-24-04.

[CasearianDaoist]

Ok, I got your insults, still waiting for the posts.

What are you talking about? "waiting for my post?" Can you read English? It is laughable. What a windbag. You are beyond education. I shall not try.

Face it: It is your ego churning, not your mind.

[McGavin999]

Comes with the job that he wanted so badly.

Sure do wish you guys would make up your minds. First you slam him because you think he's micromanaging the war, then when you find out he isn't you slam him because everything is ultimately HIS responsibility.

[ARCADIA]

Ah, well then, vote for Kerry or one of those 1% candidates if it'll make you feel better about yourself.

He is probably more your type; You seem to be the "hero" worshiper. I am just calling it as I see it.

[Right_in_Virginia]

There is no substitute for victory

How do you define "victory"? If it's to pound Iraqi sand into glass...then we will not be victorious.

If final victory is to leave a self-governing, free Iraq...then we will be victorious.

This is a different war.

[CasearianDaoist]

I imagine that he will wait until there is really firm data and then speak to the people. Court Martials and a press conference devoted to this mess is the only way. Take the hit now. I think that they will handle it honorably. I doubt that it will go much further if it is no deeper than what we have seen and it is handled with responsibility and honor. The Arabs might respond to it to some degree. It is a tough one but things like this happen in all wars. In fact it is actually pretty trivial compared to somethings I have seen. But now we are held to a extremely difficult standard - not that I condone it but no one seems to care avout Amreican contracters's bodies being multilated. In the end blame must fall on the officers in charge, they let decorum get out of hand.

I dowonder if Americans will really care once honor has been maintained.

I think that Bush needs to speak to the nation soon as the press are getting hysterical on this. If I were Bush I would dredge up what damage the press did during Vietnam. He will not do this though, too much of a gentleman.

[WOSG]

"The insurgents have learned the sessons of George Washington and Ho Chi Minh. If you make a democracy bleed long enough for the passions of the moment to subside you will probably win."

I'm confused. when was George Washington battling a democracy?

[McGavin999]

You seem to be the "hero" worshiper

LOL, gave yourself away. Kerry is not, and has never been, a hero.

[Normal4me]

<<"Tell it to the families that lost their loved ones since they are such a minor statistic>>

Why is it that people now think that soldiers should not have to die in wars? I hate it when we lose American troops! I look at the facts though, I know we have have killed a helluva lot more of them then than they have killed of us. I was very young during Vietnam, but we were losing 600 +/- a WEEK during that war. My point is to keep things in perspective...

[af_vet_1981]

My area of expertise is that I have lived and worked in a Muslim country for over 20 years. I speak, read and write their language. I understand what they think and how they view this. You can be well assured that I am not simply going to rely on the liberal media or CNN. In many cases I get my information straight from the source, and that is muslims themselves.

Some of the posters just don't understand this point. They vainly grope for a victory in Fallujah when we were defeated by proxy and forced to withdraw. It was shameful.