Posted on 05/22/2004 5:41:40 PM PDT by b4its2late
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gen. Zinni: 'They've Screwed Up' May 21, 2004
Accusing top Pentagon officials of "dereliction of duty," retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni says staying the course in Iraq isn't a reasonable option.
"The course is headed over Niagara Falls. I think it's time to change course a little bit or at least hold somebody responsible for putting you on this course," he tells CBS News Correspondent Steve Kroft in an interview to be broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, May 23, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
The current situation in Iraq was destined to happen, says Zinni, because planning for the war and its aftermath has been flawed all along.
"There has been poor strategic thinking in this...poor operational planning and execution on the ground," says Zinni, who served as commander-in-chief of the U.S. Central Command from 1997 to 2000.
Zinni blames the poor planning on the civilian policymakers in the administration, known as neo-conservatives, who saw the invasion as a way to stabilize the region and support Israel. He believes these people, who include Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith, the undersecretary of defense, have hijacked U.S. foreign policy.
"They promoted it and pushed [the war]... even to the point of creating their own intelligence to match their needs. Then they should bear the responsibility," Zinni tells Kroft.
In his upcoming book, "Battle Ready," written with Tom Clancy, Zinni writes of the poor planning in harsh terms. "In the lead-up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw, at minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility; at worst, lying, incompetence and corruption," he writes.
Zinni explains to Kroft, "I think there was dereliction in insufficient forces being put on the ground and [in not] fully understanding the military dimensions of the plan."
He still believes the situation is salvageable if the United States can communicate more effectively with the Iraqi people and demonstrate a better image to them.
The enlistment of the U.N. and other countries to participate in the mission is also crucial, he says. Without these things, says Zinni, "We are going to be looking for quick exits. I don't believe we're there now, and I wouldn't want to see us fail here."
Also central to success in Iraq is more troops, from the United States and especially other countries, to control violence and patrol borders, he says.
Zinni feels that undertaking the war with the minimum of troops paved the way for the security problems the U.S. faces there now, the violence Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently admitted he hadn't anticipated.
"He should not have been surprised," says Zinni. "There were a number of people who before we even engaged in this conflict felt strongly that we underestimated...the scope of the problems we would have in [Iraq]."
The fact that no one in the administration has paid for the blunder irks Zinni. "But regardless of whose responsibility [it is]...it should be evident to everybody that they've screwed up, and whose heads are rolling on this?"
He took the money that was dangled in front of him and ran right into the bosom of the fifth column, 60 minutes.
Actually,it's part of the Nazi principle...you know the one,don't you? Whoever calls another persona Nazi or infers he is,loses the argument immediately.
For sure. I think something should be done about all these books. I won't buy one.
I get it now...if someone disagrees with your pro-war rhetoric they're automatically a lefty commie Michael Moore types...have you ever thought that not all conservatives are Neo-cons and might actually be more of the isolationist type?
If it wasn't so sad, it be laughable. I've never seen a Michael Moore movie and have no desire to. At one time I was active in the GOP party at the local level.
Isn't just possible that you guys could be the ones that have abandoned the "conservative" cause?
Yo, Poet, what majority kamp are you talking for there guy?
Why? he has nothing to bring to the table. He is hawking another stinking book!
Some sixteen of these little ditty's thusfar and counting, and we are still some 6 months away from the election. these books are quoted everyday in congress and the media.
Sorry about the hyperbole, but cuss words are not acceptable on the forum!
Yes, I have had it! I am beginning to wonder what in America is worth saving! "Let the Islamists have it", is the underlying effect of losing in this effort.
I won't sit here and say we have not made a mistake in Iraq. We have made several, but at the time it seemed a good idea. It was not until afterwards that it became evident that laying off all the Iraqi military soldiers for example was a terrible idea.
All the pundits did not see it either, they only offered their sage advice after it was obvious it was a failed policy.
We have been very much smarter recently and even with this little uprising business, we have turned the corner.
I believe Meyers is right when he said "we are not on the verge of failure, we are on the verge of success!"
I implore these people to hold their critsism until and unless it becomes evident that we are losing control.
And I am confident that we are gaining huge victories in this situation. The news is there but you cannot hear it for the noise.
Yo, Poet, what majority kamp are you talking for there guy?
Isn't it funny how most retired Generals somehow view themselves as the ONLY person in the world capable of doing anything correctly.
They have such big egos from being bowed to all those years that they can't imagine the military being able to get along without them.
Thus, everyone is a screwup, but them of course.
(Gen. Schwartzkopft being the lone exception)
Hmmmmm. I guess he regrets that slip up...typing faster then thinking. Must have been up to 20 wpm.
Yep. They should be reminded that the cemetery is full of "indispensable men".
Just drop the neo-con junk...that is a just lefty garbage and extreme right calumny,and both are just a thinly veiled anti-Semitic pejorative.
Hello there poet. Would you like to share which majority "kamp" you're talking for with your BS?
I should have guessed you were out campaigning.
There are two realistic choices: George W. Bush and John Kerry.
I am in for Bush. Any other vote is wasted, but if it makes you fell better go for it.
Many followed that lead in 1992 and voted for Ross Perot...and we got 8 years of Clinton for it, and a military and intelligence comunity that were gutter, leaving us to rely on guys like the Iraq National Congress for our intell.
I suppose you can help Kerry get elected if you want, because you cannot agree with everything Bush does. Yep...more activist judges, pro-abortion support, more power to the UN, borders even more open, etc...sounds like a smart move to me (NOT).
Actually sticking your head in the sand about mid east terrorism, as you are wont to do, IMO, is not a conservative cause.
Sure, whatever.
I've seen a lot of people on FR replace Cs with Ks, and it didn't seem like some commie conspiracy thing to me.
Earlier CWOJackson and I were in a heated debate about Neo-Cons v. Paleo-cons, in which he identified himself basically as a Neo-Con - the same group that was founded by Trotsky followers.
That's why I identified CWOJackson's political camp with a "k"...
My mistake, didn't know it was taboo on FR...
"...in case you haven't checked lately your kamp is in the minority and will quickly become known within..."
Now I know Conservative America is pretty much square behind the War on Terror so I's sure like to know what "kamp" he's with.
Naw, you were the one using the cheap words. Now, about that "kamp" you represent?
The only majority "kamp" I know of supporting this war sure isn't Conservative...but notice, he doesn't have the courage of his convictions to answer the question.
So would you like to enlighten us on the majority group you represent?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.