Posted on 05/22/2004 5:41:40 PM PDT by b4its2late
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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?"
About that "kamp" you're representing?
Did I say I wouldn't vote for Bush?
Although I support Constitution Party candidates at the local level, I'll vote for Bush because Kerry as POTUS would be a nightmare beyond compare.
Always vote for the most conservative candidate that has a chance to win.
The only reason I mentioned my present party affiliations is because of a personal attack launched against me...
Now since I am a Conservative that understands and supports the War on Terror, I'd sure like to know what "kamp" it is you claim is the majority and that you're speaking for?
Perhaps the Michael Moore crowd comments are striking too close to home.
And by the way there...asking you to explain which "kamp" you claim to represent isn't a personal attack.
What's the matter there poet...caught in your own words? Which majority anti-war "kamp" are you speaking for?
I'm sure Michael Moore and the defeatist left appreciate your support.
Isolationists,especially after 9/11,are wearing blinders.And Supposed Conservatives,who espouse such a position,give aid and comfort to our enemies;both foreign and domestic.
I have been politically active,since I was quite young.I have worked on GOP political campaigns,local,state,and national,almost ALL of my life and unlike you,have never stopped.It would seem that YOU are the one who " abandoned the conservative cause",rather than I.
Frankly,from what I've seen you write,it seems that the KNOW NOTHINGS is more your party,or should I say camp,than the GOP.
Careful, using a k in place of a c may indicate you're a card-carrying communist.
As far as the whole this camp v. camp question, well IMHO the paleo-cons are gaining strength in light of the problems created by the neo-cons in the conservative movement at large, but I digress, I'd already specified that to you some hours ago...
Yo, poet. You said that Conservatives who support the war are a minority, unlike you. Are you ever going to have the personal courage to explain yourself? Or do you simply come on these threads to stir up defeatist propaganda?
I guess he thought that nobody would pick up on it. That was one of many mistakes he made.:-)
Nothing about your so-called paleo-putzes, you said Conservatives supporting the war are in the minority. So what "kamp" are you in now?
Now he's squirming and trying to double-talk his way out of it. Damn people like him are so transparent.
OK. I don't have a problem with the arguments you bring up (whether I agree or not), and will not launch a personal attack on you.
The question still comes down to whether one thinks Iraq might have been a threat to the US. Zinni thinks not, as does the anti-war crowd. Many think yes, including me.
I am just disappointed at all the book-selling 60-minute interview types of Monday morning quarterbacking these guys do. I personnally believe every retiring General should be forced to donate any book revenues to their services Emergency Relief Fund for the soliers, airmen, sailers, and Marines. Then we would not have so many retired flag officers second guessing every move a President makes WHILE troops are in battle. It is more damaging to moral than most people would believe.
By the way, I get to watch the President' speech in person tomorrow. Should be interesting.
I'm not that familiar with your politics, so I apologize for lumping you in with CWOJackson's lot.
I worked fervently to get Dana Rohrabacher through 2 elections, following which I became very involved in the "patriot movement" from 1992 through 1997.
Perhaps I've become a little disillusioned, but I think there are bigger threats to the conservative movement than the liberals.
VP Out...
Right for once. People like you, and the "kamp" you represent, are a far greater thread.
So dude, what "kamp" are you representing?
Chamberlainbuff is the same way. When he get's caught in his own lies he tries to simply ignore them. I guess that would explain why he's so popular also.
You get caught in your own words then try to Kerry your way out of it. Thank you and Zinni for revealing your true colors.
Really..a LOT of people on FR,now type words the way the lefties and nutters do?I haven't seen that.As a matter of fact, you are the first person I've seen do that.
Have you EVER seen me say that I am a neo-con?
I've just read a post of your's,praising the fringe of the fringe of the fringe Constitution Party and saying that it sounds as though that is where you belong,so,poet,your previous post to me,wherein you claimed to have voted for President Bush in '00,is now moot.
It would help,if he just answered the question.
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