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?"
And I'd like to see them call Stormin Norman an incompetent general - remember a little victory called Desert Storm?)
Oh come now. Desert Storm was not exactly the Battle of the Bulge. The world's most power military force (over 500,000 in theater plus tens of thousands of allies) defeated a fourth rate military force that was no match in any respect. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. Twas not a great victory or great generalship.
The anti-was stuuf combined with the use of the K,is pure lefty drivel...no matter WHAT someone calls himeself.
So back to the question that you seem to want to avoid. What's this majority anti-war "kamp" you're talking for?
Welcome to the wonderfully distorted world of Chamberlainbuff...there will be peace in his time.
Oh good,you actual have a personal experience with the General.I'll take YOUR word,on him. Thanks for the input.
Zinni wants a job in the Kerry administration. Like Crowe, he figures there is an ambassadorship or high level Washington job to be one of the few generals to back Kerry. What makes Zinni's remarks do distasteful is that he was appointed as an envoy to the Middle East under GWB. He is a pal of Powell's.
Well, I never really did expect an answer from you...everyone already knows what it is anyway.
Zinni is a product of the Unified Command structure, which gives the military too much influence in the conduct of diplomacy. Although the State Department assigns officers to these commands (POLADS) to advise and coordinate their activities, I believe they have become too powerful eclipsing the State Department in the conduct of foreign policy. Because they have all kinds of goodies to hand out, they have better access and more influence with foreign heads of state. Guys like Zinni consider themselves as proconsuls. They lack the area expertise and diplomatic experience.
He also lacks the honor and integrity of a Marine.
Have a nice evening, I'm turning in early. I just can't get as excited and worked up as some over Michael Moore's award and Zinni's sell out. I guess I'm just not one of their "kamp".
If people were talking about this movie on FR, of course they spelled it that way! Sheeeeeeeeeeeesh.
If people,on FR, substitute a K for a C,in that word and others,then they are NOT Conservatives and use Commie tactics to smear America and other Americans.
Fortunately,I have been spared,until now,in the SIX PLUS years I've been reading/posting to FR,from this spurious,disgusting,palpably pathetic usage of same.
Nerves raw? Don't take it out on me. It isn't my fault that you didn't know, until just now,with my help and Google,what that substitution of the K means.Now that you know,don't do it again,unless you want to be seen as someone aligned with the far left.
And it's the way the hippies and Yippies and the crazy anti-war activists lunatics spelled it in the '60s and '70s.
Is THAT the "camp"?
You've done a fine job tonight. I'm glad you changed that monicker to Chamberlainbuff -- far more appropriate.
The ONLY thing you want to do,is to complain about the USA being in Iraq and any article,any person that falls into that pervue,you'll agree with and champion.
I haven't attacked Zinni.
Facts matter and your attempt at slandering me is meritless.
Sleeper cell trolls tire you out tonight CWO?
Google is apparently a GOD send,for those who don't know much history.Unfortunately,it just doesn't contain enough info to REALLY help them,though.
He has gained the anathema of many *loyal* Americans who see him betraying the United States for a wee bit more cash and the approbation of the Bush-hating "children of Belial".
This has been happening quite a bit lately on FR. Sleeper cell trolls, spew BS, then run back to DU, and ask the Michael Moron crowd how to respond.
We (the troops) were greeted with flowers, but the US media hates the President so much, they decided not to show you when we were greeted with flowers. Why not shut your pie-hole since the only thing you know seems to be what the media wants you to know.
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