Posted on 05/26/2004 5:06:36 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
The latest retired general to voice his concerns over the strategy to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq has been Anthony Zinni. Naturally, the good general has co-authored a book with (surprise!) Tom Clancy, criticizing the war with Iraq. The anti-Semitic undercurrent of the general’s interview on 60 minutes is discussed at length in Richard Baehr’s excellent piece in The American Thinker. Most Americans know that Gen. Zinni was the former Commanding General of CENTCOM, but few know his previous military background in that theater of operations, nor do they completely understand his current political leanings on the subject of conflict and war.
Gen. Zinni had been Deputy Commanding General for Operation Provide Comfort, immediately after Gulf War I. But his first command in the region was as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Commander assigned to execute Operation UNITED SHIELD, which was USCENTCOM’s operation to withdraw all UN forces from Somalia in January 1995. By this time, all US forces had already withdrawn under orders from President Clinton and overseen by the CENTCOM commander, Marine Gen. Hoar (retired Gen. Hoar has also come out against Operation Iraqi Freedom).
In August 1997, Gen. Zinni assumed command of CENTCOM. During his command, the following major actions occurred in theater:
- Provided disaster relief to victims of flooding in Kenya.
- The U.S. Embassies in Nairobi and Tanzania were bombed by terrorists; USCENTCOM responded to the bombings by conducting cruise missile strikes against aspirin factories and nearly deserted terrorist camps of Osama Bin Laden.
- The U.S.S. Cole was bombed in Aden by al Qaeda. The rules of engagement in force under General Zinni's command enabled the terrorists to approach the Cole close enough to kill our sailors and critically damage the ship.
- In December 1998, USCENTCOM launched Operation DESERT FOX which was a four-day operation theoretically to delay development of weapons of mass destruction, and to disrupt or destroy Iraq’s national command and control nodes.
- Gen. Zinni oversaw the large-scale, yet routine Bright Star Exercise, which can trace its origin to the early 80s Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF).
- Conducted “engagement” operations (whatever that means) with the recently independent Central Asian states of the Former Soviet Union.
So, it appears that Gen. Zinni and CENTCOM had become very proficient at troop withdrawals, disaster relief, and shooting cruise missiles at empty tents. To be fair, Gen. Zinni was but the last in line of three CENTCOM commanders (the others being Hoar and Peay), who were essentially outmaneuvered by Iran. Even worse, they allowed a build-up of Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa. These moves were countered by nothing stronger than the strategies of withdrawal (Somalia), shows of force, and the ever-popular but widely misunderstood concept of “engagement.”
But Gen. Zinni’s current affiliations are even more interesting, given his severe criticism of the President’s actions in the War on Terror and the liberation of Iraq. It seems the General is a Distinguished Military Fellow on the Washington, D.C. staff of the Center for Defense Information www.cdi.org. The mission statement for this organization is:
dedicated to strengthening security through: international cooperation; reduced reliance on unilateral military power [emphasis mine] to resolve conflict; reduced reliance on nuclear weapons; a transformed and reformed military establishment; and, prudent oversight of, and spending on, defense programs.
A quick glance of the list of people on CDI’s Board of Advisors includes such great military thinkers and left wing activists and donors as:
- Ben Cohen - Founder, Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc., South Burlington, Vt.
- Paul Newman - Motion Pictures, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Joanne Woodward - Actress-Director, Westport, Conn.
An assessment of CDI during the height of the Cold War highlighted its founding and core philosophy:
Formed in 1973 as a project of the tax-exempt Fund for Peace(FFP). CDI and its sister FFP projects - the Center for National Security Studies(CNSS) and the Center for International Policy(CIP) - are spin-offs from projects initiated by the Institute for Policy Studies(IPS), the Washington-based , internationally active revolutionary think-tank.
CDI’s military members include former military officers, intelligence officers and academics who share attitudes of harsh antagonism toward the U.S. national defense, the U.S. military, the NATO alliance and American foreign policy.
CDI’s former military officers were frequently quoted by the Soviet propaganda organs to legitimize their attacks on NATO and U.S. defense forces as trigger-happy dangers to peace. Although CDI states it "supports a strong defense but opposes excessive expenditures or forces," it has opposed every major new U.S. weapons system developed during the past two decades - from the B-1 bomber and Trident submarine to cruise missiles, neutron warheads, and stealth bomber - as upsetting the U.S.-Soviet strategic balance while at the same time minimizing the Soviet military buildup.
To this day, CDI maintains an office in Moscow, Russia staffed by a Mr. Ivan Safranchuk, who is described as a “well-known nuclear analyst in Russia.” The purpose of the Moscow CDI office is to provide “the Russian media and public with independent, unfiltered information about U.S.-Russian security relations, from nuclear policy to NATO environmental issues.”
This begs the question: What would motivate a retired four-star Marine general to join such an organization as this?
That retired Gen. Zinni would fall in with this bunch makes perfect sense after a stint at CENTCOM that included half-measures against Saddam’s regime and disaster relief operations as his claim to fame. It’s a shame that he can’t see the failure of the false policy of containment and sanctions that were right in his own backyard, but it’s a scandal that his critique of the current war can’t get beyond the subtle anti-Semitic complaints against people who actually wanted to take action to solve the problem.
His actions demonstrate that he is in perfect company with Richard Clarke and Joe Wilson.
General Zinni was so "unsavory" that current President Bush appointed him his envoy for the Middle East. He's so "unsavory" that he was a distinguished Marine general and combat veteran with forty years experience. He's so "unsavory" that he's one of the best speakers I've ever heard on national TV.
Ping.
And he was also dismissed, probably because he is to pro-arafat.
Zinni has an animus towards the state of Israel.
Tom Clancy is keeping strange company!
CDI has always been used by the lib media to trot out anti-war commentary by retired military brass.
... in bed with the Moscow-centered CDI.
A Pakistani-American who is a partner in Gen Zinni's company, claims that the initial investment will be between $120 million to $150 million that might expand to $5 billion over a period of 10 years.
Talking to Dawn he said Gen Zinnie would stay here for two days. He said the general, who is special envoy of President Bush on the Middle East, would meet Pakistani high-ups but his schedule was still being worked out.
Asad Kazmi, the Pakistani American who represents the company in Pakistan, said the general was coming here "on the call of the people and the government of Pakistan." President Musharraf, he said, in his visits to the US had urged the Pakistani community to invest in Pakistan. "And here I am," he told Dawn . "I have brought a major American company with Gen Zinni as its director to come and invest in Pakistan."
According to Mr Kazmi the major area of their interest is wireless local loop, long distance international, PTCL privatization, particularly GSM cellular license. He said his company is also exploring avenues in energy sector.
He claimed that the company he is representing was telecommunications giant with branches in 42 countries. This will be major investment venture in Pakistan after the controversial IPPs and, more specifically, 9/11.
Mr Kazmi said the general's visit was purely business and not political. But the general has great love for Pakistan and has always supported it. He has also expressed his "fondness for Pakistan" in his correspondence with Pakistani concerns here. Company chairman Eric Ram has already visited Pakistan and interacted with several official and private concerns.
Mr Kazmi said one of the reasons for the investment is that "we want to dispel this impression that Pakistan has a security problem and does not have an investment-conducive environment." The fact that the person of general Zinni's standing, he said, was coming here to invest proved that Pakistan offered lot of potential.
"Believe me, Pakistan is one of the most underestimated places for investment," he said, adding, " this has been the primary reason that he has been able to convince his American counterparts."
http://dailymailnews.com/200310/26/news/102.html
Ping
I don't know if he's "unsavory" but I know his advice to his CIC as CENTCOM was a miserable failure.
I also know that Sean Hannity had him twisted in knots the other night on TV after one simple statement.
BTTT
Yeah, he's pretty damn unsavory.
"I also know that Sean Hannity had him twisted in knots the other night on TV after one simple statement."
Missed it. What happened?
Based on the recommendation of Zinni's good friend, Colin Powell.
Sean that hit him with the right cross after Zinni said it was all lies and distortions by the Bush Neocons. Baddabing!
"I don't know if he's "unsavory" but I know his advice to his CIC as CENTCOM was a miserable failure.
I also know that Sean Hannity had him twisted in knots the other night on TV after one simple statement."
I missed Hannity's exchange with Clancy and Zinni, but he said yesterday they cursed him after they got off camera.
As for Clancy, he's had a problem with the Bush family for over a decade. Pretty sure Bush the Elder was the "model" for the President in "Clear and Present Danger"....no missing Poindexter in that book as "Admiral Cutter".
OOOOOoooooo! Wish I had seen that.
Zinni reacted poorly to the information that the quote was from Clinton during Zinni's time as CENTCOM dude in charge. The interview was, for all intents and pruposes, over. Zinni was flustered but Clancy was chuckling when Sean said they were Clitnons remarks.
Sean could have put the icing on the cake by asking Zinni how many American soldiers and sailors lying dead would it take before he recommended actions stronger than lobbing cruise missiles at camels butts in response to Khobar and the USS Cole.
"Here, General, I'm going to pull this pin on Mister Hand Grenade and pass him to you."
Sean that hit him with the right cross after Zinni said it was all lies and distortions by the Bush Neocons. Baddabing!
"Uh, General, aren't you supposed to throw the grenade BEFORE it goes off?"
"General Zinni was so 'unsavory' that current President Bush appointed him his envoy for the Middle East."
Yeah, but Bush regretted that appointment and ended up dumping Zinni.
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