It's not often that we retiree get to laugh at a Brigasier General even a retired one. Enjoy!
Posted on 01/30/2005 12:32:55 PM PST by SandRat
OAKTON, Va. - If insurgents in Iraq have their way today, it will be horrific in that country as Iraqis reach out for democracy, Fort Huachuca's former commander said.
"It will be a bloody day, there will be more targets as voters line up," said James Marks, a retired Army brigadier general.
Marks has been in military intelligence most of his life. Now he works as the senior vice president of intelligence and security for McNeil Technology.
As he has occasionally done since retiring, Marks will appear on CNN today as an intelligence expert. This time, he is appearing on Wolf Blitzer's "Late Edition Primetime" as part of a four-hour special show that begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. It can be seen locally on Channel 23 on cable.
When Marks retired in 2004, he was the commander of the Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca. He was deployed to the Middle East before the invasion of Iraq. During the initial combat, he was the senior intelligence officer for ground forces.
The insurgents in Iraq have not hidden their contempt for democratic ideals, promising to kill any Iraqi who votes, as well as disrupting polling places, Marks said during a telephone interview Saturday.
Iraqi National Guard troops and other Iraqi security forces will be the main protectors of the voters, but U.S. and other coalition forces will provide backup, Marks said.
"(U.S. and coalition) forces will be close. Out of sight, but close. Around the corner, behind buildings, real close," he said.
If there is any kind of action requiring assistance, the Iraqi security forces will see help arrive in seconds.
Except for security vehicles and those of American and allied forces, traffic on streets is supposed to be prohibited. If a vehicle approaches and it is not authorized, those inside the wayward vehicle will see immediate response "and they will be dead," Marks said.
There is a possibility insurgents may exact revenge on voters days after the election, Marks said.
The people who voted will have already told the anti-democratic enemies that freedom is more important and even though they may die the drive toward liberty in Iraq will not stop, Marks said.
The lines will be long and slow, and the Iraqis who decide to vote know they will be in danger.
"Tragically, there will be loss of life," Marks said.
It's not often that we retiree get to laugh at a Brigasier General even a retired one. Enjoy!
The operative word in this case being "Former"
Great picture!
Mind if I pinch it for another thread?
I've seen that many times this morning,....still loving it!
take it and run with it. The pic belongs to that brave soul who voted today :)
"TIME Magazine's Bobby Ghosh tells Wolf Blitzer that in Bagdad voting he was struck by how many people brought their children to the polls, a sign they felt safe. He said voting in some Baghdad precincts was 90%. He said that in other areas outside Baghdad, "any voting turn-out is a bonus."
Retired Marine General Delong tells Blitzer that it was a very good move to have Iraqi military, backed up by Americans, at the polling places. He credits General Luck for this idea, giving Iraqis ownership of the voting process. The vote had an "Iraqi face on it", he said.
BG General (retired) James Marks agrees with Delong. He called the strategy, having American military "imbedded" with the Iraqi army, says it worked, and he too credited General Luck with the idea."
947 posted on 01/30/2005 9:58:45 AM PST by YaYa123
As I watched Marks, and Delong, I got the impression both were upbeat and positive about the election. certainly neither Blitzer (or Marks), mentioned his earlier pessimism.
"It will be a bloody day, there will be more targets as voters line up," said James Marks, a retired Army brigadier general. Marks has been in military intelligence most of his life. Now he works as the senior vice president of intelligence and security for McNeil Technology.
Boy. That's not gonna look very good to his bosses on his Quarterly Review, is it? ;)
Thanks Fenris6!
Marks has been in military intelligence most of his life.
Pretty much parallels my experiences at Ft Huachuca and in MI. F'n idiots....
I was 'force branched' MI 'cuz they were a shortage branch in '90.... I was always ashamed of being an 'MI Weenie'--with good reason!
Sounds like he left himself an out. Technically, 100 years from now is still "days after the election."
It will be a bloody day....;-)
Bump!
Thanks for the ping!
It was my experience that many general officers were political animals. Many were also boneheads. We had one use a riding crop on the face of a GI guard in Vietnam. I wonder where that jackass is today? Probably dead I guess.
We were kids and he was middle aged West Point grad.
This guy is apparently trying to form the next Debka. It would have been better for him to go the Stratfor route, and say a lot of words that essentially boil down to "I don't know".
hmmmm,..... could that be one of the reasons he's former? Only the shadow knows.
To the terrorists, Leftists, Liberals, and Lame Stream Media it's like a cross is to a Vampire.
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