Military fears critics will hurt morale

WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | November 21, 2005 | Rowan Scarborough

[baystaterebel]

Pentagon officials say they are increasingly worried that Washington's political fight over the Iraq war will dampen what has been high morale among troops fighting a tenacious and deadly enemy. Commanders are telling Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld that ground troops do not understand the generally negative press that their missions receive, despite what they consider significant achievements in rebuilding Iraq and instilling democracy. The commanders also worry about the public's declining support for the mission and what may be a growing movement inside the Democratic Party to advocate troop withdrawal from Iraq. "They say morale is very high," said a senior Pentagon official of reports filed by commanders with Washington. "But they relate comments from troops asking, 'What the heck is going on back here' and why America isn't seeing the progress they are making or appreciating the mission the way those on the ground there do. My take is that they are wondering if America is still behind them."

[Coop]

And yet there are still folks right here on Free Republic that don't think they're public criticism is harming the troops.

Aaaaaagggghhhhh!!!! I just violated my own pet peeve -- "they're" should read "their"

[hanging head in shame]

[Coop]

I'm used to the BS put out by the MSM - what I cannot get used to is the BS of the Armchair Quarterbacks here at FR.

Well said, Star.

[freema]

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:BjUuV_8vKykJ:www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/greenberg050599.asp+Col.+Douglas+Macgregor&hl=en

"Douglas Macgregor is currently on NATO's planning staff, passed over for a brigade command -- three times now. That'll teach him to think and, even worse, write. It's an old military maxim: Publish and perish. His ideas now languish, waiting to be carried out after the next disastrous defeat. Maybe after Kosovo? Colonel Macgregor, meet Colonel de Gaulle.

Recommended reading: "The Last Great Frenchman'' by Charles Williams, "Breaking the Phalanxes'' by Douglas MacGregor or Thomas Ricks' story about Colonel Macgregor in the Wall Street Journal of April 16."

[Raycpa]

They're their own special dog $hit as far as I am concerned.

My son is dealing with the psychological pressure of being in Iraq, away from home, with the knowledge that some camel jockey with a missile is aiming for him 24/7. The last thing he needs to hear from the jerks on either side are things like is he isn't trained well enough, he doesn't have the proper support or the proper equipment when in fact he knows this isn't true and that they are making vastly more progress than the all of the previous battalions that have done their job before them.

I get so angry at these FR idiots that I just cannot engage them rationally.

[StarCMC]

We are gearing up to send out our Operation Season's GReetings packages right now!! For anyone out there thinking they want to do something but don't have time to find something, you can stop by Proud Patriots and donate!! We can use $$ to help send the packages. It's quick and easy and it feels good to do it!

[StarCMC]

Please thank your son for me! And thank you for raising such a fine man!

[freema]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20050213-085725-4274r.htm

Letter to the editor in response to the Colonel from April 2005 from LARRY R. JORDAN, JR., Commander, C Troop 1-14 Cavalry, Ft. Lewis, Wash.

[Coop]

I get so angry at these FR idiots that I just cannot engage them rationally.

I'd say you just did a fine job. My sincere thanks for your son's service and the sacrifices of your entire family. When you get angry just click on a few of my above links to cheer yourself up. You'll see some people that truly value our military and are trying in various ways to let the military members know it.

[steve-b]

Oh, puh-leeze. Yeah, right, a few politicians popping their pie holes in Washington are more demoralizing than random sneak attacks in the field.

Don't try selling crazy here; we're all stocked up.

[George W. Bush]

Pentagon officials say they are increasingly worried that Washington's political fight over the Iraq war will dampen what has been high morale among troops fighting a tenacious and deadly enemy. Commanders are telling Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld that ground troops do not understand the generally negative press that their missions receive, despite what they consider significant achievements in rebuilding Iraq and instilling democracy. The commanders also worry about the public's declining support for the mission and what may be a growing movement inside the Democratic Party to advocate troop withdrawal from Iraq.

We need to suspend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, declare martial law, and arrest or deport anyone who asks when we're going to withdraw from Iraq. We should proceed with summary executions of any MSM reporters who questions these actions.

Otherwise, the troops might be demoralized.

[dakine]

"Keyboard Commandoes" is the phrase I use...

[freema]

http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2000/national-reporting/works/gung_ho_but_slow.html

"Working as the top planner for Gen. Wesley Clark, military commander of NATO, Col. Macgregor helped devise NATO's attack on Yugoslavia. NATO insiders say the attack was restricted at first by the alliance's political leaders and only now is reaching the size intended from the start."

[Coop]

Oh, puh-leeze. Yeah, right, a few politicians popping their pie holes in Washington are more demoralizing than random sneak attacks in the field. Don't try selling crazy here; we're all stocked up.

So you're now calling our military personnel and leaders liars? Gee, wonder if those pangs of guilt you're feeling are affecting your questionable judgment?

As one who has been there (I'm guessing you have not), I can most certainly tell you that the media and politicians are far more demoralizing than an enemy you're prepared to face.

[ohioWfan]

We need to do something overt to show that we support the troops.

These traitors CANNOT destroy the morale of our men and women in harm's way who have been accomplishing AMAZING things in Iraq!

The MSM is against us......agaisnt America........ but we outnumber them.

Letters? Ads in papers?? Massive e-mail campaign?

We need to do something MORE!

[Coop]

Thank you for a beautiful illustration of the enemy within.

[ohioWfan]

Since when is fighting an evil enemy.......and winning........ 'demoralizing?'

People who are supposed to be representing you in Congress, who have abandoned you, who have lied about everything and anything to destroy your Commander in Chief and your mission, who have withdrawn their support of what you are doing.......are FAR more demoralizing than the enemy in the field.

It is YOU who are 'crazy' if you don't understand that.

[ohioWfan]

My thoughts exactly, Coop.

Support the lying traitors, and mock the military. 'Conservatism' at its best, eh? /sarc

[BonnieJ]

Regardless of bogus, contrived polls..The majority of us stand behind them and the war on terror and will until it is won....In Iraq or anywhere it is faught in the world.

[Coop]

To me it's more an illustration of arrogance - not recognizing that one's words do have consequences. And when they're called on it they begin crying about overturning the Constitution, storm trooper tactics, blah blah blah.

Too bad they don't put a little effort into thanking and supporting the folks actually defending that Constitution and giving them the right to publicly make arses of themselves.

[ohioWfan]

Too bad they don't put a little effort into thanking and supporting the folks actually defending that Constitution and giving them the right to publicly make arses of themselves.

AMEN!!