Posted on 04/13/2006 3:55:30 PM PDT by jmc1969
The commander who led the elite 82nd Airborne Division during its mission in Iraq has joined the chorus of retired generals calling on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to leave the Pentagon.
"I really believe that we need a new secretary of defense because Secretary Rumsfeld carries way too much baggage with him," retired Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack told CNN's Barbara Starr on Thursday.
He also suggested other changes among the top brass at the Pentagon.
"I think we need senior military leaders who understand the principles of war and apply them ruthlessly, and when the time comes, they need to call it like it is,".
"Specifically, I feel he has micromanaged the generals who are leading our forces there," Swannack said in the telephone interview.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
LOL. You sound as 'mean' as Rumsfeld. CEO material I think.
Who made all these appointments to generals? What administration?
That's a good question.
For current :
http://web1.whs.osd.mil/mmid/military/miltop.htm Rank/Grade link (iirc)
As for the number of "Ex's", ....who knows? It doesn't matter, really. If the "Anti-Rummy's" can't make enough racket out of the pool of ex-Generals; then there's, like, a jillion ex-colonels and Majors out there to cherry-pick from. They will have plenty of ammunition.
LOL ... the Good News is: "All the ammunition in the world will not make a bit of difference." Rummy has to please one man. That's just the way it works. :)
Rumsfield said it very succinctly several months ago, something like "you fight with the Army you have, not the one you would like to have"
I know when I retired in '98 they said it was really inactive reserve.
When I tried to go active again after 9/11 the VA rating prevented it.
Now I work on joint weapons and communications systems for the USN/USMC.
CEOs can't have this much fun :~)
I liked Rummy's more current attack
"I don't have time to read all your books..."
Doesn't sound like a Democrat to me.
If memory serves me during WWII we had more men die (405,399) then we have used to "invade" both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Can any one here imagine the outcry if Bush and Rumsfeld that sent that many off to die.
Thank you for the very interesting stats link. You are right of course about the unending downstream of brass that can be "cherry picked" to suit RAT purposes. We can only hope that the GOP will have their own ammunition for counter attack.
I'm with you.
I want Rummy to stay as long as he can stand it. I've read most of the DoD Briefing transcripts. I trust him and I like the way he thinks.
LOL .... Then, when Rummy steps down, I want him to take a shot at "Guest White House Press Secretary for a Day". I'd pay good money to see Rummy walk in, order all of the doors locked, and then maul those dopes in the Briefing Room .... just ONE time.
Who's being dramatic?
There aren't people on here that defend the Administration no matter what anyone says or does?
Did I hear incorrectly, or have we just forgotten it?
No I can't remember who said it, but it wasn't said loudly enough!
I dohn know......
These guys are fresh retirees.....
Richard Sisk writes for the New York Daily News (March 2004) about delays in the Pentagon's procurement system which have frustrated American commanders in Iraq with their inability to properly equip Iraqi defense forces for the counter-insurgency mission. Specifically, American commanders are upset that they can't get body armor, radios, weapons and other mission-essential items necessary to create a viable Iraqi force.
"If we had the equipment for these brave young men, we would be much farther along" in defeating the insurgents, said Army Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.
"We are still short a significant amount of vehicles, radios and body armor to properly equip them," said Swannack, whose 18,000 paratroopers will be replaced in the coming weeks.
Without the proper gear, the Iraqi police and civil defense forces have been restricted in their ability to patrol and take over other security missions from the Americans, he said.
"As soon as we get this equipment we'll see a rapid improvement," Swannack said.
Swannack echoed the complaints of other field commanders about the military supply chain that relies heavily on private contractors.
Analysis: Actually, I don't think it's the private contractors that are the problem here. I think it's the red tape in the procurement process that's causing these delays. Of course, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and its DoD companion were invented to create delay -- it's the red tape that helps maintain accountability and control over taxpayer money. But in an operational situation such as this, that delay can mean opportunities and lives lost. A lot of smart people have pointed to situations like this and said that the procurement system needs more streamlining; more fast-track authority. Indeed, it already has the limited ability to buy commercial off-the-shelf items on an accelerated timeline -- but not the ability to buy large purchases of wartime materiel for missions like this one. The DoD procurement system needs this ability, and it needs the flexibility to be able to react to unforeseeable needs in the future. Oversight and accountability are a good thing, but too much can be detrimental to mission accomplishment.
But wait -- there's more: The Washington Post reports that "[v]ague contract language, missing paperwork, staff turnover and general instability on the ground led to such flaws in a $327 million contract to outfit the new Iraqi Army that the work had to be canceled and rebid". If true, this would undercut some of the arguments being made by MG Swannack, and lay the blame squarely at the feet of the overworked CPA staff for the failure to outfit the nascent Iraqi army and civil defense force. I still think the military procurement system needs more flexibility -- but it also needs to be managed by competent staffs with the capability to dot the i's and cross the t's of their contracts.
You sir, (or madam), win the post of the day, IMHO.
"I think we need senior military leaders who understand the principles of war and apply them ruthlessly,
Hey General Rockhead.
CNN has been undermining the war effort since day one. If it wasn't for the MSM, the terrorists wouldn't have a reason to fight in Iraq. We would have less dead soldiers. Iraq would be further along.
And you take a phone call from them and give them an interview.
You are SO spot on with your post. I agree 1000%!
Then why are so many soldiers re-upping to serve?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.