Posted on 04/16/2006 12:01:29 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham
AS the No. 2 general at United States Central Command from the Sept. 11 attacks through the Iraq war, I was the daily "answer man" to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. I briefed him twice a day; few people had as much interaction with him as I did during those two years. In light of the recent calls for his resignation by several retired generals, I would like to set the record straight on what he was really like to work with.
When I was at Centcom, the people who needed to have access to Secretary Rumsfeld got it, and he carefully listened to our arguments. That is not to say that he is not tough in terms of his convictions (he is) or that he will make it easy on you (he will not). If you approach him unprepared, or if you don't have the full courage of your convictions, he will not give you the time of day.
Mr. Rumsfeld does not give in easily in disagreements, either, and he will always force you to argue your point thoroughly. This can be tough for some people to deal with. I witnessed many heated but professional conversations between my immediate commander, Gen. Tommy Franks, and Mr. Rumsfeld — but the secretary always deferred to the general on war-fighting issues.
But that doesn't mean that a "What's next?" plan didn't exist. It did; it was known as Phase IV of the overall operation. General Franks drafted it and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the State Department, the Pentagon, the Treasury Department ...
Thus, for distinguished officers to step forward and, in retrospect, pin blame on one person is wrong. And when they do so in a time of war, the rest of the world watches.
(Excerpt) Read more at qando.net ...
The Clinton puss* generals. Not worth a discussion.
"Shinseki and the rest of those traitors have no credibility."
I think calling the bunch of losers, traitors, is wrong. I do not believe the misguided, egotistical, pampered, self-centered, arrogant, myopic bunch are traitors.
Shinseki will forever be remembered as the Man who took an emblem (Black Beret), a signature of exception, and gave it to the comman soldier.
And the jury is out on the Stryker. Think $$$$, not capability!
I like Rumsfeld!
The Clinton era Generals were just like their commander in chief. Say nothing, sit on your a** and to he** with the security of the United States.
Each 6 of them should have been dismissed of duty when Mr. Rumsfeld took charge of the military, or at least put in the rear, out of sight and, out of command.
Democrats are promising former Flag officers the moon, from Consulting contracts to publishing deals if they can successfully help the Democrats regain power. For some of those guys, they really don't have much of a choice. Rummy kicked 3 of them out before they were ready, and the others cant afford the lifestyle they had when the military paid the freight.
They have lost their honor.
I liked Gen. Paton.
Break down, break down your coward a**, you get up put your clothes on, you are going to the front lines soldier and, you're going to fight like the rest of the soldiers.
I didn't get to watch much of the SUnday Talk show today, and have skimmed the thread. Does anyone know if this article was even discussed when the pukin talking heads were bashing Bush/Rummy? Its a great article, from someone who was actually in the know, as opposed to the retired generals who have decided to turn their back on their own troops.
As a 24+ enlisted airman, I am ashamed of these men. I have worked for "political" generals before and it is not a pleasant experience.
The best leaders allow input from all sides, make a decision, and stand by it.
I've had respectful disagreements with generals. I have found that if I am confident in my experience and opinion, I have been able to affect the final outcome. If I can do it, these men should certainly have been capable of it. Instead, they whine and cry like little babies. I'm getting a little nauseous.....
Make that 24+ years (of service) airman!
I have great respect for ex-military men, but how can anyone hear Wesley Clark talk about world issues and not conclude that he's an ignoramus? His statement that Hussein, especially in light of recently revealed documents, had no link with Islamo-terrorism was breathtakingly stupid. Ex-generals can have agendas too.
Exactly. Furthermore, any dissent needs to be punished ruthlessly, with loyalty oaths instituted immediately. These officers need to be made to understand that their duty is not to the Country, but to the persons appointed over them.
Ha ha.
Were Rumsfeld a member of the Armed Forces which he oversees, he would have been relieved for cause back in '03.
What abunch of hooie. These retired generals are making fools of themselves; crying to the media about the "arrogance" of Rummy. They have spit on the troops they left behind in Iraq. What war has gone perfectly? None. They have been solicited by the DNC for negative comments, coordinated by Zinni, to undermine a President in a time of war.
bump
No. Absolutely not.
These 6 are being punished right now, worse then anything you or I could dish out to them. They will take their dishonor to their graves. Among their peers, they are the worst kind of men. If you dont have the respect of the officer corps in which you served, you are nothing. They may not feel it now, but they will.
Good post Pukin Dog; very well stated.
Military people are just like people in other large organization. Remember what they did to Bill Mitchell. Morer to the point, remember what they did to Secretary Forresthal. They drove him nuts. In 1954, General Ridgeway wanted a different kind of Army than the Administration. He lost out because he was up against IKE. Both hard men, but Ike was CINC.
Shinseki demoralized a good portion of the Army just by changing the color of the berets.He had a lot of good ideas.[sc.]
Truer words have never been spoken!Ill bet there are a lot of ex Generals watching,and I believe it is a good thing.The example they have set,and the backlash coming,will make a sane General think twice before he comes out and bashes our Commander in Chief!
Remind me again why "conservatives" are calling for his ouster?
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