[oceanview]

I think both abizaid and casey, are doing a poor job.

the "generals" don't like Rumsfeld, they never have. Rummy wanted to transform the military - smaller, lighter forces. The establishment at the Pentagon wants the "big" military - big forces, big operations, and the big budget projects that go along with them.

what this memo highlights to me - is the lack of cohesiveness Bush faces within his own administration. there is no consensus plan to reach an endgame in iraq - DoD itself has different approaches, State has their own agenda and plans, the intel agencies are doing something else.

[jveritas]

Fortunately the President will listen to the generals who are fighting the war.

[OldFriend]

We will have to agree to disagree! The mission is outlined by the President and the Secretary of Defense and the military is called upon to carry out that mission.

The initial battle plan to depose Saddam Hussein was brilliant and brilliantly executed.

No setting the oil fields afire, no poisoned water, no bridges bombed, no stopping along the way to engage his military, which would have allowed Baghdad to be protected.

Big deal, there was looting. As if that made any difference at all in the fall of Saddam Hussein.

What followed is being dealt with, not perfectly, but no one ever expected the country to be pacified overnight.

There have been elections, large portions of Iraq are relatively safe, despite the media focus on Baghdad.