Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

No Way to Win a War
Wall Street Journal ^ | 12-7-06 | ELIOT COHEN

Posted on 12/07/2006 5:45:08 AM PST by SJackson

theory of the thing is very peculiar indeed. You are in the middle of a war -- a hard war, a war that is going badly. If the government has bogged down, if the people inside have gone stale, you would say that the sound thing, the Churchillian or Lincolnian or Rooseveltian thing, would be, first, to fire a bunch of officials (generals as well as top civilians), promote or bring in fresh talent, and put together a small group of people to take a new and unillusioned look. Those people would report back in secrecy to the president and his most senior advisers and aides.

They would consist of experienced soldiers and civilians in whom the president (who, after all, has to make the strategic decisions, and is the accountable executive) has trust. There would not be many of them, a half dozen or so, and they would have to be hardy enough to visit the war zone for several weeks, talking not just to politicians and generals but to captains and sergeants. They would go see things for themselves. They would visit a forward operating base near Tikrit; they would spend some time with Iraqi soldiers in Taji; they would take their chances in a convoy to al Asad, or even a patrol in Tal Afar.

They -- not their staff of a few soldiers and secretaries -- would do the probing, digging, thinking, discussing and, above all, the writing. The chairman of the group would insist that they air their disagreements candidly and thoroughly in front of the president, engaging in a debate that might last a day, perhaps longer. The rest of us would not find out about the panel until months, or even years, after it reported back; maybe not until the war was over.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: gwot; iraq; iraqifreedom; terrorism; waronterror; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-48 last
To: 1COUNTER-MORTER-68

I'll Freepmail ya, pal. Stay well, and all that stuff.................FRegards


41 posted on 12/08/2006 8:41:29 PM PST by gonzo (I'm not confused anymore. Now I'm sure we have to completely destroy Islam, and FAST!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
Our Unceasing Ambivalence by Shelby Steele
42 posted on 12/08/2006 8:48:28 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Who invented rock and roll hiccups?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gonzo

TANKS,,Back At'Cha...;0)


43 posted on 12/08/2006 8:53:30 PM PST by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Barney Gumble
[Bush is] now bringing in every defeatist

I assume you're speaking, at least in part, about the ISG but it was created by Congress, not the Administration.

44 posted on 12/08/2006 9:02:23 PM PST by edsheppa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: gonzo

Dang it!
Ya' made me think! ;o)

Too bad so many don't have the time to do that.


"after todays' announcement by the White House that the President would give a major policy speech next week, I'm real curious as to what it's gonna be about."


I've been, I'd guess you'd say "out of touch", because I've been finishing up my Christmas shopping,
but I am very curious about his policy statement, too.

Please...ping me when it occurs.

Not to worry...my son-in-law is all set up for salmon fishing. ;o)


"It would be prudent to count the number of mosques in your neighbourhoods, note their locations, then stay well armed and safe........................FRegards"


I concur with your sentiment, and FRegards to you.





45 posted on 12/10/2006 12:11:59 AM PST by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: dixiechick2000

dixie, I'll FReepmail ya tomorrow, babe! Gotta hit the rack ... g'nite................FRegards


46 posted on 12/10/2006 12:51:28 AM PST by gonzo (I'm not confused anymore. Now I'm sure we have to completely destroy Islam, and FAST!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: gonzo

Nite, to you, too.


FRegards...


47 posted on 12/10/2006 12:54:29 AM PST by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: edsheppa
I assume you're speaking, at least in part, about the ISG but it was created by Congress, not the Administration.

I was speaking about Gates.

48 posted on 12/11/2006 9:17:55 AM PST by Barney Gumble (A liberal is someone too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel - Robert Frost)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-48 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson