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Powell criticized the military prowess of our TROOPS. As a general, he knows very well that troop morale affects troop achievement. His derogation of their efforts during wartime is neither responsible nor admirable.

He did no such thing as criticise the prowess of our troops. The Hussein regime, and the Iraqi army was soundly defeated in record time. The mission was accomplished, in that there was NO military resistance under a unified COM/CON structure after Baghdad fell. Here is what General Powell said:
"There really are no additional troops" to send, Powell said

I will not parse "combat troops" to "troops". Two combat brigades (around 6,500 to 7,000) take time to recruit, train, mobilize, and support. The REMF structure currently runs 65 to 70 for each combat troop. Perhaps some wish to mobilize 7,000 troops without proper support, for political gain. Others choose to heed the counsel of retired commanding officers that have been in command positions. There was nothing derogatory to any branch, division, battalion, or unit in this statement. Our troops have won every engagement that they were allowed to win. Mookie is still sucking air, and whoever made the command decision to allow him to live should be summarily discharged. I claim it was at the behest of Wolfowitz.