GI Joe has never looked better

National Post ^ | December 12, 2001 | David Warren

[Travis McGee]

Good article!

[Incorrigible]

Nice.  After all the kvetching on FR about the status of the US Military since the start of the Clinton regime, it's nice to hear something so positive.

Hope the writer is not too optimistic.

[Timeout]

Wooo Hooooo! What a great read. Thanks for finding it!

[onyx]

PING to 3 more heroes!

[FlyVet]

The United States does not employ "grunts" any more, only soldiers who call themselves "grunts" with a droll pride.

I got news for ya...the "grunts" have never been the problem. The "grunts" always get it done, unless the "grunts" have handcuffed leadership, the result of lousy, weak-kneed, stupid politicians. All it takes is a President who doesn't call the strikes from his little leather chair. Give the generals the authority to use their knowledge, make them do the right thing, screw political correctness, then get out of the way. Make the other poor bastard die for his country.

[buccaneer81]

"It's all very well for the Americans to spend a fortune on defence, they have to defend the free world from terrorism. We only have to defend our own smugness."

That line is a classic.

[beekeeper]

Good find.

contemporary West Point or Naval War College graduate is familiar with Thucydides, Machiavelli, Clausewitz, Fuller, Liddell Hart -- and with Sun Tzu and Mao Zedong, for that matter.

This explains a lot, especially Liddell Hart. What we are doing and how we are doing it would warm his heart. He is a Brit but was listen to by the Germans in WWII. They credited him for most of their success. He loved Sherman for his tactics and strategy. Wrote a great book on Sherman.

[GatorGirl]

My sentiments exactly!

Bump from a proud military wife!

[harpseal]

Thanks for the flag it is a great read now we can only hope they get better and better. T%he better the troops and the better their equipment the less of our brave troops will come home in body bags.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[B4Ranch]

Another good one for Vets

[B4Ranch]

as the United States learned over Serbia, you can't really fight a war while waiting for 19 different defence ministers to sign off on each target.

So damn true!

[Travis McGee]

So far so good, as long as we have a president who will let the military do its job in the best way!

[Poohbah]

Give the troops a clear statement of what the mission is and what methods for accomplishing it are off-limits...and they will pleasantly surprise you with their ingenuity.

[Travis McGee]

I think a lot of the world is pretty astonished at our efficiency.

[Poohbah]

I think the key is that Bush, unlike Clinton, understands what "interference" is appropriate and acceptable for a President to make.

Clinton micro-managed every aspect of mission planning. Bush understands that he's the guy who sets the goals, and that he's also supposed to tell the military what they CAN'T do to complete the mission--negative restraint as opposed to positive direction.

[linn37]

FYI G.I. Joe dolls are not only in the toy store but seem to be selling well.I picked up two for the 7 yr. old I just hope Joe is a Gentleman to Barbie while they wait under the Christmas tree!

[The Game Hen]

Barbie might disagree!

[Matthew James]

Thanks for the flags - It's nice to see good news!

[Travis McGee]

That's for sure!