Posted on 08/05/2002 3:55:48 AM PDT by kattracks
Newsweek reports this week that although the war with Iraq has not begun, "So far the big battles are in Washington, not Baghdad."
The magazine notes that "Secretary of State Colin Powell, the only combat veteran among Bushs senior aides, is said to be determined that if U.S. troops are committed, they go in with overwhelming force. Vice President Dick Cheney (who had student and parent deferments during Vietnam) and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (a Navy pilot in the years between Korea and Vietnam) are eager to finish the job Bushs father started when he was president."
Both Cheney and Rumsfeld believe far fewer troops are needed for an Iraqi invasion.
Newsweek also claims that "By Rumsfelds orders, even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been shut out of the planning process - a decision that has only added to the generals unhappiness."
Despite the Washington battles, the U.S. is in high gear for war.
The magazine states:
- U.S. munitions plants have put on extra shifts to rebuild arsenals depleted during the Afghan war.
- A few hundred uniformed personnel are working as advance teams in Jordan and elsewhere, assessing the need for new air strips, wider roads and the like.
- And even before Saddam became a priority target, the U.S. Department of Energy was working to get Americas strategic petroleum reserve up to its full capacity of 700 million barrels - enough to meet U.S. energy needs for more than 80 days in a crunch.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Bush Administration Saddam Hussein/Iraq War on Terrorism
Remind me again (since the media won't), who decided to bring those levels down in a vote-getting scheme in the northeastern part of the US?
Remind me again (since the media won't), who decided to bring those levels down in a vote-getting scheme in the northeastern part of the US?You asked for it...
If Powell is the one insisting on overwhelming force, then he has my respect. Be Seeing You,
Chris
"I wonder how many chicks I can catch dressed like this."
As for my overall impression, is we have a lot to cram into a handful of years. Might as well get started.
having read the article, i am not sure that i agree with this headline. disagreement is to be expected within a tightly knit team during the problem definition and problem solution stage. each player needs to assertively get his perspective and the data he is aware of, on the table.
so near as i can tell, there is no argument about strategy; the debate is on tactics. that is, nobody is arguing if iraq should be invaded in this article, but rather they are arguing how iraq should be invaded.
these are team players and once a decision is reach, expect everyone to rally around, defend, and make happen, the decision.
shame on newsweek for putting the anti-bush, anti-american slant on this story. this is yet another example of the news media trying to undermine public opinion on the war against terrorism.
excellent observation and insight.
the only combat veteran among Bushs senior aides
Sec of Def Rummy is a Navy Vet.
However, the time NOT find out you need more is when it isn't there as what happened during Anaconda with Fire Support.
Of course regardless of which it decided, the Monday Morning quarterbacks could improve on it.
Vice President Dick Cheney (who had student and parent deferments during Vietnam) and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (a Navy pilot in the years between Korea and Vietnam) are eager ...to
Their point is a good one, if true. I'd hate to see an operation be undermined by being undermanned.
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