[MindBender26]

This is very significant.

There are two types of Generals and Admirals; the warfighters and the politicos.

Warfighters are exactly that. They fight, and win wars. They command troops in active combat units.

Politicos work primarily at the Pentagon. They are critically important to keep supplies and manpower flowing the civilians off the Warfighters bask.

Don’t knock the politicos. Both are needed to win wars. History is loaded with great combinations of Warfighters/Politicos that brought us victory. Schwartzkoph/Powell. Eisenhower/Marshal, Halsey/King, etc.

The problem is that sometimes Politicos are placed in charge of units that Warfighters should command. General Franks is a fine man (2 months junior to me at Field Artillery OCS), but he is not a war fighter. He has primarily had support jobs, staff positions, etc.

General Abizaid is different. He is an archetypical Warfighter. Compare his resume to Franks: “Lieutenant General Abizaid was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in June 1973. He started his career with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a rifle and scout platoon leader. He commanded companies in the 2nd and 1st Ranger Battalions, leading a Ranger Rifle Company during the invasion of Grenada. Lieutenant General Abizaid commanded the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Battalion combat Team in Vicenza, Italy, during the Gulf crisis and deployed with the battalion to Kurdistan in Northern Iraq. His brigade command was the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He served as the Assistant Division Commander, 1st Armored Division, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Following that tour, he served as the 66th Commandant at West Point. Most recently, he commanded 1st Infantry Division, the "Big Red One," in Wurzburg. The 1st Infantry Division formed the core of Task Force Falcon in Kosovo.” Bottom line, Abizaid will be made ADC (Assistant Division Commander) for “Operations’ or “Maneuver” some thing like. He will kick ass, take names, and run the combat, the Warfighting end of this operation.

Not good news for Saddam.

[Rain-maker]

Gen. Abizaid is more of a soldier's soldier than Franks is...

bio: http://www.dtic.mil/jcs/core/director_js.html

"I’m very sad to be leaving the 1st Infantry Division because it was the best assignment I ever had," Abizaid said after he finished greeting a long line of soldiers.
http://www.pstripes.com/ed092800h.html

[Squantos]

Hmmmmmmm.......Anybody know this guy ?

Stay Safe !

[Grampa Dave]

Very interesting, and these two writers, Gertz and Scarborough for the Times are usually right on target with their articles dealing with the military.

Thanks for your input about the new man on the scene, General Abizaid.

This is not good news for Uncle Soddomite and his supporters in the leftist media around the world.

[amom]

ping

[kayak]

fyi

[Future Snake Eater]

Lieutenant General Abizaid commanded the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Battalion combat Team in Vicenza, Italy...

Hey! My (hopeful) future unit! This General Abizaid sounds squared away.

[davidosborne]

Great move by Secretary Rumsfield..... Look out Saddam ! This single move should have Saddam Shaking in his Combat Boots... This also shows without a doubt that this is a serious WAR and not just a political move to intimidate Saddam.. Great Post !!

David

[Valin]

ping

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

If you read the book that "Stormin' Norman" wrote about the Gulf war, you'll find that Tommy Franks was close to being relieved for being too slow to advance his armored column. He darn near screwed the pooch. I was really surprised when he was advanced to the position he has.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

This should have Hussein & Sons rethinking the "Step-Mother Of All Battles" plan.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Excellent analysis - thank you!

[jeremiah]

It does sound like a good decision by Rummy, hope his confidence is well place. We need more men that KNOW what it is to fight.

[Hipixs]

Pentagon chatter says Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld finally has his own man at U.S. Central Command to supervise a war against Iraq: Army Lt. Gen. John P. Abizaid.

According to Rumsfeld's press conference today, Gen. Franks requested that Gen. Abizaid be made Franks' deputy. "Pentagon chatter" is a laughable source, even below the level of an unamed official.

[Mr. Mojo]

bttt

[Mr. Mojo]

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[Mr. Mojo]

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