[MindBender26]

"he was selected for this job because most in the military consider him our toughest battle hardened commander."

Sorry, but my sources, deep in the Five Side Puzzle Palace, describe Franks as from "our toughest battle hardened commander."

Franks is a good man, a very good man,(he was 2 months junior to me at FA OCS) but he is a staff and politico type who made most of his strides under Clinton, as opposed to Abizaid who commanded the Rangers in the Panama Invasion, etc.

Is Franks even a Ranger?

[txradioguy]

"Franks is a good man, a very good man,(he was 2 months junior to me at FA OCS) but he is a staff and politico type who made most of his strides under Clinton, as opposed to Abizaid who commanded the Rangers in the Panama Invasion, etc."


No he wasn't Ranger Tabbed. haven't seen a lot of Red Legs that were. Unless I didn't look in the right places. Not being tabbed didn't stop Stormin' Normin from being CINC of CENTCOM or leading the troops in the Gulf War. And the "making strides under the Clintoon administration" could be said of Gen Barry McAffery. He went from being the CG at the 24th ID to SOUTHCOM Commander in under two years. Rumore back at Stewart was he got to 4 stars that fast because of a fairly nasty run in and snide comment made by a Clintoon appointee at the Pentagon and the promoted him fast to keep him quiet at a time when Clintoon was still so new in office and his draft dodging was still a big issue.

[MindBender26]

Is he even Airborne qualified?

Don't get me wrong. He is a great man, but he is not the fierce warrior type. His only combat opn was as as an ADC during the 100 hour roll-up. As a one star general, he was not out there mixing it up, mano-e-mano with the Threat.

PS: All his senior decorations "Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Service Medal (two awards); Legion of Merit (four awards);" are staff and atta-boy decorations.

Please do not get me wrong. Gen Franks has had a distinguished career. So did Generals Marshall and Powell. Powell would be the first to tell you he is not a warfighter.

[xzins]

see #94 & #96

[Fred Mertz]

Is Franks even a Ranger?

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze Star Medal with “V” Devices (with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with “V” Device
Air Medals
Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device
Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Aircraft Crewman Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge

He apparently is not ranger qualified.