Joseph Galloway - Analysis: Rumsfeld presses Franks to attack

Knight-Ridder Newspapers | March 27, 2003 | JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY

[HAL9000]

As I post this, Joe Galloway is being interviewed on Fox News

[Arkinsaw]

Here is my deal. As much as I like Rummy....he should now listen carefully to the guys in uniform.

[Wphile]

Major Bob - on FNC - said he should wait also.

[Ymani Cricket]

civilian war planners

'nuff said.

[Arkinsaw]

when usually it would have a separate brigade (three battalions) to support its attack helicopters

Not enough air defense suppression leads to chewed up helicopters.

[MEG33]

"Officials say"just doesn't do it for me anymore. I know battles rage in the Pentagon.

[Wphile]

I saw some of Rummy on Capitol Hill today. I don't know what it was but he looked to be pretty darn stressed out. Not his usual self. I think Rummy needs to chill a bit and let the brass handle some things.

Plus, it seems the "Rumsfeld insisted on smaller troops, pushed Franks into battle" is becoming a common theme among the press corps. I really don't want to see Rummy beaten up over this.

[Teetop]

Bullsh*t, Franks is waiting on ALL the forces to be in position....the position HE wants! No damn civilian will take over these war plans.....

[nevergore]

Rummy didn't make this call independently. His carreer staff officers advised and devised the plan....

If Franks believes that he can't do it, It won't happen. The political capitol for Bush would be to great.

NeverGore

[rwfromkansas]

100,000 vs. 30,000...

Folks, if we go in instead of waiting, I am afraid Rumsfeld will have killed a tremendous number of our men.

And I like Rummy.

[Arkinsaw]

Bullsh*t, Franks is waiting on ALL the forces to be in position....the position HE wants! No damn civilian will take over these war plans.....

Well, I think the war plan has sort of been overtaken on its own. I have confidence in Franks and the military. When things change on the ground the civilian leaders can sometimes get flaky.

[Mr. Mojo]

As I post this, Joe Galloway is being interviewed on Fox News

I just saw that interview. Galloway appears convinced the majority of Iraqis are very nationalitic these days, and will fight like hell for the defense of Baghdad. He also said that he can't see a way we can avoid house to house fighting once we get there, and massive casualties (on both sides) will be the likely result.

I don't share his pessimism. We have options (for Baghdad) that he didn't mention: 1) starve them out, 2) bomb them into submission.

He sounded like a typical liberal.....

praying for U.S. troops to run into trouble.

[hobson]

This guy is the most negative person I've ever heard! He told Linda we will get drawn in to street fighting and it will be a blood bath. sheesh. These guys need to shutup!!

[Pushi]

or Sadaam leaving.

[Arkinsaw]

Folks, if we go in instead of waiting

We're not going in now unless we have a surprise left hook out there somewhere. All of the military analysts on tv seem to have backed down and are saying wait for the 4th ID. Those folks are not without Pentagon contacts and no the deal.

[Mr. Mojo]

Yep, Galloway is a Rat to the core. At the end of the interview, when Linda said "Joe, I hope you're wrong," Galloway rolled his eyes. ..Prick.

[pushforbush]

This is more garbage from Galloway speculating with no real knowledge about what various DOD people think. If you read it carefully, it really doesn't say when or whether Franks is being forced to attack before Franks is ready.

[Mister Magoo]

I have no doubt they can do it with the forces in place. But the question I have is -- what's the rush? Keep pounding and pounding, and then pound some more. All the while, we get stronger and the enemy gets weaker. After all, they aren't going anywhere. Time in on our side in every sphere except the political. I think that world opinion can wait for 2 weeks. And as far as the Air Force goes, I find it hard to believe that they will refuse to provide ground support.

[rwfromkansas]

Of course, I could just be influenced by the negativity.

But geez, I want us to be fully prepared, not to go into this half-cocked with arrogance that we will come out of this unscathed.

Pride leads before a fall, and that goes for nations too......

[Arkinsaw]

He sounded like a typical liberal.....praying for U.S. troops to run into trouble.

Damnit, Joe Galloway of all people isn't praying for US troops to run into trouble. Spit.