Joseph Galloway - Analysis: Rumsfeld presses Franks to attack

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

[PRND21]

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and his civilian aides...

Sinkspur and Howlin?

[Arkinsaw]

As for the plan? Who the h*ll knows at this point? I think the Turkey snub really screwed things up and it may be we are improvising a bit here.

I supported Turkey for years. I was a big Turkey booster. I was seriously wrong about that.

[bluecollarman]

"I supported Turkey for years. I was a big Turkey booster. I was seriously wrong about that."

Don't fret about it, looks like we were all wrong about a lot of "so called" friends.

[optik_b]

I've heard that some of our best equipment was supposed to come through Turkey. Is this true?

[bluecollarman]

Our heavy stuff was.

[Wphile]

I don't know but probably. Recall we were going to have 62,000 troops in Turkey as well as bases, etc. The blown Turkey deal really put a cramp in things.

[Arkinsaw]

The "stingy deployment" made it to the outskirts of Baghdad in one week with remarkably minor casualties.

They had nobody to confront them really so thats not surprising.

This whole deal is the fault of Turkey. If the 4th ID had been able to come down from the north this would be over by now. Baghdad couldn't defend against a two prong attack from two heavy US infantry divisions and associated forces. As it is, it is indeed a stingy deployment. But THAT is not Rummy's fault, not the US fault.

[Arkinsaw]

Don't fret about it, looks like we were all wrong about a lot of "so called" friends.

Yeah, and I feel bad about hating Tony Blair for so long.

[ArneFufkin]

That's the last thing needed we need right now.

In truth, it really doesn't affect anything. Very few of my friends are following this with the focus we are. They know we're going to take care of business in a humane and decisive way.

While we're cooling our heels out on the perimeter, there may be 500 Delta Force and British SF guys going house to house and killing the goons. Who knows?

I have not discerned one additional insight from looking out that hotel window at the city landscape than I had gleaned at this time last week. I just don't think I have enough facts to make an informed judgement. That minaret is still standing.

Actually, the most live action in this War is watching those Iraqi drivers negotiate that uncontrolled intersection down below the window in the town square. Now that's primal violent conflict!

[Wphile]

From reports that I have read it's really the French and the Germans who put the screws to us over the Turkey deal. They pretty much threatened Turkey with either going with us and forgetting about being part of Europe or denying us and getting European recognition. I think the Turks chose unwisely and really doubt they are going to enjoy having to operate under Franco/German rule as it is clear that Chirac/Schroeder's aim is to rule the European Union.

[seams2me]

Bingo. Another thing I was thinking, but didn't want to say.

We kept the numbers down in case of chem/bio attack. Sad but expected.

[bluecollarman]

Yep me too..I thought he was just another Clintoon clone.

[Arkinsaw]

From reports that I have read it's really the French and the Germans who put the screws to us over the Turkey deal. They pretty much threatened Turkey with either going with us and forgetting about being part of Europe or denying us and getting European recognition. I think the Turks chose unwisely and really doubt they are going to enjoy having to operate under Franco/German rule as it is clear that Chirac/Schroeder's aim is to rule the European Union.

Yeah, and there was also some sabotage in our own State Dept. I think.

[EternalVigilance]

Yeah, and I feel bad about hating Tony Blair for so long.

Well, reserve some skepticism for him. He seems quite anxious to help the U.N. out of the hole they dug for themselves.

If the U.N. is allowed into Iraq after this is over, the political ramifications in this country are going to overflow like a volcano.

[Wphile]

Yes, I read that too. Seemed that DOD had it pretty well sown up until the yahoos at Foggy Bottom got involved and messed things up.

The State Department, France and Germany are all of the same mind as far as I'm concerned. Wouldn't trust them any further than I could throw them.

[HAL9000]

I don't share his pessimism

I don't either. I'm no expert, but I think the plan is going well and will be successful.

I don't think Iraqi nationalism is going to be as strong of a motivating factor against the coalition as Galloway says. And I'm sure the Air Force would take exception with some of his assertions - but I'm biased because I live in an Air Force neighborhood.

If Galloway and his sources have some valid points, the plan is flexible enough to make the necessary adjustments - and hopefully keep our troops safe.

[Arkinsaw]

Well, reserve some skepticism for him. He seems quite anxious to help the U.N. out of the hole they dug for themselves.

I'm willing to cut him a little slack. He has no choice in order to stay in power since his party is a bunch of raving lunatics. One can only imagine if he got replaced with Robin Cook.

[blanknoone]

I have no doubt they can do it with the forces in place. But the question I have is -- what's the rush?

And as far as the Air Force goes, I find it hard to believe that they will refuse to provide ground support.

I was just a midgrade officer(Captain, Army, Armor), I have no inside pentagon sources. We could do it with what we have, but at a very heavy price. More force means quicker victory with less cost.
And I have no doubt that the Air Force is more interested in flying around doing things they consider sexy as opposed to ground support. The Air Force tried to phase out its only really effective Close Air Support (CAS) platform, the A-10. The only thing that stopped them was that the army threatened to start doing their own fixed wing CAS. This is also the origin of the attack helicopter. It has some advantages over fixed wing support, but is generally not as capable. The reason the army puts so much of its assets and effort into attack helicopters is that the air force puts so little emphasis on CAS.
Do a poll at the Air Force Academy, ask how many want to fly F16s and how many want to fly A10s. The Air Force says that the F16 is a "capable ground attack platform" just so that it does not have to have a replacement to the very old A10, which is almost exclusively in the Air National Guard. Key aspects of an effective CAS platform are heavy payload, slow speed to coordinate with ground forces and identify targets, and linger time on station. The F16 has none of these. The Air Force has essentially deferred on its role of supporting the ground war. I am sure they are doing their best with what they currently have, but the fact is that is very limited by the systemic and budgetary choices they have made over the last 20-30 years. The Air Force is incredibly great at establishing air supremacy, effective at strategic interdiction (where they control targeting), and poor at directly supporting manuever forces.

[mercy]

****The general, who also asked not to be identified, said the 3rd Infantry was sent to war with only one battalion of MLRS rocket-launched artillery, a powerful long-range system that can reach out 30 miles and obliterate more than a third of a square mile of enemy soldiers or enemy tanks. Usually, it would have brought two brigades of MLRS launchers, about six battalions.

The V Corps likewise was sent into battle with one battalion of MLRS launchers when usually it would have a separate brigade (three battalions) to support its attack helicopters and several more brigades for general operations. ****

You screw this up Rummy and it's Hillary in '04. ATTENTION this is no joke!

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Yeah, and there was also some sabotage in our own State Dept. I think

The State Department should have been purged of the trash left from the last president's tenure. They are fifth column traitors who would love to undermine GWB at every turn.