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A Mean, Green Machine (David Hackworth Suddenly Changes His Tune)
SFTT.Org ^ | April 8, 2003 | David H. Hackworth

Posted on 04/10/2003 2:15:26 AM PDT by PJ-Comix

Audie Murphy would be proud. He fought with the U.S. Army’s “Rock of the Marne” 3rd Infantry Division from Africa to Sicily to Italy, and during that hard slug across France to Czechoslovakia, where finally, along with millions of other folks, he celebrated V-E Day.

By May 8, 1945, the mighty 3rd had chalked up more combat days on the front line – and sadly more casualties – than any other U.S. division during World War II. Along the way, Audie was awarded more medals than he had places to hang them.

Now the Medal of Honor recipient's outfit has broken another war record. In just more than two weeks it has roared from Kuwait to the center of Baghdad, brushing aside Iraqi defenders and following the doctrine of the master of World War II tank warfare and bold and deep penetration, Gen. George “Bypass and Haul Ass” Patton.

Hard-hitting naval, Air Force and Army aircraft attacks that sliced and diced the Iraqi Republican Guard allowed the 3rd to penetrate reputedly formidable positions with the speed of a red-hot bayonet through Army shoe polish. After a breakneck 300-mile race to the outskirts of Baghdad, the studs of the 3rd then seized that capital's airport with shock action and incredible firepower and mobility. And even before the airport was fully secured, they dispatched a strong armored reconnaissance-in-force operation into downtown Baghdad to let the Ba’ath Party know they could come-a-callin’ any time they wanted. Now they are taking and holding positions in downtown Baghdad.

The 3rd often outran its supply system, which had been repeatedly cut by serious guerrilla hit-and-run attacks deep to the rear. But it kept pushing toward the prime objective of the war – Baghdad – backed up within days by old buddies from “The Big War,” the 101st Air-Assault Division and the 2nd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne, who quickly scratched their vertical insertion missions to rush to the rescue. Dropping in behind the 3rd, these elite troops began mopping up the Fedayeen Saddam, and soon enough the beans and bullets and fuel were once more flowing up to the forward edge.

An Army sergeant in Iraq says of the brave truck drivers who ran the guerrilla-ridden gauntlets, “I haven't seen one supply truck that didn't have at least one bullet hole.”

The outcome of this war was never in doubt. Picture Paul Bunyan going after an anthill with a 16-pound sledge. The ants – like the Iraqi army – wouldn't have a prayer. At the start of the conflict, I estimated on “Larry King Live” that it would be “a four-week war” to take down Saddam. I also said I thought it was reckless of SecDef Donald Rumsfeld to have the 3rd penetrate so deeply without the powerful 4th Mechanized Division on its flank.

But probably because soldiers who've met the elephant a whole bunch of times tend to safe-side the risks to our soldiers, I was off on the initial number of combat ground forces required. For sure I also didn't fully figure on the amazing boldness, fighting spirit and hard-hitting professionalism of the 3rd.

The media have covered the 3rd Infantry Division's brilliant maneuver in spectacular detail. Like many Americans, I've tuned in to these TV snapshots almost 19 hours a day, long enough to note with surprise that even at times when water wasn't plentiful, these warriors were shaved, their gear soldierly perfect and their tactical deployments parade-ground precise. There are no disheveled Rambos in the all-volunteer Army's “Rock of the Marne.”

This war still has a way to go – taking down Baghdad and Tikrit and cleaning up the thousands of guerrillas cut off and stretched out from Basra to Baghdad. But these splendid soldiers are more than up for the tough job ahead.

Especially with the support of smart, pinpoint weapons and the continuing heroism and skill of Marines, airmen, sailors and Special Operations warriors. And the synergy between the services – the unparalleled cooperation – seems to have rendered the inter-service rivalry that was once the name of the snafu game dead on arrival.

Over the past three weeks, we've witnessed a transformation of warfare.

And my battered steel pot is off to the proud 3rd Division, which so far has written Operation Iraqi Freedom's most compelling chapter.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: armchairgenerals; davidhackworth; iraq
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It's nice that Hackworth has changed his tune from his previous ARTICLE but his credibility is still pretty well destroyed as a result of it.
1 posted on 04/10/2003 2:15:26 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
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2 posted on 04/10/2003 2:17:02 AM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: PJ-Comix
Hack was wrong, but he's still a great American, motivated only by his concern for young men in harm's way and cynical of politicos - even the good ones.
3 posted on 04/10/2003 2:20:31 AM PDT by anton
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To: PJ-Comix
I agree, and have been down on Hack (and some of the Generals). But, you know what? This man and those Generals put their lives on the line and fought for us in the past. So, I say, give them a pass.
4 posted on 04/10/2003 2:20:46 AM PDT by jporcus
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To: PJ-Comix
I caught Col. Hackworth on PMSNBC last night. Can't remember the name of the show.
5 posted on 04/10/2003 2:22:23 AM PDT by kcordell
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To: PJ-Comix
I am with you on his loss of credibility. It was not just one article but many, including bad mouthing the training of the troops and that they were not as tough as prior generations. The latter is what turned me off. But it is a typical attitude of ex-military (I am one, a Navy lifer) that "When I was in, ships were made of wood and men of steel".
6 posted on 04/10/2003 2:26:12 AM PDT by KeyWest
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To: jporcus
I agree, and have been down on Hack (and some of the Generals). But, you know what? This man and those Generals put their lives on the line and fought for us in the past. So, I say, give them a pass.

Give them a pass for trying to deflate moral in the battlefield for purely partisan and vain reasons?

Sorry I disagree, these embedded tv studio generals behavior was disgusting.

7 posted on 04/10/2003 2:26:13 AM PDT by Dane
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To: PJ-Comix
Hack is a hack, for want of a better term.
8 posted on 04/10/2003 2:27:53 AM PDT by Junior (Computers make very fast, very accurate mistakes.)
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To: Dane
I liked the "armchair generals" who stuck to answering questions about tactics, equipment, and standard operating procedure.

Some of them even managed halfway decent force movement briefings on the map. (Shep, let's go to the screenwriter...)

The ones I didn't like were the ones who second-guessed "The Plan."
9 posted on 04/10/2003 2:30:22 AM PDT by Retrofire (Let's roll!)
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To: Retrofire
I liked the "armchair generals" who stuck to answering questions about tactics, equipment, and standard operating procedure.

I agree and thank you for clarifying that. My disgust is basically at MaCaffrey, Clark, and Hack for their grandstanding and quest for face time in the liberal media.

10 posted on 04/10/2003 2:37:13 AM PDT by Dane
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To: PJ-Comix
He is an expert
You must break it down to syllables.
Ex= has been.
Spurt = drip under preasure
11 posted on 04/10/2003 2:39:45 AM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ( clinton is a raping traitor!)
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To: PJ-Comix
screw hackworth
12 posted on 04/10/2003 2:53:58 AM PDT by San Jacinto
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To: PJ-Comix
Sorry to see a tribute to the 3rd from Hack because he becomes the story and not the men of the 3rd. What a great victory for an historic division! Way to go guys. My hat's off to you.
13 posted on 04/10/2003 3:00:10 AM PDT by Arkie2 (TSA ="Thousands standing around")
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To: Dane
LOVED what Cheney said yesterday about "retired Generals being EMBEDDED with the MEDIA"!!! It was a Classic!
14 posted on 04/10/2003 3:04:29 AM PDT by Claire Voyant ((visualize whirled peas))
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To: PJ-Comix
He acts not like a true American soldier, but as a Democrat, out to smear the opposition. I bet if this event happened on Clinton's watch, his attitude would have been much warmer.

Why the partisanship when it comes to our country and our military? Weird.
15 posted on 04/10/2003 3:08:58 AM PDT by Gracey
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To: PJ-Comix
Hack did himself in. He lept telling everybody to "read my book." So, guess what, a lot of us did. After reading a couple of his books you begin to realize the guy is a real leftie. That was why the media loved him. They could bring him on and pretend the were providing "balance" because he was ex-military everyone would assume he was "conservative". He did himself in. He has no one to blame but himself. How would you feel when you found out the used car you bought yesterday was a lemon. People get P.O.d when they find out they been deceived.
16 posted on 04/10/2003 3:10:14 AM PDT by wastoute
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To: Claire Voyant
Cheney is QUICK!!! "Imbedded with Media" just might become as popular as "Big Time" :-)
17 posted on 04/10/2003 3:11:52 AM PDT by Gracey
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To: wastoute
Hackworth is a washed up windbag who can continue making love in guest appearances with Larry King. That way, we know no one is watching. I salute him for his service but he is toast.
18 posted on 04/10/2003 3:15:49 AM PDT by doosee
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To: Dane
Sorry I disagree, these embedded tv studio generals behavior was disgusting.

IMO, these "EX" military brass are just as disguting as Clinton and Carter and their smearing of Bush during war time or at any time for that matter.

I've yet to see a Republican smear a Democrat when the tables were turned.

19 posted on 04/10/2003 3:16:38 AM PDT by Gracey
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To: Gracey
disguting = disgustng
20 posted on 04/10/2003 3:17:48 AM PDT by Gracey
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