Excerpt:
The biggest upset of the war was the diplomatic failure to get Turkey on board and despite the optimism that Turkey would relent, operational plans were not changed till the very end. This prevented the development of the northern thrust as well as having adequate troops as follow-on forces.
The best plan, however is the one that succeeds and so full marks to General Tommy Franks and his subordinate commanders for making the plan work notwithstanding the doubts attached to it.
3 Infantry division and 7 Cavalry have together achieved what must be the fastest and longest advance of 500 kms over desert terrain in less than three weeks. The Indian Army's yardstick for advance against light opposition in the deserts is about 60 to 80 km in three or four days. This includes laying of duckboard tracks for the follow-on soft tyre vehicles which the US 5 Corps did not have to lay as they moved on the roads.
From James Doran in Midland, Texas
April 10, 2003
Exerpt:
David Foster and General Franks — Tom to his family — grew up together in Midland as only children. Mr Foster’s grandmother and General Franks’s mother were sisters. They spent every Christmas together until General Franks went to fight in Vietnam. “He went over there as a regular Grunt in the Army. Got promoted on the battlefield and finished his college education when he came out. We are really proud of what he has achieved,” Mr Foster said. “But really he is just a fun guy who likes to have a good time with his buddies.”