[dark_lord]

It is this weird alignment of rap music, counterculture adolescent fashion and diction, and popular movies and videos with selfless and heroic action that so astounds the world. Generals of all races give crisp briefings; Arab-American Marines boast of liberating a Muslim city; women brag of flying three combat missions per day; and bearded, hippie-looking Green Berets on horses prefer the company of medieval tribesmen as they radio in bombs from billion-dollar Stealth bombers. This all suggests that the U.S. military is not so much insidious as postmodern.

Reality is always stranger and more interesting than fiction, although science fiction writers, especially of the "cyberspace" subgenre, have predicted the above for years.

I think the article is correct in general theme, although it gives Rumsfeld a bit too much credit. The military already had those skills and capabilities before he arrived on the scene. But he has the wit to direct and unleash them.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

When I saw a soldier from the 101st Airborne wearing a black Air Cav Stetson, I knew things were changing in the Army...

[MattinNJ]

Ping

[G L Tirebiter]

I guess that 'time will tell' if Rumsfeld's getting too much credit or not.

However, the battle over the Crusader budget wouldn't have been prosecuted by very many of the past Secretaries I can think of. He (with Bush and Cheny's support) took on the Pentagon bureaucracy, the contractors and the Hill to kill the program.

It's just too bad that there aren't any Rumsfeld wannabee's in any other departments. How about some transformation in the Dept. of Education or HHS?...or State?

[adam_az]

"I think the article is correct in general theme, although it gives Rumsfeld a bit too much credit. The military already had those skills and capabilities before he arrived on the scene. But he has the wit to direct and unleash them."

Brother, please.

Don't your recall Rumsefeld's early battles to reform the DoD?

Skills, perhaps. Capabilities? No way, the miltary was hamstrung by the Clintons. Pre-Rumsfeld, the military had the POTENTIAL. Rumsfeld's policies and political battles unleashed it's capabilities.

Today's US military is a case study in good management methodology, and the buck always stops at the top.

[3AngelaD]

RUMMY BUMP. This is a must-read.

[PLOM...NOT!]

It is this weird alignment...

Sounds so truly American to me, it's all about individuality, which made this country so great. (Don't tell the liberals though, who want to herd everyone into a group).