Franks rejects top Pentagon post

The Daily Telegraph ^ | May 13, 2003 | David Rennie

[bruinbirdman]

General Tommy Franks, who led US forces to victory in Afghanistan and Iraq, has turned down a promotion to army chief of staff, it was reported yesterday.

Gen Franks had promised his wife he would shortly retire and, after days of intense speculation in Washington, he has now declined the offer of the army's top post, Pentagon officials told CNN television.

The general has made no secret of his dislike of Washington and the power struggles and intrigue that dominate life there. His decision leaves the defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, without a key ally in his long-running, and often bitter, campaign to reshape the US army from top to bottom.

The present chief of staff, Gen Eric Shinseki, has been a lame duck for 18 months, since Rumsfeld aides leaked that he would be replaced.

[OldFriend]

The last paragraph leaves the WRONG impression. Shinseki must leave his current position by law. So it would naturally mean that he would be replaced. Rumsfeld made a statement regarding Shinseki's position at a recent press conference...not a 'leak' at all.

As for Franks, since he was recently falsely dragged through the mud I can see why he would be ready to retire.

[Cicero]

What a pity. It's a thankless job for an honest man who isn't power hungry. But that's exactly the kind of man who is needed to help hose out the Pentagon after eight years of clinton promotions. They badly need someone who knows the top brass, who knows which brass hats need to be eased out, and which deserve to be promoted.

[jackbill]

One of the cable news networks reported tonight that the new Army Chief will be a three star - the deputy to Gen. Franks. He would be picked over from 6 to 12 four stars and a number of senior three stars.

Anyone would be better than Shinseki.

[meenie]

I thought Rumsfeld wanted to put in an air force general to head the army. That was the story last week.

[American Soldier]

I agree...I think Army Chief of Staff is just a plain stupid job now that there is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs especially. ACofS doesn't do anything that interesting. The area commanders do more "generalship" than the beltway folks. Heck, being an O-6 brigade commander would be a hell of a lot more fascinating and satisfying than 90% of the staff weenie Pentagon jobs, regardless of how prestigious, high-paying or influential they might be.

I would ask to be demoted to door gunner on a chopper, as long as I could still retire with General's pay. Now THAT would be a blast!

It sounds like he's got a real good relationship with his wife though. Frankly I know very few Army officers that would happily pass up a promotion like that to please their wife.... I guess he's had about as much Army time as one man really needs though.

[Non-Sequitur]

I thought Rumsfeld wanted to put in an air force general to head the army. That was the story last week.

I think what you are referring to is the proposal to replace the outgoing Secretary of the Army with the current Secretary of the Air Force. Both are civilians.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

The last paragraph leaves the right impression. The Pentagon leaked, in April of 2002, before the Presidents' announcement on the 27th of April 2002, that General John Keane was going to replace Shinseki. It is not SOP to announce replacements for JCS chairs over a year in advance. Rumsfeld thinks Shinseki is a puke and rightly so.

[DannyTN]

"It sounds like he's got a real good relationship with his wife though"

I saw a report where every morning for the last 20-30 years, she sends him off with the statement, "Go make the world safe for democracy."

[Wolfstar]

When we get rid of Shinseki, can we also get rid of those stupid berets? I can understand them for special forces units, but the entire army?! They look like Euro-weenies.

[OldFriend]

On the plane that Franks and his wife travel, his seat has four stars and hers has four hearts. These folks are the heart and soul of America.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Adios Shinseki, Rangers get their black berets back, dump the Stryker and replace with M-113A3s and LAVs, resurrect the Crusader for the Mech Divarty, more MP Brigades, more snake eaters, and for crying out loud remount 2nd ACR on armored fighting vehicles.

[dts32041]

It is traditional if a junior man is picked as COS, all senior personnel resign so as not to cause a conflict in rank, the only time this did not happen I am aware of was when Marshall was COS, over MacArthur, of course, nothing was traditional about Mac.

Just wonder if the current Perfumed Princes will follow tradition, and resign.

[Seydlitz]

Very well said!!

[Mihalis]

Tommy Franks has made the Pantheon of military history. Anything else would be anti-climactic.

[dts32041]

I agree will all bur the crusader.

Up graded Pallidun and the MLRS six pack so cover the arty requirements.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

I would replace Paladin with Crusader. I would put the 6-pack MLRS trucks in the motorized rapid deployment brigades (IBCT).

Tube artillery works in sand storms.

[cubreporter]

Really? Gosh that is really neat. Very sweet. Yes, they are the heart and soul of America. Another happily married couple in love with each other and respectful of each other like President George W. Bush and his First Lady Laura. Gosh it's so good to see and hear about couples in love after all these years. We need to hear more stories about this kind of thing. It's what marriage is all about.

[Pilsner]

It is traditional if a junior man is picked as COS, all senior personnel resign so as not to cause a conflict in rank, the only time this did not happen I am aware of was when Marshall was COS, over MacArthur

Mac retired in 1935, after 5 years as head of the Army. The Commonwealth of the Phillipines made him a Field Marshal and head of its armed forces. He was already long gone when Marshall got the job.

There are those -- I'm not saying I'm one -- who maintain Mac went to the Phillipines because he had investigated the possibility of an anti FDR coup, and FDR banished him from, the US as part of a deal to avoid a public scandal.

[dts32041]

I would worry about moving a weapons system with a conservative weight of 150 tons. 90 tons est weapon and 60 tons rounds.

How in the sam hill are you going to move that in the third world?