Secrets Galore -Hackworth Defending America

WND ^ | May 20, 2003 | David H. Hackworth

[Dog Gone]

Somebody else probably read it and can verify that.

I read that same story and you recounted it correctly. I don't recall the story source, though.

The implication by Hackworth is that the Army has some terrible secrets to hide in the capture of the POWs and is desperate to hide them. That simply isn't plausible. Even if someone gave a bad order that caused it, it's hardly a scandal.

I think the far more likely explanation is that the Army has plenty (probably too many) psychologists advising them, and a very sheltered decompression for returned POWs is now required. As far as I know, nobody is being allowed access to these soldiers and all the stories we got were from embedded troops who accompanied their rescue.

Jessica Lynch is a special case because she's still a hospital patient, and hospitals won't say jack about patients.

She'll be a millionaire soon enough. Even if she can't remember a thing about the ordeal, she can sell the rights to Hollywood to make up whatever they want to sell to the public. But probably not until she's released from her military commitment.

[Billthedrill]

Yeah - you read the Stryker report too, huh? Hooboy...

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Ref post #16...Thank you for your reply. All I can say is how very sad.

[Wolverine]

Article by David H. Crackpot

[eno_]

I have read other press reports about RPGs disabling Abrams tanks. "Taking out" an Abrams is very very hard. Even in most of the tanks that were totaled, the crew walked away. But stopping the tank by damaging the engine enough to immobilize it is apperently possible to do with an RPG.

[Trust but Verify]

I'm going to get jumped all over for this, but I think most of 'Saving Private Lynch' is a complete Pentagon fabrication. It was a feel-good story to shove aside the naysayers during the 'Operational Pause'.

[eno_]

I shouldn't say "an" RPG. Lots of RPGs. But still, they are dirt cheap. And the Russian anti-tank missile was pretty effective, even against front armor.

[eno_]

So what do you suppose the big secret is? How big a deal could it possibly be? The Pentagon seems to be incurring a larger cost in credibilty for hushing things up when the things they are hushing up can't possibly matter that much.

[BluH2o]

Hack, I used to like you, but you've lost all credibility.

Hack is one of ours ... he has spent more time in combat and years in the military than most of his critics have on this earth. I don't always agree with his view point on military issues, in fact, he can be a "hot dog" at times ... the red light goes on in a television studio and he shifts into gear. I'm a former Marine, I admire Hack and the warrior spirit he exudes ... his military credentials are impeccable. Hack has the best interests of our military at heart, make no mistake about that ...

[Diplomat]

In 10 to 20 years no tank will be able to withstand the small arm projectile weapons that are currently being developed.

[Dog Gone]

I think most of 'Saving Private Lynch' is a complete Pentagon fabrication

They filmed it on the Las Vegas set where they faked the moon landings?

[Trust but Verify]

No, nothing like that. I'm just skeptical about the story of her 'firing until all her ammunition was gone' vs. others who said they're weapons jammed and were uselss. How can the two be reconciled? There also appears to be discrepancies on the rescue story. I don't think it's denigrating to our troops to hear the truth, even if it isn't as daring and courageous as first reported.

[Trust but Verify]

WEll, I just think the whole episode was overplayed. Between her original actions during the amush, to the alleged gunshot wounds and stab wound, to the rescue itself. I just think it all may have been exaggerated to give everyone a big lift (successfully) and now the kind of backtracking that would have to be done would be a big black eye for the Pentagon.

[Trust but Verify]

amush=ambush. Preview is our friend.

[Dog Gone]

There were all kinds of discrepancies in her story. She was shot. She wasn't shot. She was stabbed. She wasn't stabbed. She was the equivalent of Davy Crockett.

You'd have to look back and see how many of those reports came from the Pentagon or Centcom, and how many came from hyperventilating journalists with questionable sources.

Jayson Blair isn't the only one with a problem.

[dennisw]

He's an aging military has-been still dressing in macho special-ops black turtlenecks......

Hahahahahha

[sarasmom]

Re #32.
The "fired till all the ammo was gone" was a BS story generated by an unsourced, unnamed "journalist".
The stories dont need to be reconciled.
What needs to happen is everyone needs to take their mouths and minds off PFC Lynch, and leave her alone.Silent prayers excepted.
I dont know about the rest of you, but many people prayed hard for ALL of the POWs, and I, for one, hate the armchair usage everyone with one agenda or another wants to "use" these men and women for, to advance any and all crapola laced cause or prurient interests.
These people had a job,they did it, and none of us here are in their chain of command, or have access to the facts.Nor do we have the need to know.
I wish everyone would remember when they get the urge to "debate" about the people who fought,died,got wounded, captured, or participated in this war,they DO NOT OWE any of us who did not do any of the above, any explanation at all.
We owe them our gratitude.If they need civilian help, they will ask for it.
They will not ask the likes of media hounds like Hackworth.
They will not appreciate pointless speculation.
Leave them be.

[eno_]

Nor do we have the need to know.

Hack may be dotty about some things, but this smells like an abuse of secrecy. If abuses of secrecy are not hounded out into the open you can be certain the abuses will continue until, in a military setting, it gets a bunch of people killed.

[sarasmom]

That is BS, and you must know it.
If you have any experience at all with classified information, you can see Hackworths paranoid media hyped crap a mile away.
Dont provide stupid excuses for a man who makes his living off manufactured military scandals.
He previously made his living off Vietnamese whorehouses, and blackmail.
Hackworth should be in Leavenworth, not running around freely talking trash about honorable servicemembers.
In my educated opinion.

[nicollo]

The most scandalous thing from Hackworth's article is this:

But even casual analysis would show that if this thin-skinned wheeled vehicle had been used in Iraq instead of the Abrams tank, the much-hyped "Shock and Awe" would've been for naught, and the spinners would be working overtime to explain the debacle.

Hackworth for "Shock and Awe"?

Yes, you read it, right here. Shock and Awe was not "for naught."

Good thing we didn't deploy Strykers. Shock and Awe wouldn't otherwise have worked. Thanks, Hack, for letting us know, finally, that it worked.

cc: Rummy