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We Need More Troops-We need to get out of denial if we are to make rational choices in Iraq.
Wall St Journal ^
| July 29, 2003
| BARRY R. MCCAFFREY
Posted on 07/29/2003 5:34:28 AM PDT by SJackson
Edited on 04/22/2004 11:49:31 PM PDT by Jim Robinson.
[history]
We need to get out of denial and face reality if we expect to make rational and determined policy decisions on Iraq. It will take no less than two years of inspired leadership, courageous soldiering and $100 billion to put that nation back on its feet. Make no mistake, the air-ground-sea tactical victory by Gen. Tommy Franks's coalition forces was nothing less than brilliant. But to finish the job we need more U.S. combat forces on active duty to sustain the required force levels. We currently have 190,000 U.S. troops directly engaged in Iraq and Kuwait. Without the overall troop strength to support our Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea deployments, we risk breaking the back of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps in the coming 24 months.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
TOPICS: Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: armchairgenerals; army; barrymccaffrey; iraq; military; rebuildingiraq
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1
posted on
07/29/2003 5:34:28 AM PDT
by
SJackson
To: SJackson
I caution anyone to be very wary of anyone who served under Bill Clinton. None can be trusted.
2
posted on
07/29/2003 5:41:47 AM PDT
by
Galtoid
To: SJackson
No - instead take all the US troops stationed in Bosnia and elsewhere and have them posted to Iraq. The other countries can fill in the blanks with their own troops.
3
posted on
07/29/2003 5:42:02 AM PDT
by
corkoman
(did someone say cheese?)
To: SJackson
McCaffrey alert. This is the guy who was consistently WRONG in every single call he made during the war. As Rush said, it is a trademark of Dems that they get rewarded for being consistently wrong (in this case, with an opinion column by the WSJ).
4
posted on
07/29/2003 5:43:02 AM PDT
by
LS
To: LS
Why bother even reading this drivel?
BTW we are getting more troops. 31,000 Iraqis have graduated from their cop school. About 6,000 a week are in the pipelin. This is far better than any US additional troops.
It's just the media that thinks if we keep the big picture from the public then we can convince them that it is all a failure. The Dims last hope for 2004.
Watch Fox News. Watch the facts.
5
posted on
07/29/2003 5:51:13 AM PDT
by
snooker
To: corkoman
Take them to Bosnia to get in the middle of a ethnic/religious Bosnia write large called Iraq where Americans are being killed like sitting ducks? Don't think so. Bring them home!
To: corkoman
That's writ large
To: Galtoid
agree 100%..NEVER trust the clinonistas!
8
posted on
07/29/2003 5:54:53 AM PDT
by
rrrod
To: snooker
I totally agree.
Iraqis need to be policed by Iraqis as soon as possible. Not more US troops.
9
posted on
07/29/2003 5:57:38 AM PDT
by
DB
(©)
To: SJackson
BARRY R. MCCAFFREY A Clintonista butt-boy ... who has rarely been right on any issue where he felt compelled to venture an opinion. Politics has Jimmy Carter, the U.S. army has Barry McCaffrey.
10
posted on
07/29/2003 6:05:24 AM PDT
by
BluH2o
To: BluH2o
He was cosmically wrong as drug czar.
To: Galtoid
Most of those military types speaking out are in concert with General Shinseki.....nuff said!
12
posted on
07/29/2003 6:21:54 AM PDT
by
OldFriend
((Dems inhabit a parallel universe))
To: Galtoid
I caution anyone to be very wary of anyone who served under Bill Clinton. None can be trusted.Give me a break--Franks, Meyers, Abizaid--every other Marine, Army, or Air Force General & Navy Admiral with two or more stars served as a flag officer under Clinton.
The military knows its chain of command & will follow it regardless of the commander-in-chief's political party--no person who really thought about it would want it any other way.
To: SJackson
Hasn't McAffrey been embarassed enough yet?
14
posted on
07/29/2003 6:34:53 AM PDT
by
Coop
(God bless our troops!)
To: mark502inf
Give me a break--Franks, Meyers, Abizaid--every other Marine, Army, or Air Force General & Navy Admiral with two or more stars served as a flag officer under Clinton. That's true but McCaffrey's record as an armchair General sucks. He was as wrong as wrong can be as regards the assault on Baghdad and as such his words should be looked upon with a great deal of skepticism.
15
posted on
07/29/2003 6:37:12 AM PDT
by
jwalsh07
To: SJackson
We may need more men but we should look to IRaqi's. No good will come if we do it all for them.
16
posted on
07/29/2003 6:39:58 AM PDT
by
VRWC_minion
(Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and most are right)
To: snooker
First, read the post here on FR about a letter from a Marine. If what this guy says is true, there is some culpability on the part of our troops for their situation (i.e., carelessness, not taking some pretty common precautions).
Second, I love FOX, but some of their people are as bad as Peter Jennings. The morning crews, especially, were totally out ot lunch with the uranium stuff, and seem intent on reporting every battle death as though it was the news of the day---and, to the families, of course, it is---but this distorts the entire picture.
17
posted on
07/29/2003 6:42:28 AM PDT
by
LS
To: jwalsh07
The Pentagon better get there head out of their butt. They can't use the amount of reserve and National guard troops and keep their recruiting up. Instead of grandiose plans to replace the fighters with stealth technology and other new toys, attention has to be given to ground forces and that sector that does the occupation and peace-keeping. Also, we have no business keeping our forces in most of the countries we are in. Bring some of them to our borders and take care of some of our own security.
18
posted on
07/29/2003 6:49:40 AM PDT
by
meenie
To: mark502inf
McCaffrey, however, was the drug csar in the Clinton whitehouse.
To: meenie
If you're trying to say that we are four divisions short of a load, then I agree with you.
If you are saying we should do a 180 and pull out of Iraq, then I disagree.
We have two divisions stationed in Germany, the 1st Infantry and the 1st Armored. They should be removed forthwith and returned to the US.
20
posted on
07/29/2003 6:52:14 AM PDT
by
jwalsh07
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