Posted on 09/01/2003 4:24:17 AM PDT by csvset
Former Navy secretary blasts Bush on Iraq
By DENNIS O'BRIEN, The Virginian-Pilot
© August 30, 2003
NORFOLK -- Former Navy Secretary James Webb blasted the Bush administration's policy on Iraq, saying it was sold to the American people on false premises.
``I am very troubled by the fact that we went into Iraq and very troubled about how we're going to get out of Iraq,'' Webb said Thursday to about 200 naval officers, veterans and civilians at the Radisson Hotel Norfolk. The lecture was sponsored by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum and the Naval War College Foundation.
The United States should quickly get the United Nations involved in administering and patrolling the country, he said.
``We need to get out of there before the mistake we made gets worse,'' said Webb, a Marine Corps veteran.
The Bush administration this week began making efforts toward getting a U.N. force on the ground in Iraq, but a sticking point at the United Nations has been the administration's insistence on a U.S. commander for U.N. troops.
Webb said the troops in Iraq are facing combat experiences similar to those he saw as a platoon leader and company commander in Vietnam, where he was awarded a Navy Cross, a Silver Star and two Bronze Stars for heroism, and two Purple Hearts for wounds.
Webb, who resigned as Navy secretary in 1988 to protest cuts in the size of the fleet, said military leaders have an obligation to their troops.
Bob Briner, a retired Navy captain from Virginia Beach, said he appreciated Webb's observations.
``What I like about Webb is that he's been there, he knows what he's talking about,'' he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reach Dennis O'Brien at dennis.obrien@pilotonline.com or at 446-2355.
Richard W.
Ye gods! History being made. You have said nothing in your posts with which I can disagree!
We have cases here of "less-thans" throwing empty phrases at someone more qualified to have even an opinion than they will ever earn.
Funny how empty-headed loyalty is all that can be displayed by people of that ilk. Air-headedness fearfully disallows any contrary opinion no matter how qualified, disregards principled behavior and despises honor thus denigrating everything for which the America they claim to love and defend used to be known to illustrate.
What is considered desirable is Hitler/Stalinesque goose-stepping conformity Like typical liberals no individual thinking allowed only group-think tolerated and outside-the-box concepts are worthy of firing squad rewards.
I am opposed to the UN...period! I figure the highest-best thing for it is the utter failure we are witnessing. But one can envisage the reasons for which Webb is uttering that foul name.
One can choose to be emancipated enough to exercise the American freedom of honoring the opinion of another and disagreeing with the view (or some part of it) yet venerating the eminence of that individual.
Perhaps not much at all. But that's not germane to my issue, which is people blasting someone simply because he says something they don't like.
Jim Webb is practically a poster person for success in this country. Naval Academy graduate, highly decorated in combat, severely wounded, financial success and critically acclaimed author, a man who resigned a powerful position due to --principle--. He's always been a hero of mine. Gosh, he's practically Lincolnesque. ;-)
Walt
Trash the Constitution? A little bit of an overstatement, don't you think? Ollie devised a clever work-around of the "pro-liberation movement" i.e. pro-Commie, Boland amendment. Now, let's discuss if the Boland amendment was in anyway constitutional.
Then why did the Reagan staffers do everything in secret?
Reagan's staff raised and spent money when the framers clearly wanted that power restricted to the Congress.
'nuff said.
Walt
No he is not. His conviction was overturned on appeal.
Alright, Oliver North is a convicted felon whose convictions -- three felonies, as I recall -- were overturned on appeal. That is not exactly the standard set by the Marine Corps when one hears "to keep our honor clean."
Oliver North is the worst kind of bum, and the fact that so many accept his glib lies are an indictment on the ability of many Americans to discern their civic responsibilies.
I try to stay on ground I can defend. When North was exposed -- when he had his "shredding party", the Commandant of the Marine Corps denounced the fact that he had been left at the White House for so long. The Marine Corps revoked all his retirement benefits the -day- he was convicted. The Marine Corps was -deeply- embarrassed by this bum.
That is the way I remember it. I was in the Marine Corps at the time myself.
Now, I don't have the quotes from CMC, or the references to show it now. It's all my recollection. But North betrayed everything the Marine Corps stands for.
Walt
A clear indication that he was always willing to help his friends.
President Lincoln made public statements on things that he felt important, and colonization was simply not on the list after 1862.
Walt
Webb's experience as a veteran means sh*t. Look at George McGovern. Look at the cowardly ex-General Yitzhak Rabin. Military experience is no guarantee of political logic. Webb's statement above shows him to be a political imbicile.
pacifist. One who does not value his freedom.
I will, however, hold in reserve my judgement as to the accuracy of the news item or the balance of Secretary Webb's overall comments. I notice you're not standing up for the newspaper ;^)
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