I'd agree and someone who has a grudge against the Army should not be in charge of a ground war! The Air Force is no more than a support element for ground operations. And that's where Iraqistan and our enemies are -on the ground. Having a former AF officer in charge of a ground war makes as much sense as having a Field Artillery officer in charge of an infantry operation. It's amateurish.
My experience with the Air Force and their personnel has given me the impression they are much more focused on the process than the outcome of their work. Micromanagement and macro-inefficiency are commonplace. That may work fine when your people are x-100s of miles from the ground war but when the troops are stationed amongst their enemies practicality should be the order of the day. Wasn't it McNamara's meager troop levels and BS rules-of-engagement which cultivated a regional war in SE Asia 40 years ago? Perhaps the same is intended for Iraq. Good for the Defense economy I suppose.
I'd much prefer as SecDef a slovenly former General, donut dust sprinkled on his Class As, who'd say "yeah, ...whatever" in the press briefings yet vehemently supported the troops and would kick-ass until the job is done. Heck, I wouldn't care if he was a drunk.
Rumsfield has to learn that Army training, doctrine and culture are nearly opposite the Air Force's. You train 'em, release 'em upon the enemy in overwhelming force, leave 'em alone until they're good and done, then get them out of there. I just hope he doesn't learn this the same way McNamara did.
Rumsfeld was not Air Force.
BTW - I currently get to watch a number of Army Generals at work - micromanagement in NOT a USAF specialty...it's gone joint all the way.
I'm no Rumsfeld fan - but we didn't need 500,000 to win in Afghanistan or Iraq. And NO ONE does a good job of planning for the peace - that because we never know what the peace will look like until we get there.
As for the suggestion Army Generals are in touch with the troops on the ground - NOT! I've watched Army 4-stars dining on prime rib say they didn't understand why troops complained about the food - that it was quite good! It wouldn't have bothered me as a joke, but the mofo was serious. Needless to say, the troops were NOT dining on prime rib. That day we had macaroni & sleeze so overcooked it must have come from an aircraft carrier.
You make the statement that there is an "Air Force officer in charge of the ground war." You must know something that I don't - just who is this Air Force officer that you are talking about?