Myers, Rumsfeld Eye to Eye on Internationalizing Iraq Mission

Armed Forces Press Service ^ | 9/4/03 | Kathleen T. Rhem

[TastyManatees]

Myers, Rumsfeld Eye to Eye on Internationalizing Iraq Mission
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2003 – U.S. military leaders have no reason to try to "go around" civilian defense leaders to make policy, because Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other leaders take their generals' advice, the top American general said here today.

Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took to the airwaves today to refute a Washington Post article that contended he and Vice Chairman Marine Gen. Peter Pace conspired with Secretary of State Colin Powell to get President Bush to rule against Rumsfeld in requesting a U.N. resolution on Iraq.

"The article just totally mischaracterizes the process that we go through in this government to come to any sort of conclusion on any subject," Myers said in an impromptu press conference on the steps of the Pentagon.

The chairman explained that his charge, as well as that of the rest of the Joint Chiefs, is to give advice to senior civilian leaders, including Rumsfeld and the president. "They listen to our advice, and we have a great dialogue," Myers said. "Any hint that anybody in the United States military … is going around the civilian chain of command to get things done is absolutely false."

Speaking at the State Department, Powell echoed the chairman's comments. "The (Washington Post) story can't be characterized as inaccurate, because it is absolute fiction – total fiction," Powell said in a press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. "It didn't happen, and there was no need for any such collusion."

At issue is the administration's seemingly changing course on wanting a U.N. resolution to provide a larger international security force in Iraq. Not so, Myers contends – a large international presence has always been the U.S. goal in Iraq.

"You've heard the secretary say we want an international effort," Myers said. "(And) you've heard him say we have an international effort." The chairman noted there nearly 40 countries provide security forces in Iraq, and others provide forces and support in other areas.

Powell said the idea of a further Security Council resolution has been floating among national security officials for "many, many weeks."

Furthermore, Myers said, there was no reason for the Joint Chiefs to try to outsmart Rumsfeld and other defense civilian leaders, because he and the secretary have always agreed on this issue. "I don't think there has been any daylight (between) the secretary and myself on this issue," he said. "No daylight."

The issue of security in Iraq is complicated by the fact that the situation varies greatly from one region of the country to another. "In the south – very stable; in the north – very stable," Myers explained. "It's in the Baghdad area to Tikrit, … that's where the issue is. So … we can't say Iraq's security situation is all going to heck in a hand basket; that is not the situation."

Several factors lead to a need for more international troops, as opposed to increasing numbers of American forces. "It has a lot to do with the Iraqi people and how they perceive coalition forces in there," Myers said. "And I think the last thing we want is for them to believe this is a mission of the United States.

"It's much bigger than that. It already is an international effort, and we want it to be an international effort," he added. "It's so important for the international community to pull together on this."

[TastyManatees]

Interesting rebuttal to press accounts of a split between military and civilian leaders.

Tasty Manatees

[kaktuskid]

"Major Operations" are over DumbA$$ (Remember the Werewolfen in Austria in 1946!)

[tsmith130]

Check your history. Much the same happened in Japan and Germany. It is unbelieveable to me that people expect this to be a fully functioning, democratic, stable country in a matter of 6 months. That is an unrealistic expectation and has never happened in the history of any major conflict and certainly is not going to happen in this one, especially given the additional variables (constant Jihads) of this war. Get a grip.

[TastyManatees]

"Well after rumsfeld has completely fubar'ed things over there I guess they are begging for the UN to come in and share the disgust."

Ahhh, the new anti-administration line is out on how we have lost the war in Iraq. Slightly disingenuous, considering you yourself have probably claimed that President Bush was acting like a "cowboy" by not allowing the U.N. to participate in the building (note, no "re") of Iraq. Now that the adminsitration and the military are willing to allow the U.N. to come in, France and Germany say "No thanks", and left-wingers are claiming that a willingness to allow the U.N. to take a junior role in Iraq subordinate to American commanders somehow demonstrates defeat. Is this inconsistency why you registered under this new name today?

"Watch, wait, see and learn as this will be the bush administration waterloo."

Is that the outcome you are hoping for? Sorry, the United States will not leave Iraq until the job is done there. The United Nations' role in that task is irrelevant.

"Bush put's on a flight suit and calls the war over a little early considering more men and women have died since he declared victory than before he declared victory."

Really? According to antiwar.com (hardly a pro-Bush site), 69 American servicemen have died due to terrorist attacks since the end of major ground combat operations. Prior to the end of combat operations, 115 died in combat. To achieve the outcome you have stated, one would have to count soldiers who died in car accidents and of existing medical conditions. A little dishonest, to say the least.

Tasty Manatees

[dts32041]

You forgot to mention the Pali's refugee camps.

50 Plus years of UN adminstration and what do you get homicide bombers.

As alwasy we should tell the UN to FOAD, and move to the enlighten part of the world they love so much say the Sudan, the kashmir, georgia, etc.

[Dane]

Ah, another bushbot, The united states can't get out of Iraq without the help of the UN as there is no winner in a guerilla war, just ask the brits, we kicked them around so hard they left. By bringing the UN the ugly american won't be running the show and the Iraqi's may be a bit nicer, thus allowing us to exit quietly

Looks like your comrades, the french, are about to disrupt your orgasm.

[Dane]

Sorry pal, not my orgasm, just the truth, I hope they do cave in and get their butts over there so our men and women can quit eating lead for a change and come home to the job that was shipped to China

Huh, are you posting from Clark headquarters?

I am not surprised the french are balking, of course, there is real leader in the White House.

Your "god"(Wesley Clark) would have given into the french in a Monica minute.

[tsmith130]

get rid of the ugly american image....

You've been listening to Katie Couric, haven't you?

Yep, I'll take that bet.

[TastyManatees]

So, you are comparing the Founding Fathers of the American revolution, the original liberals, to bloodthirsty, totalitarian Al Qaeda and Ba'athist terorrists who do not have the support of the Iraqi people?

On the plus side, I've been called worse things than "bushbot" by much smarter trolls than yourself. Generally, whenever I see a troll resort to name calling, I realize quickly that he has run out of bullet points on the action fax he is reading from. Go back to class, kid.

Tasty Manatees

[TastyManatees]

I hope they do cave in and get their butts over there so our men and women can quit eating lead for a change and come home to the job that was shipped to China."

Perhaps they can come home to a land where they can hope to get slaughtered in an office building by lunatics, while cowards refuse to commit to victory over the lunatics?

Tasty Manatees

[dts32041]

I would take that bet if you gave the five years it took after WWII in Germany, or the 10 it took in Japan.

Baby boomers, gen x, y ,z have never learned patience.

But then they never had to do anything real hard unit 9 SEP 2001, and they really haven't had to do anything hard since then.

Just some little inconveniences, when they fly.

Wonder what they would do, if they really had to sacrifice, Like forming a Militia drilling once a week, Pulling duty 6 days a month and in the field one month out of the year.

I know we can't do that, we have to many important things to do.

This country really deserves to go down the tubes cause we have nothing but gimme girls in it.