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David Hackworth is one of the best leaders to ever wear the Army uniform and a man who has endured more fear and danger for this country and his fellow soldier than anyone else whom I can think of. He is a way off the mark in his recent (past 8 months or so) columns on Iraq and US foreign policy. But, he is not a slimeball, he is simply wrong.

Hackworth's military career included WWII, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He saw a lot of soldiers die needlessly and spent the latter part of his career seeing to it that this needless loss of life was minimized in units that he commanded. The man is a tactical genius, phenomenal former commander and a true patriot. Unfortunately, his reputation has brought him an audience which he is unfit to address. He has taken to commenting on strategy and foreign policy. He is a tactical genius and is usually right on the money, regarding his views on soldier issues, training, and procurement of weapons and equipment. He is almost always wrong regarding foreign policy and strategy, because he has neither the experience nor the education of the people who DO understand foreign policy and strategy - Generals, Admirals, and high-placed members of the DOD.

To be fair, Hackworth is always critical of any military action, because of any weakness that he can find in a plan, strategy, or level of readiness. He sees himself as a critic on behalf of the American soldiers who will put their lives on the line, to implement the policies of our nation's political leaders. Hackworth was extremely critical of Klinton and our involvement in Bosnia and Kosovo. Likewise, he is now critical of Bush and our involvement in Iraq and he is quick to pounce on military leaders who display any incompetence or lack of caring for their soldiers.

When Hackworth starts to be critical of enlisted soldiers, in order to support the stance of a political candidate, then you can call him two-faced. He remains and has always intended to be an advocate for the American soldier, in hopes that American soldiers will not die due to a lack of training, lack of proper equipment, or lack of proper diplomacy. He has 8 purple hearts and a long list of dead friends to motivate him in that cause.