WHY THE TROOPS DON'T TRUST RUMMY (THE VIEW FROM AN IDIOT)

New York Post ^ | May 14, 2004 | RALPH PETERS

[OESY]

According to his handlers, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld went to Baghdad to "boost troop morale." The best way the SecDef could improve morale would be to resign.

In Operation Iraqi Freedom, Rumsfeld and his apparatchiks boldly defended Washington while our troops fought overseas. Now that the battle's shifted to Capitol Hill in the wake of the Abu Ghraib scandal, the SecDef's in Iraq.

[jocon307]

I like your sub-title.

[LS]

This guy gets stupider every time I read him.

We do NOT need a "bigger army." That's the old NATO thinking. In fact, right now, the issue isn't that we don't have enough tanks or Bradleys in Iraq---it is that we don't have better intel and more "night fighters."

If ANYTHING disproves this guy's arguments, it was exactly the way the war went: our regular army sliced through Iraq like nothing. It is our counter-terror/counter-insurgency effort that has been difficult. That tells me we need fewer of the former and more of the latter.

[mylife]

Ralph Peters is a retired military officer a regular Post contributor and a regular jerk

[Piquaboy]

Ralph Peters is an idiot and should move to France.

[OESY]

Peter's obsession with getting Rumsfeld colors all his analyses including our victories in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the Abu Ghraib prison abuses. This from an Army intelligence officer in Vietnam where the favorite technique to get a captured VC to talk was to kick his boot into the prisoner's solar plexus. We haven't seen anything like that at Abu Ghraib. Perhaps Peters would have been happier in the prior administration where the Army had no fighting role as we bombed at 15,000 feet, and accomplished little in 78 days of bombing other than creating 1.5 million refugees. Ralph Peters is unclean.

[anniegetyourgun]

Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters (USA, Ret.) left the Army shortly after his last promotion. Prolly cause he knew that was as far as he would ever go. He's a favorite of Gen. McCaffrey.

[OESY]

Distrust of Rumsfeld wasn't much in evidence among our troops in Iraq yesterday. Smart leadership promotes enthusiasm -- and healthier reenlistment rates than when Peters was advising the Pentagon.

[Rummyfan]

Came across something on FR yesterday, posted here

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1135026/posts

that showed that the MSM is actively engaged in defeating President Bush (ok, I'm a little slow and needed some help). Here's more evidence. They will only understand when their lunchbox is taken away via falling ratings and circulation.

[nuconvert]

WhoTF is this guy?

The troops love Rumsfeld.
I beleive one quote I heard a few days ago was, "They'd follow Rumsfeld into Hell, if he asked"

[MEG33]

One day I like Peters..then he goes nuts!

[Turbo Pig]

That's the old NATO thinking

Yep, seems like everyone who is anti American in this country; from the pundits in the media, to JF'n Kerry and democratic party are continually trying to fight the last war. The rest of us are trying to fight the current one.

[Dog Gone]

to the troops he so despises

What planet does this guy live on?

[Let's Roll]

Yeah, we saw that lack of trust yesterday - spontaneous applause and standing O.

Interestingly enough the troops were the most enthusiastic when Rummy slammed the media, I think it's pretty obvious this guy hasn't actually observed any troop reaction to their boss.

[wheelright]

His promotion of McCain and Shinseki says it all. Just ignore this guy. He's a washed up old fool. I've worked around their type for almost thirty years now and we're again saddled with the task of cleaning up their mess and rebuilding our defense.

[Rokke]

"And Rumsfeld lies"

With access to all levels of information on what has been going on in Iraq for the last several years, I can say with 100% certainty, that I have never heard Rumsfeld lie. About anything. Ever.

[rabidralph]

I think the author's name says it all.

[snooker]

John F'n Kerry, the enemy's choice in Vietnam, the enemy's choice in Iraq.

Kerry seems to have an America problem.

[cyncooper]

I saw Peters on Fox yesterday, commenting after Rumsfeld and Myers surprise visit to Iraq. I didn't really listen but noted his name as I recognized having read some of his columns before.

I THOUGHT I remembered he was they type to snipe at the administration. Now I see it's Rumsfeld in particular.

[GarySpFc]

It's a case of some of the old line generals hate Rumsfeld. They wanted more funds for armor, whereas Rummy is spending large amounts on Special Forces. When the generals complain he responds, "Who is killing more of the enemy?"