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U.S. Arsenal Refill on Overdrive as Powell, Rumsfeld Split
NewsMax.com ^
| 8/04/02
| Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
Posted on 08/05/2002 3:55:48 AM PDT by kattracks
Newsweek reports this week that although the war with Iraq has not begun, "So far the big battles are in Washington, not Baghdad."
The magazine notes that "Secretary of State Colin Powell, the only combat veteran among Bushs senior aides, is said to be determined that if U.S. troops are committed, they go in with overwhelming force. Vice President Dick Cheney (who had student and parent deferments during Vietnam) and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (a Navy pilot in the years between Korea and Vietnam) are eager to finish the job Bushs father started when he was president."
Both Cheney and Rumsfeld believe far fewer troops are needed for an Iraqi invasion.
Newsweek also claims that "By Rumsfelds orders, even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been shut out of the planning process - a decision that has only added to the generals unhappiness."
Despite the Washington battles, the U.S. is in high gear for war.
The magazine states:
- U.S. munitions plants have put on extra shifts to rebuild arsenals depleted during the Afghan war.
- A few hundred uniformed personnel are working as advance teams in Jordan and elsewhere, assessing the need for new air strips, wider roads and the like.
- And even before Saddam became a priority target, the U.S. Department of Energy was working to get Americas strategic petroleum reserve up to its full capacity of 700 million barrels - enough to meet U.S. energy needs for more than 80 days in a crunch.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Bush Administration Saddam Hussein/Iraq War on Terrorism
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; buildup; cheney; drawdown; iraq; mediabias; military; munitions; newsweek; petroleumreserves; powell; rummy; rumsfeld; spr
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1
posted on
08/05/2002 3:55:48 AM PDT
by
kattracks
To: kattracks
bump
2
posted on
08/05/2002 3:57:52 AM PDT
by
Batwoman
To: kattracks
the U.S. Department of Energy was working to get Americas strategic petroleum reserve up to its full capacity of 700 million barrels Remind me again (since the media won't), who decided to bring those levels down in a vote-getting scheme in the northeastern part of the US?
3
posted on
08/05/2002 3:57:54 AM PDT
by
zandtar
To: zandtar
I beleive you're thinking of a Chinese employee who had a fondness for sinks and cigars.
4
posted on
08/05/2002 4:05:09 AM PDT
by
ASA Vet
To: zandtar
Remind me again (since the media won't), who decided to bring those levels down in a vote-getting scheme in the northeastern part of the US? You asked for it...
5
posted on
08/05/2002 4:06:40 AM PDT
by
ppaul
To: ppaul
Who is that young infantryman so eager to grab a rifle and hop in a ditch to defend Israel?
6
posted on
08/05/2002 4:09:25 AM PDT
by
Ahban
To: Ahban
If Powell is the one insisting on overwhelming force, then he has my respect.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
7
posted on
08/05/2002 4:17:12 AM PDT
by
section9
To: Ahban
"I wonder how many chicks I can catch dressed like this."
To: American in Israel
What is your perspective on this?
9
posted on
08/05/2002 4:22:00 AM PDT
by
2sheep
To: ppaul
Please tell me that's not real......
To: 2sheep
There are a few very slight indications that Israel is getting ready. I suspect that half the reason that the Hamas has not been wiped in a full scale war is Israel is holding back to help Bush. But it is all speculation on my part. The patience and mercy of the Jews has surprised me on a few occasions.
As for my overall impression, is we have a lot to cram into a handful of years. Might as well get started.
To: kattracks; Diogenesis
Ping to Dio.
I like the way this article paints the "only veteran cabinet member" as the dove.
In fact, I don't know any veterans in my family that are gung-ho for half-way war. This article makes my favorite Rummy sound like a tinkerer that thinks he can get more Afghanistan results on the cheap.
To: kattracks
Newsweek reports this week that although the war with Iraq has not begun, "So far the big battles are in Washington, not Baghdad."having read the article, i am not sure that i agree with this headline. disagreement is to be expected within a tightly knit team during the problem definition and problem solution stage. each player needs to assertively get his perspective and the data he is aware of, on the table.
so near as i can tell, there is no argument about strategy; the debate is on tactics. that is, nobody is arguing if iraq should be invaded in this article, but rather they are arguing how iraq should be invaded.
these are team players and once a decision is reach, expect everyone to rally around, defend, and make happen, the decision.
shame on newsweek for putting the anti-bush, anti-american slant on this story. this is yet another example of the news media trying to undermine public opinion on the war against terrorism.
13
posted on
08/05/2002 6:38:11 AM PDT
by
mlocher
To: American in Israel
There are a few very slight indications that Israel is getting ready. I suspect that half the reason that the Hamas has not been wiped in a full scale war is Israel is holding back to help Bush. But it is all speculation on my part. The patience and mercy of the Jews has surprised me on a few occasions. excellent observation and insight.
14
posted on
08/05/2002 6:41:00 AM PDT
by
mlocher
To: kattracks
The perfumed generals are professionals. If "fighting" is not of their liking, all they have to do is resign and walk away. That never happens, they love that power. Fighting generals never get to the top, Powell proved that.
15
posted on
08/05/2002 6:46:45 AM PDT
by
cynicom
To: sam_paine
You missed one word from their statement.
the only combat veteran among Bushs senior aides
Sec of Def Rummy is a Navy Vet.
16
posted on
08/05/2002 6:50:47 AM PDT
by
ASA Vet
To: kattracks
Shouldn't Cheney be considered a combat vet as secretary of defense during the 1991 Gulf War? Someone had to be at the top.
17
posted on
08/05/2002 7:14:47 AM PDT
by
blam
To: Pistolshot
This is my rifle this is my gun, this one is for sekshual relations and this one is too.
18
posted on
08/05/2002 7:25:17 AM PDT
by
Delbert
To: kattracks
What I think is interesting, is that both sides can be right, and the solution is somewhere in the middle. To support the SECDEF and VP is the Principal of War,
Economy of Force. In addition, the book,
One More Bridge to Cross: Lowering the Cost of War talks about using too many troops leads to more casualties.
However, the time NOT find out you need more is when it isn't there as what happened during Anaconda with Fire Support.
Of course regardless of which it decided, the Monday Morning quarterbacks could improve on it.
To: ASA Vet
No. I saw that. And I saw the distinction the article tries to make...
Vice President Dick Cheney (who had student and parent deferments during Vietnam) and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (a Navy pilot in the years between Korea and Vietnam) are eager ...to
Their point is a good one, if true. I'd hate to see an operation be undermined by being undermanned.
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