KNIFE FIGHT (Ralph Peters)

NY Post ^ | March 27, 2003 | By RALPH PETERS

[Norman Arbuthnot]

When you read these lines, those troopers will have fought through their toughest night of the war.

The 3rd of the 7th's march northward through horrendous sandstorms and repeated enemy attacks at close range are being described in detail by a cherished friend of mine, Sean Naylor of Army Times, perhaps the bravest war correspondent I ever have known. As I write from the safety of America, he is sharing the dangers with the bravest of the brave.

[goldstategop]

I hope the entire 7th Cav does to the tune of GarryOwen. Hurrah!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Our Men Volunteers every one are the best of the best.

[vbmoneyspender]

Walter Rodgers reported this morning that 3rd Squadron of the 7th Cavalry has been given 48 hours of rest time and their lead position has been taken over by other elements of the 3rd Infantry Division.

[cactusSharp]

this prick takes the liberty of a field reporter to dis America.....that is cowardice personified

[laconic]

Great article. I couldn't agree with him more on Rumsfeld and the apparent way he's taken the advice of civilian "whiz kids" and dismissed that of those who know the most: the officers who have experienced war.

[Spruce]

GarryOwen

[Verse 1]

We are the pride of the Army
and a regiment of great renown,
Our Name's on the pages of History.
From sixty-six on down.
If you think we stop or falter
While into the fray we're going
Just watch the steps with our heads erect,
While our band plays GarryOwen. (Chorus)

"Chorus"

In the Fighting Seventh's the place for me,
Its the cream of all the Cavalry;
No other regiment ever can claim
Its pride, honor, glory and undying fame.

[Verse 2]

We know fear when stern duty
Calls us far away from home,
Our country's flag shall safely o'er us wave,
No matter where we roam.
"Tis the gallant 7th Cavalry
It matters not where we are going"
Such you'll surely say as we march away;
And our band plays GarryOwen. (Chorus)

[Verse 3]

Then hurrah for our brave commanders!
Who led us into the fight.
We'll do or die in our country's cause,
And battle for the right.
And when the war is o'er,
And to our home we're goin
Just watch your step, with our heads erect,
When our band plays GarryOwen. (Chorus)

[LS]

I sincerely doubt that Rumsfeld in ANY way thought "air power" would be sufficient to do the job, and the more I watch this man, the more I'm convinced he has constantly listened to the generals, especially Franks. I don't know what this guy's beef is, but essentially we have arrayed 1/4 million people against a city of about 5 million, of whom perhaps 30,000 are genuine loyalist fighters. If we can't do the job with that, then we can't do the job, and the writer's own stats prove him wrong. Our guys are just slaughtering these people. To think that if you simply pack in more men you will have a different outcome borders on Civil War era thinking.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yes, they are. But it is high time to relieve them for a few days and let a fresh unit take up the advance.

[ez]

Quagmire Alert.

The battle plan is failing!!! The battle plan is failing!! We need impeachment and resignations simmediately!!

[ez]

Quagmire Alert.

The battle plan is failing!!! The battle plan is failing!! We need impeachment and resignations immediately!!

[Seydlitz]

Peters always writes a damn fine column. I'm glad to see that he's taking Rummy to task for his excessive love of high-tech gadgets. Rummy is a good Sec. of Defense, but he listens to much too the self-serving, technological delusions of the DOD civilians, Navy and Air Force. When all is said and done, it is the ground pounders who secure victory. Since time immemorial, an army has only been as good as its infantry.

[BlueLancer]

Hang on, 7th ...

The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment is on its way ...

[TUX]

This is a back-handed compliment at best. Our military is from top to bottom and bottom to top the best in the world. This guy attempts to cut off the head while complimenting the troops. A clever bit of propaganda.

Thank G-d for Rummy and his staff keeping these so called American journalist searching for anything critical at bay.

[Enterprise]

Today, Rumsfeld said there would be no "ceasefire." Your article reminded me of what past administrations have done to undercut brave American fighting forces. When the enemy gets on the ropes, they have asked a "ceasefire" and we have caved. This gave the enemy time to rearm, resupply, and redeploy. At some point during the "ceasefire" the enemy fires on us, we respond, and the international media accuses us of violating the ceasefire. In addition, if we were to grant Iraq a ceasefire, they would use the time to force more men to battle, and time to grab 12 year old boys and shove an AK-47 in their hands and tell them if they won't fight their entire family will be executed.

I have no information at this time that Iraq has either requested a ceasefire or is considering asking for one. I am encouraged though that Rumsfeld is already prepared to reject any such request.

[Sabatier]

Obviously there is more to the story. Rumsfeld is a smart guy and I have faith in his judgments. Is it possible that he wanted to hold some troops in reserve knowing that the North Koreans could start up at any moment? And who's fault is it that our military is half the size that it was during the last Gulf War? Hmmm, who was in charge for eight of the intervening years? It wasn't Rumsfeld. Peters might want to at least mention the fact that if we're spread too thin in this conflict - and that's an "if" yet to be determined - it's because of policies conducted by the previous administration.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Good article. Thanks.

You know, it occurs to me that engaging fanaticism on foreign soils is something the Colonial British knew a fair bit about. In Africa, they were highly successful in spite of some disasterous engagements with the Zulu's and their likes.

In Kenya in the 1950's, the Mau-Mau uprising was a task with some similar elements such as the quasi-religious fanaticism embeded in the civil populace and the historical and cultural antecedents that supported the irregular actions, the guerrila actions and the ongoing terror offensive by the Mau-Mau's.

For the military historians here, this might be illuminating to review the British Empire's handling of these affairs for direction in this conflict.

Trying to please world opinion and anit-war media at home while subduing the Islamofascist scum is not the way to conduct this one.

[MamaLucci]

Thanks for that info, it makes this article look like stale hand wringing.

[DK Zimmerman]

Folks, I hate to break to those who don't know or understand matters militaire, but this guy is dead on and knows where of he speaks.

For starters, he is a retired LTC, Army. Two, he was MI and wrote more than one excellent and perceptive strategy/MI-based novel, before he retired. Since then, he has become a professionals' commentator (published in, among others, things like the Army War College's magazine). He has at least one article that is required reading in the Army War College course.

That does not make him infallible. However, if you were anywhere near the military environment, you could not dismiss/ignore him so blythely and be considered sane or rational on the subject. Near as I can tell, his is a fairly dispassionate, well reasoned article that hits dead center. And no, we're not related - never met the guy.

[Conspiracy Guy]

If they ask they will receive. I think to the man you'd hear "We're in it".