Generals weary of low troop levels (Novak: Pentagon generals won't vote for Bush)

suntimes.com ^ | April 8, 2004 | ROBERT NOVAK

[Heatseeker]

I said in another thread we need several more divisions, but this in the article caught my eye:

A former national security official considers the relationship at the Pentagon between civilians and the military as worse than at any time in his long career.

That sounds like a certain guy who Bob Kerrey kept mistaking Condi for, earlier today.

[TrueBeliever9]

It is going to take some time for me to get some feedback on this article - because everyone is very busy right now - but I look forward to the responses!

[xzins]

Rumsfeld has this dream that the capability of a division today is the equivalent of a corps of a decade ago. Maybe with the land/air coordination today he's right.

So, he wants to transform the army into a brigade focused organization. This article mentions turning the same number of people in the 3rd Inf division into 5 fighting brigades instead of 3.

I think that works in terms of fighting the battlefield because our force is so overwhelming.

I'm not sure it works with occupation because one issue in occupation is presence. You've gotta have enough boots on the ground so they know you're present and WATCHING.

[TrueBeliever9]

Sorry for jumping on you Destro, truly! I just get so enraged when I read this poppycock!

[anniegetyourgun]

There you go again....making sense.....

[CasearianDaoist]

It take over a billion dollar and a year and a half to stand up one division. The sort of overmatch we have now leads to situations were a BCT can take on a couple of division and relatively lightly armed MAGTF from the USMC take on whole regular army corps.

When you here stuff like this you should know that there are usually three things behind it: 1) suck money from current procurement and R $ D (cannot be better than anyone else, or so the Rats think,) 2) Bring back the draft (the Dems want to politically corrupt the one institution that they have not yet gotten their filthy mitts on,) and 3) embarrass the administration.

I guarantee you that Novak does not know the opinion of the E-ring Army Brass or the lower flag ranks. At best he was talking to Clinton era generals which would not vote Republican anyway and in any case will quickly be shown the door. These are the same folks that gave the Army tose purdy black hats. A radical restructuring of the Armed forces is long overdue and some people get their feet step on.

Also, we a have never had a 10 million man army in all of our history.

They are doing fine, it is just that little Democrat mole Novak trying to sound important and insightful. He is neither.

[Jim Noble]

Rumsfeld hasn't helped matters by steadfastly insisting we don't need to reactivate any of those lost divisions

My opinion about what is required to fight this war is so at variance with the leadership that it sounds insane. I am willing to accept that I may be very wrong (but not insane).

The "lost divisions" are not nearly adequate (IMO) to the task at hand. We are not going to find (IMO)normal, healthy societies in Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq to be our friends once we knock off their corrupt leaders.

We are going (IMO) to have to forcibly compel obedience to civilized norms on the part of entire populations of Islamic savages, and we are going to have to do so until our teachers and our schools have brought up their grandchildren.

The occupation of Arabia and SW Asia for fifty years will require an Army of ten million, at least.

[Jim Noble]

And the operational goal. DoD doesnt *want* to be the policemen of Iraq, get Iraqis to do that

I know what they don't want.

their job, however, is not to fulfill their wants, but rather to do what is required to attain victory.

[onedoug]

An Army of One?

[Catalonia]

When did Bob Novak become Moby?

[philosofy123]

It has been reported before that Rumsfeld abrasive personality has rubbed many general the wrong way. Novak is an old fashion Republican, and should not be ridiculed for reporting what he hears. Apparently he has more access to the big movers and shakers than most of us. Republicans should not fight and ridicule each others - that was Reagan's famous recommendation.

[Hank Rearden]

Can you please explain to me how you drew this conclusion?

Did you even bother to read the article? Especially the end?

Lots of kneejerk ostrich-action on this and other threads. We've got a problem, and it's not going away.

[Bobber58]

wannabe

[ninenot]

It will be interesting to see if the Washington Times' military correspondents weigh in on this question.

If the WashTimes confirm's Novak's opinion, that's bad news.

[CalKat]

What makes you think he said they're voting for Kerry? The article clearly states the generals have no intention of voting for Kerry.

[el_texicano]

"Now I'm absolutely convinced that Novak is full of cow chips."

Well, (ahem) personally I think it's a bit fresher than that and has a lot of steam and odor coming off of it.

[jpsb]

No there are three choices. Vote Kerry, Vote Bush, stay home drink beer and watch TV.

[John Lenin]

Novak is a secret operative of the RAT party. I can't stand the guy, he is a phoney.

[vandykelastone]

This one is to Novak: every time I have ever seen you on the TV you are masquerading as a person who supports the Right, thus giving a great break to the dumocrats. Why don't you just go right over to SnakeFace Carville's side and get it over with? You are definitely a way more trouble than you are worth. Still working for CNN? I didn't think there was that much money.

[verity]

But they say they are unable to vote for Don Rumsfeld's boss, and so will not vote at all.

Two jerkoffs not selected for promotion!