Posted on 05/25/2004 12:38:07 PM PDT by Rams82
Tom Clancy new book criticises Iraq war May 26, 2004
A celebrated author with many admirers in the military has criticised the US-led invasion of Iraq, citing it as proof that "good men make mistakes".
Tom Clancy also said he almost "came to blows" with a leading war supporter, former Pentagon adviser Richard Perle.
The hawkish master of such million-selling thrillers as Patriot Games and The Hunt for Red October has added his own name to critics of the Iraq war, and not only through his own comments.
His latest book, Battle Ready, is a collaboration with another war critic, retired Marine General Anthony Zinni.
Battle Ready looks at Zinni's long military career, dating back to the Vietnam War, and includes harsh remarks by Zinni about the current conflict.
In an interview today with The Associated Press, Clancy and Zinni sat side by side in a hotel conference room in Manhattan, mutual admirers who said they agreed on most issues, despite "one or two" spirited "discussions" during the book's planning.
Zinni has openly attacked the war, but Clancy reluctantly acknowledged his own concerns. He declined repeatedly to comment on the war, before saying that it lacked a "casus belli," or suitable provocation.
"It troubles me greatly to say that, because I've met President (George W) Bush," Clancy said. "He's a good guy. ... I think he's well-grounded, both morally and philosophically. But good men make mistakes."
Battle Ready was published in the United States today with a first printing of 438,700. It is the fourth in Clancy's "Commanders" series, in which military leaders reflect on their careers and discuss military strategy.
"In the movies, military leaders are all drunken Nazis," said Clancy, who has worked on books about retired General Chuck Horner, who led US Central Command Air Forces during the Gulf War, and retired General Carl Stiner, whose missions included the capture of Panama leader Manuel Noriega.
"In fact, these are very bright people who regard the soldiers and Marines under them as their own kids. I thought the people needed to know about that. These are good guys, and smart guys."
Zinni served as commander in chief of the US Central Command from 1997 to 2000 and as a special Middle East envoy from 2001-2003.
But even as an envoy, Zinni spoke out against invading Iraq, regarding it as disastrous for Middle East peace and a distraction from the war against terrorism. Today, he said getting rid of Saddam Hussein was not worth the price.
"He's a bad guy. He's a terrible guy and he should go," Zinni said.
"But I don't think it's worth 800 troops dead, 4500 wounded - some of them terribly - $US200 billion ($286.8 billion) of our treasury and counting, and our reputation and our image in the world, particularly in that region, shattered."
In discussing the Iraq war, both Clancy and Zinni singled out the Department of Defence for criticism.
Clancy recalled a prewar encounter in Washington during which he "almost came to blows" with Richard Perle, a Pentagon adviser at the time and a longtime advocate of the invasion.
Zzzzzzz.
Another book peddler.
Yea, I'm a good man. And I've made mistakes.
I'll readily correct at least one mistake by passing on any more of Clancy's books....
He's entitled to his opinion. But it never ceases to amaze me how many "Cold War"-types, who saw the Russian threat, just don't get it with terrorism. Apparently, it's not only the generals who fight the last war, but the authors, too.
On this one I'll have to depart with Clancy. Situated between Iran and Syria, Iraq had become a hotbed of terrorist activity, with it's leader actually paying Palestinian families of suicide bombers. Hussein was passing around his funds to some pretty unsavory groups. He had to go.
Afghanistan is coming along. Iraq will too. It is disturbing to watch the lack of patience for this all to play out.
The short attention span of the American Sheeple is frightening.
Osama predicted we wouldn't have the stomach for a protracted fight...
Books? What are those. LOL
"Clancy recalled a prewar encounter in Washington during which he "almost came to blows" with Richard Perle, a Pentagon adviser at the time and a longtime advocate of the invasion."
Somehow I just can't believe this one...
It did have a casus belli, everything was by the book. They could have gone in at any time following the Gulf War.
The boy was a Clinton Kiss up.
The last few times I have seen clancey, he has an arrogant SOB.
This is another book I won't buy.
Well that makes two for you Tom. This one and your relationship with general "Sell-Em Out Zinni".
I support W more than ever and I (I'm a 20yr+ Army employee)am starting to feel that my Army has let my president down. Todays soldier is the best anyone has ever fielded but as for the brass, I've seen too many bad decisions, too much reluctance to face bad news and too much blame shifting and ass-covering in peacetime to believe that it hasn't become part of the culture.
This is every bit as smart as a country music group criticizing GW. Who does this bozo think his audience is, a bunch of whining, myopic demoRATS? I predict a major flop. Clancy, and all the rest of the blind whiners, can kiss my a**. Yeah, such a bad idea, putting a friendly democracy in the midst of our enemies. Not worth it? What a moron. As for our reputation, it was always us and our fair-weather friends, excepting Britain, and our "reputation" was always just one policy disagreement away from being trashed, anyway. The U.S. trying to gain Eurotrash support is about as easy as a Republican president getting democRAT support: undo-able.
I totally agree. Clancy's work has been steadily going down hill for some time now.
His last book consisted of hundreds of pages used to setup the story, followed by a dozen or so pages of action. One would think after reading it that Clancy intentionally tried to gloss-over the climax of the whole book.
Never again will I waste my time with the man's writing. How can his books be that long, and yet have dozens of loose ends from various plot lines at the end? Based on the rumors, it may simply be a case of Clancy using cheaper ghost writers these days...
Fletcher J
Well, whaddya' expect from an ex-real estate salesman.
Clancy was on Hannity last night and made an idiot of himself by trying to impress all with how intelligent he himself is while trying to trip up Sean with his reply.
Who knows what in the world he was saying? Such a pompous man. He does not care how much he helps trash Bush as long as he gets the book deal. Well - this person will sure not buy it.
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