Posted on 08/08/2004 10:54:18 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Former Iraq war commander Gen. Tommy Franks said Sunday that Sen. John Kerry is qualified to be commander-in-chief, rejecting criticism from more than 200 Vietnam veterans who served with Kerry and say he's unfit for command.
"I'm not a fan of hyperbole whether it is for or against Sen. Kerry," Gen. Franks told ABC's "This Week."
Asked specifically about allegations that Kerry fabricated some of his combat record, Franks said, "Yeah, I think it is hyperbole."
"For some reason we've fallen pray to a notion that says there has to be vitriol on order to simply say, I support Sen. Kerry, I support George W. Bush to remain president for the next four years."
Asked point blank if Kerry was qualified to be Commander-in-Chief, Franks said, "Absolutely."
The Iraq war chief was adressing allegations by Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, a group of Vietnam Veterans who served with Kerry who have chronicled evidence of his misconduct as a swiftboat commander in the new bestselling book, "Unfit for Command."
Gen. Franks said he was proud of being "fiercely independent" in his politics, but he told "This Week" that he's leaning towards supporting President Bush and acknowledged he's in talks with GOP planners for a possible address to the Republican Convention on Aug. 29.
Yes, I heard him say that this morning. Also, he is showing reluctance to speaking at the GOP convention. What gives?
He wants to be President. He watched Clarke almost get there and knowing he is the better man, he has his eyes set on the WH. Thats what the "fiercely independent" thing is all about. JMHO of course.
Franks sang a totally different song regarding Kerry while he was at the booksigning hosted by Sean Hannity. He clearly stated that the military would not be glad to have Kerry as commander in chief.
Franks also was quoted as saying he was disappointed at not being invited to the dem convention.
Guess he'll say anything to sell his book.
Isn't Gen Franks actions during the "Abu Graeb prison scandal" being questioned during these trials??? Maybe he blames Republicans in power.
Well, he is no longer in the military, the only constraint on what he can say is classified info non-disclosure. He has his own opinions, as it should be. He has seen the system top levels from the inside and might have formed an opinion that it is not that difficult to BE a leader, but it is very difficult to BECOME one.
Franks is an "independent", not a Republican.
He has very cautious views on the war, for a general. Not unlike Powell, except probably leaning back even more.
I think I read things at the time, that there have been disagreements between Rumsfeld and Franks. Rumsfeld had to push Franks to be more aggressive.
I didn't see Franks this morning, but I read his book. He seemed very loyal to President Bush in the book. Can you describe his reluctance to speak at the GOP convention? I really am trying to understand this.
I'm in favor of that. Judges and Generals should stay out of politics. We've already lost on the judges. Let's not make it worse.
Like it says - he is leaning towards Bush but he is probably not sure yet. He probably could go either way right now. In other words I think he is saying that if we keep up with the bashing on Kerry on Vietnam he just might give Kerry his vote. I wouldn't be surprised if he did anyway. At least this is what I am reading.
No he's not. He's negotiating to speak at the Convention, for heaven's sake. It's right there in the article.
I think Rumsfeld came out smelling like a rose in Franks's book. I was surprised and very pleased.
He wants to sell books.
What's to negotiate, unless your afraid they are going to ask you to endorse something?
Just how long did you serve with these Swifties to allow you to determine that their claims are hyperbole? Were you ever an officer in kerry's chain of command? I didn't think so.
As far as I'm concerned, your denunciation of these officers carries the same weight as McCain's -- absolutely none.
The book is very favorable to Bush, BTW.
"He wants to sell books."
I think you are right. It seems like Franks is working at being non-partisan in his comments in order to get more people to read the book, which is excellent.
I wish all the MSM and tv generals would read it. They'd learn a lot.
He served under Bush, if he hasn't made up his mind by now he's probably voting for Kerry....
And I will cancel his vote. That ought to frost an ex-general...
I, just a lowly citizen...totally canceling his vote. LOL!!
GTW, I think the TV generals come out looking like fools in Franks's book.
I really think Franks is going to vote for Bush. BTW, I think you and Mike might enjoy Franks's book, American Soldier, which is very supportive of Bush and makes a strong case for the invasion of Iraq.
Amazon hit parade:
1. The 9/11 Commission Report
by National Commission on Terrorist Attacks
2. A Matter Of Character
by Ronald Kessler
3. Unfit for Command
by John E. O'Neill, Jerome R. Corsi
4. American Soldier
by Tommy Franks, Malcolm McConnell
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/549066/ref=b_tn_bh_be/103-6185710-4023860
I'd like to vigorously (and respectfully) disagree. I just finished Franks' book a few hours ago. He doesn't say anything directly that supports the president or slams the Democrats. But from the indirect comments in his book it's obvious he has a bias in favor of Republicans.
I know he claims to be somewhat independent and open to both sides of a political argument -- I think what you're hearing is a very smart man who knows his principles, and and man who knows enough to present an appealing face to Democrats and moderates as well.
To me, Franks appears to be playing both sides of the fence and keeping his options open.
I might read it, but I doubt Mike will...he lived it.
If Franks cannot figure the difference between President Bush and jacka$$ Kerry, then I have lost respect for him. Maybe this General had little to do with the Iraq war and it was the foot soldiers who were lead by LT, Sgt, etc. that won the war for him. He is beginning to look like a flake to me.
He's just being cautious. It's not impossible that Kerry is his Commander in Chief and could make life miserable for him.
What's wrong with someone giving his honest evaluation when asked a question? These latest attacks on Kerry are going nowhere fast based on comments on television and elsewhere. Perhaps Franks does want to be president. If so, he must come across as intellectually honest. Strictly speaking, Kerry IS qualified. So is Bush. In the end it will come down to whether or not we believe one or the other is more effective in fighting terrorism. That is what will determine who wins on November 2, 2004. All of this other stuff is just a side show. People tune this stuff out. They have made it perfectly clear that negative campaigning is not what they want to hear. The good and successful politician recognizes those facts and tells the people what he is for or against and doesn't make it personal. I believe the record will show that Bush didn't run a campaign of negativity toward Gore. Would I be wrong?
I sent the book to my son without any comments from me and will wait to see what he thinks of it all.
He's a brilliant guy and he has good, strong opinions about his politics. That's crystal clear from his book -- it's not explicitly hostile toward Democrats, yet on every page he's putting forth ideas that makes him basically sound like a freeper. If he chooses to downplay the strenghts of his convictions right now, there's a good reason.
I'd love to see him enter politics -- men of his caliber are always in short supply.
If I were selling a book, I would be too, especially if the book was mostly favorable to the Bush administration.
Franks reminds me of the little game Powell played when he was hawking his book. Maybe I will vote for Bush, or Kerry. Maybe I will run for President or not.......
Franks said on Hannity last week, that he HAS decided who to vote for, just NOT when to announce it. Hannity asked "Who are you leaning towards"? Franks laughed, and responded, " I am leaning towards George W. Bush!
His publisher reqires him to remain independent, until after his book has been shipped in numbers.
LLS
Well, to hell with Franks too!
Opinions are like rectums-everybody has one, Frank's isn't worth any more than any one else'.
How come everyone is writing books lately, anyway ?
I think Franks can figure out the difference just fine. My respect for him very high and fully intact.
In politics (like war) there are times when it's smart to not tip your hand to your opponent -- Gen. Franks knows this maybe better than anyone on the planet.
Franks is retired.....no need to worry about Kerry being his CinC.
Rats don't buy books by war generals....
The Swifties deserve better from the General IMHO, particularly since one of them, who knew Kerry, whom Kerry served under, and who himself is a retired general officer, has indicated directly that Kerry is unfit for command. IMHO, that deserves something more from Franks than a summary dismissal.
Just my opinion on the matter though.
...the controversay would probably end up selling more books anyway.
I don't believe Franks was ever allowed into the Iraqi theatre.
Seems like everyone is "Cashing In" by writing books. Its money and no other reason. You can make some real good money writing a best seller.
Yeah, I enjoyed those parts of the book. He really does a devestating job of mocking the whole news media establishment, including their reliance on TV generals.
The exception, of course, was the "embedded reporter" program. I think everyone agrees that programs was a smashing success at getting real information out to the public.
One thing is funny about his mockery of the press -- he notes how press errors sometimes gave him heartburn, while other times the errors were quite helpful.
One reporter said we had 16 AC-130's attacking an objective in Afghanistan. Franks said he was thrilled -- it was tough for them to put more than one AC-130 on any target, and now the enemy would think we could supply 16 at a time! Remember all that bogus reporting from Iraq about how our forces were "paused" and "bogged down"? The Iraqis heard those reports and believed them -- giving our forces a great opportunity to kill them from the air while they took their own opportunity to "pause" and re-group as well.
Everybody is running scared from the Swiftboat Veterans. Kinda makes you think they're on to something. Even the Fox panel says this will be a non story by Labor Day.
Franks is way off on this one. Kerry is not fit, unless Franks thinks putting the US military under the control of the blood for oil money club is somehow a good thing.
Now there's no need to be mean here. Of course he was "allowed" into the theatre and he did great work.
Since he was the overall commander of land, sea and air forces, he was also carefull to give subordinate commanders (like Lieutenant-General McKiernan, the ground forces commander) the freedom to do their jobs right.
I saw the interview as well. Franks said he had not decided who he was voting for but was leaning towards GWB.
I kinda figure those who don't want Kerry's closet dug into too deeply probably don't want theirs dug into too deeply either...
imo
Yeah, I remembered he is retired after I posted that. Thanks.
The convention starts August 30.
I can't believe some think Franks ought to be drawn into personally bashing Kerry or explicitly backing or denouncing the vets. So he says he thinks it's hyperbole. So what? If Kerry's records get released he'll be positioned, if asked AGAIN, to say how stunned he is.
Wait a monute....I hear him say last week that IF Kerry is telling the truth about his status as Vietnam War Hero, he's qualified. You mean he Franks didn't use that caveat this time?
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