Not sure if all of you know Hackworth, but, in the past he has been considered a respected military anaylist. However in the last year or so he has appeared to ramble about issues and sometimes says things that leaves the reader to question him.
As a military officer, I find Hackworth's behavior to be increasingly bizzare. Not sure why he is acting this way, but my respect for the man diminishes more and more with each of his comments. Quite a shame.
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I didn't even know that it was possible to flunk the Officer Basic Course. Of course, the arty branch probably has a lot more to cover than AMEDD.
While there exists a radio scum who wouldn't know honesty or integrity if they bit him on the ankle and who claims to hold the title of truth detector, Hack is the real deal when it comes to ferreting out the straight skinny when it affects the well-being and survival of the guys who are where the bullets are whizzing by. From grunt to battlefield commanders, Hack knows where every would-be secret is to be found and will uncover every nefarious misfeasence of commanders and DOD civilians who think that the lives of the young troops are on the line solely to advance the careers and political asperations of the brass and civilian neo-cons.
Early on, Hack saw the SecDef for the egomaniac that he has demonstrated to the discerning public to be. He also pegged the current JCS as a bunch of yes-men who would tell the SecDef and the hell-bent to invade Iraq POTUS anything they thought the big guys wanted to hear if it might enhance their already august positions.
Hackworth is the type of leader who should be CinC and running these far flung conflicts vis-a-vis the current gang that couldn't shoot straight we now are forced to suffer.
Hackworth has become disturbed and is disturbing because he's a blowhard who cynically believes everything awful about the military even though it's been his ticket to fame.
Right now, I'd say that Mr. Hackworth is an unguided missile. I used to have a lot of respect for him, but after his trashing of the swift boat vets and totally refusing to even hear evil of Mr. Kerry (in spite of an abundance of evidence to the contrary), I don't think much of him as an objective observer. More like a partisan Hack...for what its worth.