Tommy Franks: War of Words

Nytimes ^ | Oct 19 | Tommy Franks

[mtp]

War of Words By TOMMY FRANKS

resident Bush and Senator John Kerry have very different views of the war on terrorism, and those differences ought to be debated in this presidential campaign. But the debate should focus on facts, not distortions of history.

On more than one occasion, Senator Kerry has referred to the fight at Tora Bora in Afghanistan during late 2001 as a missed opportunity for America. He claims that our forces had Osama bin Laden cornered and allowed him to escape. How did it happen? According to Mr. Kerry, we "outsourced" the job to Afghan warlords. As commander of the allied forces in the Middle East, I was responsible for the operation at Tora Bora, and I can tell you that the senator's understanding of events doesn't square with reality.

First, take Mr. Kerry's contention that we "had an opportunity to capture or kill Osama bin Laden" and that "we had him surrounded." We don't know to this day whether Mr. bin Laden was at Tora Bora in December 2001. Some intelligence sources said he was; others indicated he was in Pakistan at the time; still others suggested he was in Kashmir. Tora Bora was teeming with Taliban and Qaeda operatives, many of whom were killed or captured, but Mr. bin Laden was never within our grasp.

Second, we did not "outsource" military action. We did rely heavily on Afghans because they knew Tora Bora, a mountainous, geographically difficult region on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is where Afghan mujahedeen holed up for years, keeping alive their resistance to the Soviet Union. Killing and capturing Taliban and Qaeda fighters was best done by the Afghan fighters who already knew the caves and tunnels.

Third, the Afghans weren't left to do the job alone. Special forces from the United States and several other countries were there, providing tactical leadership and calling in air strikes. Pakistani troops also provided significant help - as many as 100,000 sealed the border and rounded up hundreds of Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

Contrary to Senator Kerry, President Bush never "took his eye off the ball" when it came to Osama bin Laden. The war on terrorism has a global focus. It cannot be divided into separate and unrelated wars, one in Afghanistan and another in Iraq. Both are part of the same effort to capture and kill terrorists before they are able to strike America again, potentially with weapons of mass destruction. Terrorist cells are operating in some 60 countries, and the United States, in coordination with dozens of allies, is waging this war on many fronts.

As we planned for potential military action in Iraq and conducted counterterrorist operations in several other countries in the region, Afghanistan remained a center of focus. Neither attention nor manpower was diverted from Afghanistan to Iraq. When we started Operation Iraqi Freedom we had about 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, and by the time we finished major combat operations in Iraq last May we had more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan.

We are committed to winning this war on all fronts, and we are making impressive gains. Afghanistan has held the first free elections in its history. Iraq is led by a free government made up of its own citizens. By the end of this year, NATO and American forces will have trained 125,000 Iraqis to enforce the law, fight insurgents and secure the borders. This is in addition to the great humanitarian progress already achieved in Iraq.

Many hurdles remain, of course. But the gravest danger would result from the withdrawal of American troops before we finish our work. Today we are asking our servicemen and women to do more, in more places, than we have in decades. They deserve honest, consistent, no-spin leadership that respects them, their families and their sacrifices. The war against terrorism is the right war at the right time for the right reasons. And Iraq is one of the places that war must be fought and won. George W. Bush has his eye on that ball and Senator John Kerry does not.

Tommy Franks, a retired general and former commander in chief of the Central Command, is the author of "American Soldier." He is a member of Veterans for Bush

[js1138]

I have been saying for some time that Kerry's comments on Tora Bora are the stupidest thing he's ever said. Stupider even than 1971.

I can't believe it's taken this long for someone to call him on it. Maybe it's being saved for the last week.

But anyone who think he can out-general Tommy Franks is psychotic.

[jwalsh07]

Tommy Franks is making a lot of friends on the right side of the abll and I'm one of them. He's standing tall and looking good.

[SE Mom]

God I love this man. Thank you General Franks and HOOAH!

[LTGStonewall]

I hope that in some way shape or form we get to see more of Tommy Franks in the future. He is a great leader who still has a lot to offer this country.

[Se7eN]

Words from a wise man. Unlike that sham Weasley Clark.

[boxerblues]

What took you so long to speak up Gen Franks? We all knew sKerry was lying

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Go Tommy Franks. I have heard him several times on Sean Hannity's show, and he is great. I just hope that some of the DUmmies are paying attention. I also hope the Generals message gets out to those still being called undecided, and to those who's minds can still be changed to not vote for Kerry.

[SubMareener]

FRANKS/RICE 2008!

[DJ MacWoW]

ping

[KC_Conspirator]

I am tired of Kerry citing the same 3-4 generals that support him. They are liberal flunkies. The same people always mentioned (Clark, Kennedy, Shinseki,ans some air force general). Bush has probably got an 8-1 advantage in this area.

[Dems_R_Losers]

This is great.....but I fear that not enough people will see it due to the neutral headline. It should be titled "Kerry's Lies About Tora Bora."

The Kerry "campaign" will ignore this, just like they not only ignored Paul Bremer's NYT column, they continue to use the misquotes of him in their TV ads! Facts are not going to stand in the way of this "campaign."

[Skywarner]

General Franks telling it like it is. I also liked how he mentioned that we've been conducting operations in other ME areas besides Afghanistan and Iraq.

Franks understands that Afghanistan and Iraq are campaigns in the global war.

[Senator_Blutarski]

Imagine the press coverage this story would get if General Tommy Franks were critical of Bush rather than Kerry

[mattdono]

Well, I heard him shooting this down the night that Kerry brought it up. I just don't think that the MSM has been covering his comments. Big f*cking surprise there.

[mattdono]

Bump.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Tommy, Tommy, you just don't understand.

It's not about truth.

It's about hating George W. Bush.

[Deaf Smith]

Just finished Tommy Frank's book American Soldier two weeks ago...a good read.

[mattdono]

Then do something about it...

EMAIL JIHAD PING

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[mattdono]

EMAIL JIHAD PING

What is the hell is the Email Jihad? Read here...

A pre-formatted HTML file of the above article is available for emailing to everyone you know.

It is the way that you can make a difference in this election and in this country.

To download the above article as a pre-formatted HTML file ...

1. Right click here
2. Select "Save Target As..." (or "Save File As...", depending on your browser)
3. Save the file to a directory on your hard drive.

To make a difference ...

1. Open up your favorite email program (Outlook, Thunderbird,
2. Start a new email message
3. Address it to all of your contacts
4. Click "Send"

NOTE: If you want to protect the privacy of your family and friends on your email list, put the addressees into the BCC field.

Any questions >> FREEPMAIL me | Email me | Instant Message me (ICQ: 20880403 -- AIM: mattdono)

[hawkaw]

What took you so long to speak up Gen Franks? We all knew sKerry was lying

Not true. Frank's was on CNN the evening of the first debate saying the exact same thing about sKerry's Tora Bora statement is wrong. He was also on many other TV interviews explaining the same thing as well.

The problem was that the MSM decided to ignore Franks and start telling the world that Bush43 lost the 1st debate.

[jmstein7]

Nice op-ed.

[jmstein7]

If only Franks would film an ad for the Prez.

[Woogit]

I'm amazed it made it into the New York Times! I hope it is picked up by papers everywhere!

[eyespysomething]

FRANKS/RICE 2008!

Hmmm...I would look into that choice, but how do they feel about the rampant growth of the federal gov't?

[Prost1]

"I can't believe it's taken this long for someone to call him on it. Maybe it's being saved for the last week."

Agree!

[Liberalism=MentalDisorder]

I am reading Franks' book, its excellent, I recommend it to all! I do think however, that Franks is no fan of Rumsfeld- even though he tippy toes around this issue in the book(as a good solde I have heard from Ralph Peters that Franks fought Rumsfeld tooth and nail for more troops in Iraq. Lets just say that Rummy is not at all popular within military circles.

[Ghost in the Machine]

It's kind of a side-argument, but can someone explain to me why it's a good idea to refer to our local allies in these wars "warlords"? Isn't it like insulting our current alliance by calling them "the coalition of the coerced and bribed?"

[boxerblues]

Not true. Frank's was on CNN the evening of the first debate saying the exact same thing about sKerry's Tora Bora statement is wrong. He was also on many other TV interviews explaining the same thing as well.

I dont watch CNN and I honestly have not heard much that Franks has been out there smacking sKerry down.

[hawkaw]

I wish I had Fox news but I don't. Instead I have no choice but CNN or another MSM station. But, yes Franks has been out there - just ignored for the most part - sadly.

[SE Mom]

"I'm amazed it made it into the New York Times! I hope it is picked up by papers everywhere!"

Not amazed really- it's an op-ed piece. Imagine what the general would have told the world if he'd called the NYT and said he had an op-ed piece to contribute and they'd said "No, thanks, General"!!!!!!!!! Come to think of it- THAT would have been even better (smirk)

[DTogo]

BTTT!!

[DTogo]

FYI Ping!

[prairiebreeze]

In order to be even 1/10th the "expert" he makes himself out to be and make these outrageous claims, Jean Francois Kerry should have personally VISITED Afghanistan like other Congressmen and Senators have. He didn't.

John Kerry hasn't once to my recollection even spoken to a group of currently enlisted soldiers.

John Kerry is Unfit For Command.

Prairie

[SubMareener]

If you read his book you will find out that Tommy Franks is for what works. Big Government doesn't work. ERGO...

[Tern]

Ranting Profs blog:

WHAT HAPPENED AT TORA BORA; WORST HEADLINE EVER

The Times gives space on the oped page to General Tommy Franks, former Combatant Commander of CentCom, to answer the charges that Senator Kerry has been making on the trail regarding the conduct of the fighting at Tora Bora in Afghanistan. Why, in God's name, they title this piece, "War of Words," is anyone's guess.

I've heard him make these arguments in interviews, but it's useful to have him present them in a more accessible piece of real estate just the same. Actually, and oddly, I think he's been more effective in some of those interviews, because he's made additional arguments that are missing from the written version. Here he defends the actions that were taken. In interviews I've also seen him argue that trying to attack Tora Bora exclusively with large numbers of American troops would have failed.

It's also clear from what he writes here that he sees Iraq the way the administration does, as a second front in the GWOT, a battle in a larger war and not a distinct war...

Read the blog for the rest.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

I don't think that General Franks thinks too highly of Senator Kerry....

[lilmsdangrus]

btt

[FlashBack]

With all the rumblings about Sec.Rumsfeld would Gen.Franks be up for a new assignment??
Rumsfeld's War was a good read...I've just gotten Franks' book and will be delving into it soon!!
Not knocking Mr. Rumsfeld here...I think he's done an outstanding job, but there has been alot of back-biting about him, if President Bush and Sec. Rumsfeld part ways in a second term I'm just wondering who would fill his shoes?

[Seaplaner]

General Tommy Ray Franks concludes that our Servicemen and women, "...deserve honest, consistent, no-spin leadership that respects them, their families and their sacrifices. The war against terrorism is the right war at the right time for the right reasons. And Iraq is one of the places that war must be fought and won. George W. Bush has his eye on that ball and Senator John Kerry does not."

I get the mental image of the General looking at us directly in the eyes.

[OXENinFLA]

PING.....

[Nan48]

I wonder how long it will take for the liberal left to realize that they've been had.

[js1138]

Thirteen days, by my count.

[SandRat]

Squeeze that pimple Tommy!

[OXENinFLA]

Thanks, That's one of my own creations...


}:o)