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Soldiers and Marines march to admirals' orders
St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 16 JUNE 2007 | Harry Levins

Posted on 06/17/2007 2:04:11 PM PDT by radar101

In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the heavy lifting falls to the soldiers and Marines on the ground. So why are all the key command jobs going to sailors?

In March, Navy Adm. William Fallon took over the top spot at the U.S. Central Command. He replaced a soldier, Gen. John Abizaid. Now, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen stands poised to take over as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He'll replace a Marine, Gen. Peter Pace.

Well, that figures. The Navy tends to operate by itself, out at sea.

Besides, says Owens, naval officers tend to see more of the world than their ground counterparts. . His conclusion: "You're more likely to get geopolitical thinkers from the Navy than you are from the Army or Marine Corps."

He gets a second from military writer (and retired Army officer) Ralph Peters, author of the soon-to-be-released "Wars of Blood and Faith." But Peters sees a darker side to the recent rise of the admirals.

"They're doing it because a Navy guy is the only one who can get confirmed in the Senate," Peters said.

He quickly adds, "Don't get me wrong. Mullen has great credentials."

But if Peters were choosing a new chief, he'd pick the same man as Owens: Marine Lt. Gen. James Mattis.

So why was Mattis passed over? Says Peters: "He's too blunt, too honest, too much of a fighter. That's the last thing Washington wants."

(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 06/17/2007 2:04:15 PM PDT by radar101
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To: radar101

This is why.

Commander’s veto sank Gulf buildup (Admiral Fallon opposes military move against Iran?)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1834992/posts

Top US War Boss: We Can’t Ignore Iran [No other way but “arrangement” with Iran.]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840806/posts

Military action in Iran not in anyones interest, says Gates
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1843874/posts

Gates declines to say who is winning war on terror
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1844996/posts


2 posted on 06/17/2007 2:09:08 PM PDT by familyop (cbt. engr. [(cbt.)--has-been])
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To: radar101

They have to do what Commander-in-Chief Rice tells them to do. And some of her advice comes from the Board that Thompson is on.


3 posted on 06/17/2007 2:11:51 PM PDT by familyop (cbt. engr. [(cbt.)--has-been])
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To: radar101
I don't want somebody leading me who thinks about the repurcussions of walking into a mosque to kill a sniper, or the right way to say "I surrender" without looking weak. I want somebody who knows how to kick ass and take names, somebody who know how to defeat and keep down the enemy in the Area of Operation. How many ports do Iraq and Afghanistan have? Not enough to warrant a squid leading a ground force.
4 posted on 06/17/2007 2:12:51 PM PDT by SoldierMedic (Rowan Walter, 23 Feb 2007)
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To: familyop
"He's too blunt, too honest, too much of a fighter."

Of course he is. He's a Marine

5 posted on 06/17/2007 2:14:04 PM PDT by llevrok (“No more nice guys in the WH! I want a real SOB in there!” - R. Limbaugh)
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To: familyop; freema; A.A. Cunningham
Remember the uproar from the media about this statement that should have been greeted with applause? Can't have our warriors being too warlike...


6 posted on 06/17/2007 2:16:17 PM PDT by RedRover (Defend our Marines)
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To: RedRover

Yep. This is why they are Marines.

Eleanor Roosevelt, communist that she was, thought the Marines were “brutes”.

Dumb ass liberals like Eleanor Roosevelt and the lot of them today just do not understand it. Marines are good at what they do, because they can do what must be done when it needs doing.


7 posted on 06/17/2007 2:20:02 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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James Mattis: No better friend, no worse enemy.

8 posted on 06/17/2007 2:20:33 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham
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To: RedRover

BUMP!

Was going to ping you.


9 posted on 06/17/2007 2:21:55 PM PDT by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: radar101

I don’t give a crap what any of them say. Gen. Pace is a good man, and a damned fine Marine.


10 posted on 06/17/2007 2:23:04 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: A.A. Cunningham

As is Mattis. He would have this ex-squid’s vote.


11 posted on 06/17/2007 2:23:36 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: radar101
He's too blunt, too honest, too much of a fighter. That's the last thing Washington wants."

It takes a fighter to put an end to fight. If Harry Truman had listened to Douglas MacArthur we wouldn't be worrying about N Korea having nukes.

12 posted on 06/17/2007 2:24:18 PM PDT by oyez
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To: rlmorel

“The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!” Eleanor Roosevelt


13 posted on 06/17/2007 2:27:17 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham
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To: A.A. Cunningham

Sounds like Eleanor really tried to sound patriotic, but the commie shined through.


14 posted on 06/17/2007 2:35:19 PM PDT by SolidWood (Gaza delenda est.)
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To: RedRover

Isn’t that General Matis the CG at Campen?

W


15 posted on 06/17/2007 2:48:46 PM PDT by WLR
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To: WLR

Indeed it is.


16 posted on 06/17/2007 2:53:31 PM PDT by RedRover (Defend our Marines)
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To: radar101

More rubble, less trouble.


17 posted on 06/17/2007 3:00:55 PM PDT by ArtyFO (I love to smoke cigars when I adjust artillery fire at the moonbat loonery.)
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To: radar101

There are also white hats fighting in the mountains in Afghanistan.
You can’t put the various military branches in a seperate cube as in previous wars.
There is much inter division then in the past.


18 posted on 06/17/2007 3:01:18 PM PDT by SoCalPol (Duncan Hunter '08 Tough on WOT & Illegals)
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To: SolidWood
Sounds like Eleanor really tried to sound patriotic, but the commie shined through.

Hmmm. Franklin? Marine?
Who to choose? Who do I choose?

19 posted on 06/17/2007 3:02:04 PM PDT by llevrok (“No more nice guys in the WH! I want a real SOB in there!” - R. Limbaugh)
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To: familyop

Uh, Rice answers to Bush. She’s not autonomous. The $hit has to be up the hill before it can roll down.


20 posted on 06/17/2007 3:16:45 PM PDT by gcruse
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