'Bring Em On'- Retiring General Franks Stands Behind President Bush's Words

ABC News Exclusive ^ | July 7, 2003 | Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer

[ewing]

General Tommy Franks leaves his top spot at United States Central Command repeating President Bush's taunt to Iraq militants: [on Good Morning America Live] 'Bring Em On.'

On his last day of his command, Franks told ABC News Good Morning America that he agreed with the President's comments, and he doesn't think that more United States Troops are needed to deal with the recent spate of attacks against Amercian forces.

'The fact is wherever we find criminals, death squads and so forth who are anxious to do damage to this country and to peace loving nations around the world, I absolutely agree with the President of the United States: 'Bring em on,' Franks said.

Franks, 57 who led US forces in the latest US -led war against Iraq, is retiring to spend more time with his family.

Despite the recent attacks on US Troops by Iraqis, Franks said he believed the current force of about 145,000 troops in Iraq is enough to cope with demand.

'The sense I have now is that it is not the time to send in additional troops,' Franks said in an interview with ABC News Diane Sawyer from US Central Command.

[ewing]

Eagles UP!

[bedolido]

Nice to have military men that support their President. What did that General say about Clinton? Draft-Dodging ...what?

[sam_paine]

Franks never made me feel as comfortable as Schwarzkopf.

I like him now.

[Southack]

[ewing]

Everyone is working on the same page.

[OhhTee5]

Liberals, like Clinton and his boot licks are such cowards. They absolutely hate men of honor and courage. That's why they hate this country so much.

Men of honor and courage is a harsh reminder to liberals of their cowardice...it makes liberals very uncomfortable. They want to be thought of as intellectual superiors that can think through a problem and not have to resort to violence, when in reality they are just scared little kids.

Problem is, there are many countries run by fanatics that don't care about so called "civilized" ways to resolve problems. They just launch airplanes into buildings and kill as many people as they can. They are animals who understand nothing but force. You can't reason with them, you can't sign peace treaties with them, you can only communicate in a way they understand. Brute force.

[ewing]

[capydick]

I wonder if that wuss charlie gibson crapped his pants upon hearing this.

[ewing]

And Clinton was protesting in Moscow against his own country while the same Generals were fighting and dying.

[ewing]

Diane Sawyer probably gasped audibly..

[hresources]

He's right. The best way to go is to train and army Iraqi Police and a new Iraqi Army. Also, just got word that the 4000 men of the 3d Brigade, 3d Infantry Division will be returning to Fort Benning GA between 9 and 13 July. Welcome home ceremonies will be held in Ft Benning Kelley Hill Gymnasium. 1st and 2nd Brigades should be returning to Ft Stewart Ga by end of August. 3d Bde has spent 12 of last 13 months in Kuwait/Iraq theatre. A lot of happy familes in Columbus/Ft Benning GA.

[Sabertooth]

Goading the resistance pockets to attack doesn't increase the danger, those confrontations are inherently dangerous.

Whatever Baath, al Qaeda, Shia resistance there is in Iraq will not change their ways unless confronted and killed. The sooner this happens, the sooner that phase of the liberation of the Iraqi people will be over, bringing closer the day when we can get our troops out of there.

[johnb838]

I thought he seemed like kind of a goober pre-Afghanistan campaign, but I think he's grown into the job and i like him a lot now. Good time to retire -- very much on a high note. He could have a political career if he wanted. He said once in an interview that I heard that "I think any country can control its borders if it wants to." The reference was to Syria, but I wondered if there was a sub-text that we could do it too.

[AnnaZ]

"KAKKATE KOI!"

[ewing]

Good to hear that thousands will be home with their families.

[rwfromkansas]

I was a bit leery of goading them into attacking us (when Bush said that I was not really thrilled by it), but your logic here makea a heck of a lot of sense.

The sooner the resistence comes out of hiding and tries to get us, the sooner we can regain control as we take them out.

Good point.

[joesnuffy]

Franks, 57 who led US forces in the latest US -led war against Iraq, is retiring to spend more time with his family.

One of the finest military men to serve..imo...too bad he feels the need to retire .. "to spend more time with his family".....

[capydick]

Did she? GMA has not been on in my house for a good 5 years now.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

There were actually a bunch of people on here who were breaking out in hives when President Bush said it. Personally, I dug it - especially when Gephardt responded that the POTUS should stop the "macho talk". (He certainly lived up to his nickname in that moment.)