or better to have you mom wander around like a fool hugging thugs, scam artists, and using your sacrifice to pander to the liberal moonies...
Posted on 11/09/2006 3:43:13 PM PST by MadIvan
Half of America and the upper echelons of the US military may be cheering Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation from the post of Defence Secretary, but there was no rejoicing yesterday among those most directly affected by his decisions: the frontline soldiers in Iraq.
Troops expressed little pleasure at the departure of the man responsible for their protracted deployment to a hostile country where at least 2,800 of their comrades have died.
Indeed some members of the 101st Airborne Division and other troops approached by The Times as they prepared to fly home from Baghdad airport yesterday expressed concern that Robert Gates, Mr Rumsfeld’s successor, and the Democrat-controlled Congress, might seek to wind down their mission before it was finished.
Mr Rumsfeld “made decisions, he stuck with them and he did what he thought was right whether people agreed with it, liked it, or not”, said Staff Sergeant Frank Notaro. He insisted that Iraq was better off now than before the war.
Staff Sergeant Michael Howard said: “It’s a blow to the military. He was a good Secretary of Defence. He kept us focused. He kept the leaders focused. It’s going to be hard to fill his shoes.”
But one US Army Colonel, who did not want to be named, said that such positive views were uncommon in the higher ranks of the US military. “We are the ones closer to the problem. We are the ones who have the broader picture,” he said.
The Colonel criticised Mr Rumsfeld for sending too few troops to Iraq, and for refusing to listen to the advice of his generals. He noted that General Eric Shinseki, the former US Army Chief of Staff, was sacked for demanding more troops, while General John Abizaid, Central Command’s commander, was the only general to have differed publicly with Mr Rumsfeld and survived.
Certainly the rank-and-file are trained not to question the decisions of their superiors. “We don’t question why we’re sent here. Our job is to do what we’re told and we do it with pride,” said Sergeant Jason Gomez, a military policeman. When pressed, some also admitted that to question Mr Rumsfeld’s execution of the war would raise doubts about the value of their mission and of their comrades’ deaths.
“I try to keep positive. That’s what keeps you going,” said Sergeant Daniel Allen of the 101st, who has lost three friends during his two tours in Iraq. “When you lose someone close to you, it’s hard to say whether [their deaths] were worthwhile or not. I like to believe so, especially for their families’ sake.”
But these men are also some of the last believers — people who are still convinced that Iraq can survive its present violence to become a stable democracy. “We’re losing a lot of people over here, but they’re not dying in vain,” insisted Sergeant Gomez.
Sergeant Ron Carter of the 101st said: “It’s a bad situation. It's a tough situation. But I think [Rumsfeld] probably did the right thing for the right reasons. Maybe it could have been a bit better planned, but helping people who were suffering: that’s a good reason.”
Major Mike Jason, who has been advising an Iraqi battalion for the past year, said it remained to be seen how Mr Rumsfeld would be judged. “I hope history will judge that we did something good and stuck with it and saw it through, because it’s already been pretty damn costly.”
We have Military men taking over Intelligence and Intelligence men taking over the Military.
What propaganda - one wonders ... everybody knows Shinseki was out because he isn't Patton & I think Patton was the only person other than himself to have held that position for as long as he had and was long overdue for replacement.
or better to have you mom wander around like a fool hugging thugs, scam artists, and using your sacrifice to pander to the liberal moonies...
Is Colonel Anonymous suggesting that the brass is closer to the terrorists than the grunts who are actually fighting the terrorists? Or is Colonel Anonymous suggesting that the problem is Rumsfeld rather than the terrorists and since the brass comes into contact more frequently with Rumsfeld, they are closer to the 'problem'?
I'm focused on it, I just can't seem to figure it out, but I know that it's more than he's some buddy of GHWB.
Like you, I know it is a powerful clue and it's not the tragedy our troops think it is.
Can someone help me out? Speaking of our word being good or not good - could someone link me to an article or articles that stated that in the 1st Gulf War, we told the Iraqis to rise up against Saddam, and we would be there to help them. Someone told me we didn't help, and that Saddam took revenge on all those in the uprising. I told my sister that that's what Saddam is on trial for, and she didn't believe me. Can someone tell me if that really happened? Thanks so much.
With Rummy gone, and President Bush apparently more than willing to kiss up to the Dems, I think the troops have every right to feel demoralized.
I'd say that by mid-summer 2007, the Dems in Congress will begin defunding and forcing the withdrawal of our forces from Iraq -- whether Iraq is ready or not. It would perfectly follow the template of their actions in Southeast Asia. IN 1973, Nixon pulled our troops out of Vietnam -- an "honorable peace" -- with an established SV government, and a "promise" from the Communist NV's not to invade. Just in case, Nixon made a non-aggression pact with the SV's, so that in case the Communists DID invade, we would re-engage and help SV.
Then came Watergate, impeachment, and Nixon's resignation. Ford, an unelected lame duck was powerless when the NV's invaded SV in 1975. He practically BEGGED the Democratic Congress to allow our troops some kind of intervention to help our allies, whom we had PROMISED to support. The Democrats said, "no," defunded all US military operations in SOutheast Asia, and we abandoned our allies -- the South Vietnamese.
Then the NVA invaded Laos, using biological and chemical warfare -- hundreds of thousands were killed. Then the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia -- MILLIONS were killed...
Expect Democrats -- DESPITE their "promises" -- to shoot for impeachment within the year, and to follow suit on defunding Iraq operation and handing over the Iraqi nation to Iran's Ayatollahs sometime shortly thereafter.
Then of course, just like Carter was elected in '76 because the American people didn't care, Hillary will be elected in '08 -- because the American People WON'T care.
Stupid Swing voters - how adults don't have solid (albeit not unwavering) opinions are beyond me.
I fear that our Democrats have just caused thousands and thousands of lives in the Iraq area.
But one US Army Colonel, who did not want to be named, said that such positive views were uncommon in the higher ranks of the US military. “We are the ones closer to the problem. We are the ones who have the broader picture,” he said.
Who are we to believe SSG Howard or the un-named colonel.
In my opinion, the first order of business is to keep a close close eye on anything the dems do [slipping things in bills especially] to cut appropriations from our Military. That also means keeping an eye on the 'heads' of various Defense departments and branches who are waiting to slip the knife in and stop many of the changes to modernize our forces.
God bless these brave souls. I hope they know we'll do everything we can to make sure their mission is completed, successfully, so their efforts and the ultimate sacrifice paid by their friends will not have been in vain.
Yep! I am much afraid that the misguided voters who returned Dims to power have done this Country a disservice and will soon find out what war tastes like right here in the U.S. of A.
Hmm, Howard gave his name and sought out the reporter, the other who wants to bash is in hiding. I know which I believe.
Exactly .. and that is what the commies want
But...but...but...but...the Clown Car Media and their chief puppeteers Nancy Piglosi and Harry Weed said the troops all hate Rumsfeld! This totally destroys my faith in everything I once held to be true...
Regards, Ivan
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