Army General Nominated to Replace Franks

Newsday ^ | 6/18/03

[Clock King]

...an American General who speaks fluent Arabic and was educated in the Middle East and who loves the culture and people.

Sounds to me like he needs to be in charge of Iraq rather than that clueless political appointee Bremer.

[Fred Mertz]

Bremer is a mouth-piece. PR, doncha know?

[HatSteel]

He's talking about Abizaid. I am the one who added the insight about Nash, having been in Germany at the time he was quietly put away.

My friend's email that I copied refers to Abizaid. I've written him again asking him to clarify.

[HatSteel]

A Rino (Republican in name only) is a "notional Republican"

A Cino is a "notional Christian."

Barna research organization defines "notional Christian" as follows:

The third segment is one that Barna termed "notional Christians." These are people who consider themselves to be Christian, but do not claim they know their eternal destiny (i.e., whether they will experience eternal life, eternal damnation or some other outcome) and are less likely than others to embrace core Bible doctrines.

Only one out of every ten notional Christians bases moral choices on the Bible or religious teaching, and just one out of every six believes in absolute moral truth. Although half say that abortion should be illegal in all or most circumstances, just 39% consider themselves to be "pro-life." A majority of the people in this segment contends that morally acceptable lifestyles include homosexuality, cohabitation, viewing pornography, and entertaining sexual fantasies.

[Miss Marple]

You know, I wonder how Jesus would feel about posting gossip and rumor with no verification on the internet?

[HatSteel]

Jesus would ask me to check my sources.

Since my sources are Army officers, then I have no problem. I'm awaiting confirmatory stories. I'll let you know when I get them.

The stories about MG (Ret) Bill Nash are not rumors. I was there.

[HatSteel]

While I was writing this, my friend sent this email:

My very grave mistake. It was not LTG Abizaid!!!!!!! It was a LTC deployed in the Middle East who made the news, a battalion commander! I cannot believe I jumped to the conclusion so carelessly that you were righting (sic) me about the lieutenant colonel instead of a general officer.

[Miss Marple]

I realize you think you are in a righteous position, but I must tell you that regardless of how many army officers you check with, unless they are willing to have you post their name on this forum with their accusations, your sources are no better than Jayson Blair's.

In my rather admittedly limited life experience, I have found that rumors such as this are often exagerrated or are caused by a grudge over some slight, whether real or perceived.

We have several people on this thread who have said that they have served under this man and he is an exemplary officer. Then here you come with some rumors from someone whose identity is unknown.

It is inconceivable to me that someone with the problems you hint at would be promoted through the ranks, given positions that require a security clearance, and promoted to this position.

Furthermore, your quoting the comments on "notional Christians" indicates to me that you are concerned with this gentleman's faith, which is irrelevant.

To think that someone of poor moral character would be promoted to this position, given the climate with the press and the democrats, is asking me to believe that Rumsfeld is just plain foolish. I do not think so.

[Miss Marple]

I am glad you corrected the impression left by your friend's e-mail.

[MEG33]

I hope no one is ever as careless about your reputation.

[7thson]

Where is Gen. Brooks going?

[MEG33]

He was great at the centcom briefings.

[HatSteel]

I hope that if I'm being appointed to a high-level position of leadership that someone follows the trails that come up.

Would you have objected to following those leads about Bill Clinton prior to his becoming president?

Besides that, you seriously over-estimate the reach of this these posts, on this thread, on this bulletin board, on the internet.

[Elkiejg]

I saw him do one of the CentCom briefings - very good. AND wasn't he the one to b*tched slapped the Arab news guy when their TV showed the POWS just after they were captured along with the footage of the dead Americans? I'm pretty sure it was him, I wanted to see more of him at those briefings - but didn't after that. I think he'll be GREAT!!

[HatSteel]

You are absolutely incorrect if you believe that people cannot be promoted in the military who have sexual and other skeletons in their closets.

As mentioned, Nash is a certain example. Another recent example that comes to mind is Ralston.

Security clearance checks do not find sexual liaisons. By their very nature, they are secret until they come to light and become public.

[Miss Marple]

I realize people can be promoted despite their sexual liaisons. However, those people do NOT get to be head of CENTCOM during a time of war.

Are you inferring that the Army security isn't as reliable as good old fashioned gossip? If that is true, we have a lot more problems than some guy who has a girl-chasing problem.

Regarding Clinton...unfortunately there is not a requirement that the CIC be qualified for a security clearance. If he had had to pass that qualification, he would have failed it and would not have been able to run.

[MEG33]

I think confirmation of information and checking with more than one source is a good thing.I think publishing a rumor can make the publisher look bad when the rumor is not true.It makes the reader want to check out even the true things published.Probably a good thing!

[7thson]

That's where I first saw and heard of him. He gave the reporters hell and didn't take any guff. I read about his career off the net and various freeper posts. He has a brother who is in charge of West Point. Both are rising stars. Who knows - maybe Brooks will be in charge in 2004 or 2005 when we head into Iran. I'm just curious if he is going to stay on at CENTCOM or will he move on to a better commmand?

[MEG33]

This bings back memories of all nighters and very early morning Centcom briefings.I was so impressed with Brooks and so frustrated with the DUMB questions asked by reporters.

[MEG33]

Brings