[gleeaikin]

Not that I would want to give Bill any points for integrity, but in all fairness he inherited Somalia from Bush I, and was faced with strong Republican pressure to cut spending, including the military, and enjoy the “peace dividend” from the collapse of the Soviet Union. My son was with the 82nd Airborne in Saudi Arabia and Iraq from August 9, 1990 to April 1991, so I have been paying attention to military questions for a long time. He also spent 8 months in Afghanistan in 2006 with Special Forces.

I seem to recall that when Clinton tried to implement strong measures, he was accused of a “Wag the Dog” scenario by Republicans. Bush II seemed to have inherited a fairly strong military that made short work of both the Afghanistan invasion and the initial Iraq warfare. Unfortunately, Shinseki was right when he urged at least 350,000 troops. When that flap was going on I asked my son how many he thought we should have, and he said 450,000. You will recall that after a year there Brimmer (sp?) said we should have had 500,000. Also Rumsfeld was a strong supporter of the lean and mean armed forces, rather than the robust kind as our overstretch National Guard has learned so bitterly.

[mkjessup]

Not that I would want to give Bill any points for integrity, but in all fairness he inherited Somalia from Bush I

It doesn't matter who Billigula inherited Somalia from, what matters is how the boy Emperor conducted himself regarding Somalia and the answer is: disgracefully.

I seem to recall that when Clinton tried to implement strong measures, he was accused of a “Wag the Dog” scenario by Republicans.

Irrelevant. If Clinton thought strong measures were called for, what Republicans called it shouldn't have mattered.

Unfortunately, Shinseki was right when he urged at least 350,000 troops.

Shinseki is an idiot whose claim to fame was urging cute little berets for all the troops and the day the exit door smacked him on the ass was a good day.

When that flap was going on I asked my son how many he thought we should have, and he said 450,000.

With absolute respect for your son and appreciation for his service, could you elaborate on his experience as a strategic planner?