Every Democrat president purges the officer corps. Carter and Clinton both did it. Clinton was overt as hell about it and used the Navy Convention “Tailhook” to hang the operation. that one wound up with at least one probable murder and a couple of convenient suicides. T most visible result of the purges is the difficulty fighting wars for a time afterwards as in Iraq(after Clintjn). The first onslaught did wonderfully well but that was firepower and speed. Afterward we got bogged down and were losing ground until finally the fresh blood proved itself on the battlefield and rose to the top. About then came the surge and you know the rest. Without the surge the troops were already improving the situation because they finally had battle experienced competent officers. Competent officers get replaced by reliable bureaucrats whose military talents consist in sucking up to politicians and implementing stupid politically correct requirements.
excellent observation
” About then came the surge and you know the rest. Without the surge the troops were already improving the situation because they finally had battle experienced competent officers. Competent officers get replaced by reliable bureaucrats whose military talents consist in sucking up to politicians and implementing stupid politically correct requirements.”
This is a popular myth which needs to be dispelled. It does not credit the decision makers and servicemembers who defeated the insurgency.
Look, I was there at that time. Due to frequently having to travel across Iraq I took particular interest in Iraq strategic issues. I read the daily BUAs and SIGACTS and was always aware of the threatcon.
I want to make this clear about the “Surge”. In December, 2006 80+ attacks were occuring per day which was the long term norm. In mid-December, 2006, just after Gen Petraeus was selected to command in Iraq and prior to Surge troop arrivals several Iranian “diplomats” were aprehended and detained by (non-Surge) US forces. Several Iraqi PMs made a lot of protestations over the aprehensions, demanding release, etc.. The next day attacks against Coalition and Iraqi forces went to 11. By the end of the week attacks were below 10 and remained low throughout the Surge.
The Surge was prefaced by arrest and deportation of the insurgents’ Iranian pay masters. After that Coalition and Iraqi forces simply ejected the unpaid Jihadis. That is the Surge. I credit Gen Petraeus and Special Operations Command for the success of the Surge.