[SLB]

You gotta be kidding!

What's next an Admiral to head up the Air Force?

[SLB]

Some of you are probably delighted. Some of you are dumber than I ever gave you credit for. If the shoe fits - put it on and wear it!

[TankerKC]

What's next an Admiral to head up the Air Force?

Roche is a retired Navy 0-6 anyway.

I don't know why Roche would take this demotion. ;)

[BenR2]

For various reasons the Bush Administration (esp. Rumsfeld) and the Department of Army have been at war for several years.

There seems to be no sign of let-up in the ongoing hostilities.

As an outsider, I would have to say that there is fault on both sides. The Army has become the preserve of Democrats -- and Rumsfeld apparently all but despises the Army (with the exception of its Special Forces, which he apprently loves).

[Light Speed]

I think the real deal is the Bush admin wanting a power revamp in regards to compliance in the U.S. State Dept and Pentagon.

Since Sept 11th...many conflicting views and political manuvers have flowed...some so clear that Russian media leaks comments that there is a rift in the State Dept and CFR[Council on Foreign Relations].

Years ago Zbigniew Brzenzski wrote his CFR vision "The Grand Chessboard...Americas Primacy and Geostrategic Imperatives"....the division of Asia and Eurasisa ..coupled with all the tangables for why.

Here America has followed this format...really..as She is now in many of the "Stans" that Zbigniew lists out.

This requires a different Military projection..Policy and Foreign relations stream....

Hense..the friction and tension now in the many halls of power....commented upon too by Europe and Russian media.

Oil and economics are prime mover here.

Theres info on whats going on in the "Stans" out there....things like financial contracts in regards to airfields being used.....cash per plane parked...cash per plane flown.....concession to generate wealth in the economy's of the Stans...sort of ..."If your here..your going to pay us"...

And its gets weasely ..like Mussarref of Pakistan.

So its out there...you can read it at the Paranoid of the future sites....or follow it via the Intel like Janes..Stratfor...Monterry Strategic.

Russia is not happy camper....allthough She is getting fairly good U.S. Dollar intake from Her Caspian Basin to Europe oil/gas contracts with many...She finds herself very limited in the "New projects"..which are taking oil/gas to the Orient,

Iraqs oil is low Sulphur...a coupe for processing savings...where as Caspian oil is contaminated..requiring major refinement to bring its grade quality up.

Before...Russia was happy to have the Oil/gas to Europe...climing up from the floor..recover from the loss of income via weapons sales.

Now Her economy is hinged on oil/gas pricing and market demand..which is not chugging allong like expected...Russia is seeing demand drop...Dollar value drop..and seeing itself left with only ..."A piece of the action".

All this plays 24 with Russia's historic mental insecurity thingy : )

[Wally Cleaver]

Maybe a contractor running the Army.

[river rat]

It is clear....

Rumsfeld is determined to put clenched teeth warriors in charge...... NOT the squat to pee, slack jawed, mouth breathers that have been running the Army for too long...

He is looking for warriors that will take the fight to the enemy and overrun his positions and either kill them or drive them off..

He is NOT interested in protracted battles of set pieces, with forces firing artillery at each other....

(I am NOT biased, really!)

Semper Fi