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I watched it Tuesday night. It's amazing that he and Wolfowitz thought they knew better than the generals what kind of troop numbers would be necessary.
It reminds me of the documentries I see on Vietnam with politicians micromanaging the military.
I especially like the part about deemphasising the inconvient parts of the 'Powell Doctrine' which is what the US military created (CP was a primnary author) to reconstruct themselves after that war.
It reminds me of the documentries I see on Vietnam with politicians micromanaging the military.
I especially like the part about deemphasising the inconvient parts of the 'Powell Doctrine' which is what the US military created (CP was a primnary author) to reconstruct themselves after that war.
Or how recruitment is at a 30 year low.
Sometimes I wonder if they edit these things.. I mean I could see some generals agreeing with the numbers and others disagreeing and the show just shows the ones that didn't agree with Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld has come back many times before and stated what really happened and I think most of the time it makes him look better.
As for low numbers, I think that it to be expected. People don't like risking their lives and many join the military for salary and a new adventure. Not because they want to actually kill people or be killed....
...As for low numbers, I think that it to be expected. People don't like risking their lives and many join the military for salary and a new adventure. Not because they want to actually kill people or be killed....
Nid was a little off....the frontline report cites military recruitment being at a 3 year low...not 30.
It's not about editing, geeze are you realy reaching so hard to find a way to justify this.
I saw the testimony of the secretery of the army, a 4 Star general under oath to congress. He told them it would require 100,000s of troops to control Iraq after the conflict, are you suggesting he was lying to congress ?
Rumsfeld was pissed to the max because this was not he message he wanted to send. Ther fact that it was the truth didn't matter.
The original battle plans called for 480,000 troops ], if I remember the numbers correctly].
This show was not real complimentry of the Clinton era either, they reported that the pentagon, was in general looking forward to the new administration as "Now we will adults in charge". This alsted until the poiticans started micromanaging miltiary strategy.
I'm serious folks, this sounded like one of those documenteries on the Vietnam era. I watched one a couple of weeks ago, detailed how we bombed a plant for a month. On orders from the white house they fly exactly the same flitgh path every day at the same time every day for month on direct orders from the president. The actual target was destroyed in about the first 5 days.
How is this any different ? I'll tell you how it is different, GW supported seem unable to consider that anything is wrong ?
This abuse of our military by the poiticians disgusts me and I cannot understand why it doesn't disgust us all ? Particulary some the pretend to support our troops. Go buy some more car magnets.
Yes, I am mad about this. If we are going to fight a war at least let the military make military decsions.
Sometimes I wonder if they edit these things.. I mean I could see some generals agreeing with the numbers and others disagreeing and the show just shows the ones that didn't agree with Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld has come back many times before and stated what really happened and I think most of the time it makes him look better.
The ones that didn't agree with Rumsfeld were the top commanders, including the general Franks who finally bowed to political pressure. Colin Powell certainly didn't agree with the plan and I think we would agree he has some experience on the matter.
Rumsfeld went shoping until he found a Colonel that agreed with him. Thisis not tough to do in any large organization. The way you phrased it demeans the opinions on the Generals in command of the Army, where they wrong or incompetant ?
It also says that Rumsfeld took direct control of military promotions, something apparently not done before. Sounds like he wanted to make sure that he had total control.
Why is it so difficult to believe that Rumsfeld [and indirectly GW] may have done something wrong or at least unadvisable. Do you want to go back to Vietnam era military planning ?
The ones that didn't agree with Rumsfeld were the top commanders, including the general Franks who finally bowed to political pressure. Colin Powell certainly didn't agree with the plan and I think we would agree he has some experience on the matter.
Rumsfeld went shoping until he found a Colonel that agreed with him. Thisis not tough to do in any large organization. The way you phrased it demeans the opinions on the Generals in command of the Army, where they wrong or incompetant ?
It also says that Rumsfeld took direct control of military promotions, something apparently not done before. Sounds like he wanted to make sure that he had total control.
Why is it so difficult to believe that Rumsfeld [and indirectly GW] may have done something wrong or at least unadvisable. Do you want to go back to Vietnam era military planning ?
Hey maybe you're right on this one, not sure. Especially if he had to find someone to agree with. Demeaning a four star general though? Common.... That would mean you are being demeaning to the secretary of defence and the president of the united states... Leaders that are judged by the people to be higher ranking...you never seem to mind ripping on them... There are many four star generals in the past that have been wrong...
Oh by the way the military is very political...they are politicans and you especially have to be a politician to become a four star general..if you piss anybody off that's important you never get promoted that high..noone has to watch his ass and kiss others more than a high ranking solider who wants to keep getting promoted...
When it helps your argument go with what feels right 
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