Quote:
Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Apologies for not recognizing your family members. So somehow it doesn't surprise me that now the two posters here who seem to have relatives on the ground are each people who have been shaking their head at the conduct of this war.
I note that a deep underlying problem of this administration is their myopia. With Bush in power, we will only help build a stable long term government there by accident - because we will keep making decisions to put US interests above those of the Iraqis, which will lead to undermining the government we are trying to support. The handling of construction contracts is another area where, if done correctly, we could have been playing a major role in building up Iraqi businesses and the middle class, but as done now, we are mainly building up the coffers of foreign contractors like Halliburton.
I know - we fought the war, we deserve the spoils. And with that attitude, we will end up having to fight another war down the road.
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Two things. I think you've been more entertaining recently, particularly when your avatar was that unfairly-treated chick who was fired on the Apprentice.
Second, my one and only brother has not been sent there though he has been activated numerous times since 9/11 for all kinds of stuff. And he's a hard-core midlevel combat-oriented air assault/light infantry reserve/NG officer. He's senior enough that parts of his old units have been activated and sent to do all kinds of things, including taking the part of insurgents.
If anyone cares to out me based on the information I've provided here (in this post and others), feel free. I'm Right and I'm not afraid of being recognized by strangers in the same way I'm recognized by friends and family.
The bottom line of my views is that Rummy/Wolfy etc. are absolutely hated by the military. I've made numerous comments comparing them to McNamara etc. The simple fact is that the Secretary of Defense should not pretend he rose through the ranks and became a General, unless he did. He should find out what the people need to get a job done, and either give it to them or not undertake the job. Rummy did neither. My reading, and that of many others, is Rummy found generals who wouldn't disagree with his Napoleonic daydreams and made sure they were in charge, replacing others in the process.
Other than that, I'm all in favor of taking the fight to the enemy. Right idea, wrong implementation.
Of course, I have more distant relatives and friends and friends' kids who have been activated and sent there, almost entirely very junior level people. I'm not sure I'd consider their word as strongly as I consider the input I get from my brother. My brother is, like me, hard-core Right. And the input I get is that Rummy and his crew are the weakest link in the Bush Admin. Comparing a supposed "neo-con" to McNamara is no lite step, and yet, the guy is guilty of exactly what the Right (and really, anyone with a brain) complained about for 30 years after Vietnam.
Anyway, that's my input. My one and only brother is at risk. He and I are all in favor of engaging in war with our enemies, where feasible. But only if the generals are allowed to draw up a battle plan and use it. In Iraq, there is no reasonable reading that suggests they were allowed to do so. Don't believe me? Just ask Shalishkavili and Shinseki.
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