Monday, April 10, 2006

A Retired General Speaks

Ever notice how tragic times generate their own eloquence? Here is part of a quote from a retired general who wants Rumsfeld dumped. He said the decision to invade Iraq “was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions — or bury the results."
That could have been a general in the Civil War, for the level of gravitas. By calling dead soldiers “results”, he has delayed the image for a microsecond so when we visualize their caskets, the impact is that much more powerful. It is also obvious that this general has been there as opposed to the leaders who set this unnecessary war in motion. These phony macho men and their chicken hawk madness will come to an end one day, and historians will look back to quotes like this general’s to tell the real story of these times.
Third Retired General Wants Rumsfeld Out - New York Times

6 Comments:

At 1:51 AM, Blogger JustaDog said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 2:08 AM, Blogger JustaDog said...

Ah yes, Lieutenant General Gregory S. Newbold. He was the pawn of President Clinton (draft-dodger). Newbold commanded the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, this force was in the vanguard of the U.S. commitment for Operation RESTORE HOPE in Somalia.

Now maybe you don't remember Somalia - not something Democrats like to talk about - it was a disaster. Many US troops were killed along with Pakistani troops and over 1,000 Somalians in a very short time. President Clinton then decided to withdraw the American forces (typical liberal "solution" - turn tail and run away).

Yeah - you really picked a winner to quote.

 
At 6:23 AM, Blogger Bill McDonald said...

Dear Justadog,
You call the general a pawn of Clinton just because he was taking orders from him? You've got to brush up on your military command structure.
And I guess Ronald Reagan was a typical liberal when he pulled out of Lebanon. That was a clever plan, wasn't it? Put hundreds of US troops in a building in Beirut and then don't even give the guards bullets. How would you rate that in great military moves?
Meanwhile, here's another general for you: "On April 2, Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, who previously led the military's Central Command, responsible for operations in the Middle East, said in a television interview that Mr. Rumsfeld, among others, should be held accountable for mistakes in Iraq and that he should step down."

 
At 9:56 AM, Blogger JustaDog said...

Here we go again - liberals not addressing the issue and in this post it was Lieutenant General Gregory S. Newbold. Billy attempts to deflect the content of the post and the reputation of Lieutenant General Gregory S. Newbold.

It was more than him being a pawn just obeying orders - Clinton was Commander-In-Chief and Newbold, as a commissioned officer, had the choice to retire at anytime he wanted.

Again, Lieutenant General Gregory S. Newbold is hardly someone I'd be listening to for military wisdom - UNLESS it is to justify that liberal "soloution" - turn tail and run. In that case, yeah - he's a good one to have behind your argument.

 
At 10:56 AM, Blogger Bill McDonald said...

Actually, the point of the post was that Iraq was a poor decision made by chicken hawks, although the general put it much better. You used a dated fall-back position going once more to Clinton. All true supporters of this war know that the problems in Iraq were caused by Cindy Sheehan.
Perhaps when enough "liberals" like Newt Gingrich say the exact same thing as my post did, then you'll agree.
If this general isn't someone you'd "be listening to for military wisdom", that's fine. But why do you listen to people with no military service, including President Bush who cut and run from the National Guard?

 
At 11:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The only shot Dubuya ever fired in anger was a shot of Jack Daniels. Do remember what Bush said when he was originally running for office? He said that he embraced the Powell Doctrine. Then he disgraced Powell by making him tell lies to the UN. He, like me and many others in Vietnam, learned the hard lessons of war by actually being there.

 

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