Iraq deepens internal Pentagon tensions

[mom cat]

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=520310

Iraq deepens internal Pentagon tensions
Sun 30 May, 2004 22:07

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tensions between the civilian leaders of the Pentagon, led by Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and the U.S. military's top brass have deepened amid the deteriorating situation in Iraq.

Even before the Iraq war some senior officers chafed under the guidance of Rumsfeld and his team, including Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith and Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen Cambone.

Retired officers and defense analysts said the problems have worsened during a war in which critics accuse Rumsfeld's team of neglecting to provide enough troops to stabilise Iraq after ousting Saddam Hussein, botching the planning for the postwar period, and failing to anticipate and later comprehend an insurgency that threatens the mission with failure.

"The war itself has led to, rightly or wrongly, the feeling among many in the military that they're not receiving competent direction, that it is too ideological, and that a lot of their military efforts have been wasted by what they regard as poor, inept planning for the stability phase," said Anthony Cordesman, a former Pentagon official now with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

The military, particularly the Army, has been strained mightily in maintaining troop levels in Iraq far higher than the Pentagon had forecast. Faced with a relentless insurgency, the Pentagon ordered 20,000 troops to remain three months longer than promised, and scrambled to find ways to maintain the current count of 138,000 troops there through the end of 2005.

Meanwhile, the military has been stained by a scandal in which soldiers physically and sexually abused Iraqi prisoners.

"It's obvious there has been damage to the U.S. military as an institution because it is over-strained and it is over-deployed. And it is beginning to see its morale erode because it is losing confidence in the direction of the war," Cordesman said.

[oblivious]

1. "I spend half my time telling Generals how to run a war"

I remember a quote something like that from a whitehouse aid before the Iraq war. The guy was explaining to a reporter about the frustration of having to deal with dumb-ass generals who didn't think the war was a good idea.

I remember thinking, I'd like to hear what the generals thought of this ass-hole.

I wish I could find that quote; I didn't keep it.

[TahitiNut]

2. Well, they sure named the Four Horsemen of the Pentagon Apocalypse

Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Feith, and Cambone are incredibly corrupt. Hitler or Mussolini would be glad to have such a good fit on their staff. Keep it coming presstitutes. The fascist friction has reached the cabinet-level ablatives. Toast 'em! Bush/Cheney next.

[dArKeR]

3. Iraq War Woes Deepen Internal Pentagon Tensions - Yahoo - rate '5'

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040530/ts_nm/iraq_rumsfeld_pentagon_dc_1

[cliss]

4. Man, I love it.

C'mon, pull out all your dirty laundry. Let's hear it from the disgruntled generals. This is their chance to unload!!!

Do it for Vanity Fair, or some other good magazine. Tell us all how much you hate Donald Rumsfeld, and how you and all the other generals are sharpening your knives and are measuring the distance between Rumsfeld's ribs.

[Zhade]

5. Of course, the article fails to mention that Rumsfeld FIRED Shinseki.

Typical - leave out important little bits.

Just as sad as the fact that most of the press still has a problem calling b*shco's lies what they are - lies!

[bobbieinok]

6. Hitler was initially frequently on the outs with the military

He'd do something, like take back the Ruhr region and the generals would all say 'Oh you can't get away with that,' but he would then succeed. So intial victories vs his generals' advice cowed them.

At the same time, he got rid of the generals who might oppose him. One at least they fired for some sex scandal.

Someone could research this and compare what's happened with bushco. Remember all the 'reorganization' and firings that they did after 9-11??

[bpilgrim]

7. Gore Address this Directly in his POWERFUL Speech last week... mp3

for those that missed it...
http://news.globalfreepress.com/mp3/airAmericaRadio.com/gore/gore_nyu_05-28-04.mp3

brought tears to my eyes first and second time i heard it... still gives me goose bumps.

psst... pass the word :bounce:

peace