Comments on: Yet Another Post Likely To Really Make Some Folks Mad. http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2004/09/08/yet-another-post-likely-to-really-make-some-folks-mad/ Free Minds, Free Markets, Free Booze Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:34:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: LSU Tiger http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2004/09/08/yet-another-post-likely-to-really-make-some-folks-mad/#comment-3044 LSU Tiger Thu, 09 Sep 2004 10:27:25 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2004/09/08/yet-another-post-likely-to-really-make-some-folks-mad/#comment-3044 Remember: troop strength does not mean how many infantry soldiers with bayonets there are in country. There is a huge tail of paper pushers for every squad of killers on the battlefield. THEY make sure they get the newest body armor, of course. We can't afford ceramic plates for body armor because the Air Force wants F-22s. They can't afford JDAMs because the Army wants to develop the Styker instead of using Bradleys. And they're still using the same boots that I got issued 10+ years ago. THOSE are the problems with the military, notwithstanding the PC crowd, using training days to promote Mexican American awareness week. Hey, bullets to the same things to all of our bodies. Remember: troop strength does not mean how many infantry soldiers with bayonets there are in country. There is a huge tail of paper pushers for every squad of killers on the battlefield. THEY make sure they get the newest body armor, of course.

We can’t afford ceramic plates for body armor because the Air Force wants F-22s. They can’t afford JDAMs because the Army wants to develop the Styker instead of using Bradleys.

And they’re still using the same boots that I got issued 10+ years ago.

THOSE are the problems with the military, notwithstanding the PC crowd, using training days to promote Mexican American awareness week. Hey, bullets to the same things to all of our bodies.

]]> By: Timothy http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2004/09/08/yet-another-post-likely-to-really-make-some-folks-mad/#comment-3043 Timothy Thu, 09 Sep 2004 02:00:27 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2004/09/08/yet-another-post-likely-to-really-make-some-folks-mad/#comment-3043 'Tis true that it's a distraction, but I thought it was at least a mildly interesting distraction, at least. ‘Tis true that it’s a distraction, but I thought it was at least a mildly interesting distraction, at least.

]]> By: Danimal http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2004/09/08/yet-another-post-likely-to-really-make-some-folks-mad/#comment-3042 Danimal Wed, 08 Sep 2004 22:30:14 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2004/09/08/yet-another-post-likely-to-really-make-some-folks-mad/#comment-3042 Seems a distraction point to me. Career military brass are well accustomed to dealing with the posturing, second-guessing, and unreasonable demands of their ever-reshuffled political leadership. Being highly professional, they'll work as well with a Kerry Sec Def as they have Rumsfeld, whose dreams of forging a leaner, more flexible armed forces have ruffled more than a few Pentagon feathers. Inasmuch as this relates to Iraq war planning, I'd say blame for any inadequacies in troop strength can easily be set upon Rummy's shoulders. I can't recollect the exact numbers, but in keeping with his philosophy, Rummy initially wanted to go into Iraq with an ultra-lean Afghanistan style attack, with about 70,000 troops. The brass, conversely, put forth a more conventional full-force invasion of 200,000. What we ended up with was in part a compromise and in part unavoidable. The brass would have preferred greater numbers, but after Turkey refused to let us operate from its borders, we were faced with waiting to move those forces to the Persian Gulf, or going ahead with less. Due in no small part to Rummy's warfighting philosophy, the decision was made to go ahead with less. Which is not to dismiss the point entirely. Just a couple days ago, for instance, AP pointed out something I was not aware of -- that Tommy Franks takes the credit/blame for the "Mission Accomplished" gaffe. Still, this is a distraction. Where does (should) the buck stop, for Christ's sake? Seems a distraction point to me. Career military brass are well accustomed to dealing with the posturing, second-guessing, and unreasonable demands of their ever-reshuffled political leadership. Being highly professional, they’ll work as well with a Kerry Sec Def as they have Rumsfeld, whose dreams of forging a leaner, more flexible armed forces have ruffled more than a few Pentagon feathers.

Inasmuch as this relates to Iraq war planning, I’d say blame for any inadequacies in troop strength can easily be set upon Rummy’s shoulders. I can’t recollect the exact numbers, but in keeping with his philosophy, Rummy initially wanted to go into Iraq with an ultra-lean Afghanistan style attack, with about 70,000 troops. The brass, conversely, put forth a more conventional full-force invasion of 200,000.

What we ended up with was in part a compromise and in part unavoidable. The brass would have preferred greater numbers, but after Turkey refused to let us operate from its borders, we were faced with waiting to move those forces to the Persian Gulf, or going ahead with less. Due in no small part to Rummy’s warfighting philosophy, the decision was made to go ahead with less.

Which is not to dismiss the point entirely. Just a couple days ago, for instance, AP pointed out something I was not aware of — that Tommy Franks takes the credit/blame for the “Mission Accomplished” gaffe.

Still, this is a distraction. Where does (should) the buck stop, for Christ’s sake?

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