How A General Scolded Donald Rumsfeld - Jets Insider.com Forums

Equilibrium · 07-30-2008, 02:03 PM

The following article is written by Thomas Ricks, who wrote "Fiasco"the best book critical of Iraq war policy to date.

General Shinseki was made famous for telling Congress that three times more troops would be necessary to occupy Iraq after the conflict to which Wolfowitz"smugly replied that in Congressional testimony that "that would be hard to imagine. General Shinseki was then relieved of his position and retired by Rumsfeld.

Having been on both sides of the policies in question, both overseas and in D.C., this letter presents a new perspective during that controversial pre-war period.

[url]www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072901647.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter[/url]

[QUOTE]How does an Army chief of staff chew out his boss, the defense secretary?

Gen. Eric K. Shinseki shows how it's done in this letter written to Donald H. Rumsfeld just before Shinseki stepped down in June 2003. During the run-up to the war, the general told Congress that more troops would be needed to secure Iraq, which earned him a famously public rebuke by then-Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz. Shinseki was said to still be angry about the dust-up when he retired.

The general's letter may be more history than news at this point, but its criticism of the way Rumsfeld's office worked does shed some additional light on the development of the mess in Iraq. And Shinseki's comments are particularly interesting because he has maintained an almost total silence in the five years since his retirement. This may be the most we ever learn about his perspective.[/QUOTE]

Queens Jet Fan · 07-30-2008, 02:10 PM

So true Equilibrium. This whole business with Shinseki shows what hypocrisy Bush practiced when he said that war policy is set by the generals on the ground. This caper was the first instance of where Bush went general shopping. This administration has been so pathetic in practically every phase of it's operations.

January 2009 cannot come soon enough whether it is McCain or Obama.

King Ryan · 07-30-2008, 02:23 PM

thanks for sharing

doggin94it · 07-30-2008, 02:35 PM

[quote=Queens Jet Fan;2656459]So true Equilibrium. This whole business with Shinseki shows what hypocrisy Bush practiced when he said that war policy is set by the generals on the ground. This caper was the first instance of where Bush went general shopping. This administration has been so pathetic in practically every phase of it's operations.

January 2009 cannot come soon enough whether it is McCain or Obama.[/quote]

Agreed

Spirit of Weeb · 07-30-2008, 05:37 PM

[quote=Queens Jet Fan;2656459]So true Equilibrium. This whole business with Shinseki shows what hypocrisy Bush practiced when he said that war policy is set by the generals on the ground. This caper was the first instance of where Bush went general shopping. This administration has been so pathetic in practically every phase of it's operations.

January 2009 cannot come soon enough whether it is McCain or Obama.[/quote]

Ignoring and picking and choosing which generals to listen to happens on both the right and left and has happened for decades.

As far as military men, I'm sure all you good libs agree wholeheartedly with a decorated and proven war hero like John McCain over say, another "decorated" vet that lied about his country and fellow soldiers named john kerry?

07-30-2008, 02:03 PM	#1
Equilibrium Why you would shoot a man before throwing him off a plane? All League Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,548	How A General Scolded Donald Rumsfeld The following article is written by Thomas Ricks, who wrote "Fiasco"the best book critical of Iraq war policy to date. General Shinseki was made famous for telling Congress that three times more troops would be necessary to occupy Iraq after the conflict to which Wolfowitz"smugly replied that in Congressional testimony that "that would be hard to imagine. General Shinseki was then relieved of his position and retired by Rumsfeld. Having been on both sides of the policies in question, both overseas and in D.C., this letter presents a new perspective during that controversial pre-war period. [url]www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072901647.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter[/url] [QUOTE]How does an Army chief of staff chew out his boss, the defense secretary? Gen. Eric K. Shinseki shows how it's done in this letter written to Donald H. Rumsfeld just before Shinseki stepped down in June 2003. During the run-up to the war, the general told Congress that more troops would be needed to secure Iraq, which earned him a famously public rebuke by then-Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz. Shinseki was said to still be angry about the dust-up when he retired. The general's letter may be more history than news at this point, but its criticism of the way Rumsfeld's office worked does shed some additional light on the development of the mess in Iraq. And Shinseki's comments are particularly interesting because he has maintained an almost total silence in the five years since his retirement. This may be the most we ever learn about his perspective.[/QUOTE] Last edited by Equilibrium; 07-30-2008 at 03:39 PM.

07-30-2008, 02:10 PM	#2
Queens Jet Fan All Pro Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Roslyn Posts: 6,789	So true Equilibrium. This whole business with Shinseki shows what hypocrisy Bush practiced when he said that war policy is set by the generals on the ground. This caper was the first instance of where Bush went general shopping. This administration has been so pathetic in practically every phase of it's operations. January 2009 cannot come soon enough whether it is McCain or Obama.

07-30-2008, 02:23 PM	#3
King Ryan take a guess Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Montville, NJ Posts: 5,473	thanks for sharing

07-30-2008, 02:35 PM	#4
doggin94it Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,422	[quote=Queens Jet Fan;2656459]So true Equilibrium. This whole business with Shinseki shows what hypocrisy Bush practiced when he said that war policy is set by the generals on the ground. This caper was the first instance of where Bush went general shopping. This administration has been so pathetic in practically every phase of it's operations. January 2009 cannot come soon enough whether it is McCain or Obama.[/quote] Agreed

07-30-2008, 05:37 PM	#5
Spirit of Weeb All Pro Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 2,393	[quote=Queens Jet Fan;2656459]So true Equilibrium. This whole business with Shinseki shows what hypocrisy Bush practiced when he said that war policy is set by the generals on the ground. This caper was the first instance of where Bush went general shopping. This administration has been so pathetic in practically every phase of it's operations. January 2009 cannot come soon enough whether it is McCain or Obama.[/quote] Ignoring and picking and choosing which generals to listen to happens on both the right and left and has happened for decades. As far as military men, I'm sure all you good libs agree wholeheartedly with a decorated and proven war hero like John McCain over say, another "decorated" vet that lied about his country and fellow soldiers named john kerry?