Where was this guy in the run-up to the 2004 Elections? It would have been a definite plus to know that men like LGEN Newbold were speaking their minds openly. It might have made a difference.
In 1971, the rock group The Who released the antiwar anthem Won't Get Fooled Again. To most in my generation, the song conveyed a sense of betrayal by the nation's leaders, who had led our country into a costly and unnecessary war in Vietnam. To those of us who were truly counterculture--who became career members of the military during those rough times--the song conveyed a very different message. To us, its lyrics evoked a feeling that we must never again stand by quietly while those ignorant of and casual about war lead us into another one and then mismanage the conduct of it. Never again, we thought, would our military's senior leaders remain silent as American troops were marched off to an ill-considered engagement. It's 35 years later, and the judgment is in: the Who had it wrong. We have been fooled again.
Get that? He just called the senior political leadership, Chickenhawks...the magical turn of the phrase instant replay:
"...those ignorant of and casual about war..."
Rock on, General. We've got your back. Why don't you give Joe Sestak and Wes Clark a call, and see if there's some sort way to start a group of retired senior officers who have seen the light. You're going to need a support group, the Chickenhawks are about to release their Media Attack Poodles (their tame, housebroken Dogs of War) on you. ASAP.
posted by Jo Fish on 04.09.06 at 11:26 PM
Comments:
As someone said elsewhere of the 101st Fighting Keyboard Kommandos -- "Let the 4-hour erections commence!"
Rock on, General. We've got your back. Why don't you give Joe Sestak and Wes Clark a call, and see if there's some sort way to start a group of retired senior officers who have seen the light. You're going to need a support group, the Chickenhawks are about to release their Media Attack Poodles (their tame, housebroken Dogs of War) on you. ASAP.
Check out WEST POINT GRADUATES AGAINST THE WAR
http://www.westpointgradsagainstthewar.org/
Just started.
posted by: BOHICA on 04.10.06 at 06:21 PM [permalink]
Does anyone else think that these comments are meant to encourage active senior officers to speak up more forcefully, privately at least?
Actives and retireds talk ... a lot. This may mean that planning a strike on Iran is much more seriously going on than we know right now.
And then, of course, there are the comments from the people who actually do the fighting, who did not retire five months before the war, and their view is the opposite, as can be seen here.
There are also those who love taking advantage of defeatists such as those found on the political Left.
posted by: bean on 04.13.06 at 05:12 PM [permalink]
Everyone I talk to who is just returning from a tour in Iraq says the same thing. It's way beyond screwed up. The word usually used is f@#ked. These aren't officers but line guys, and women. No, Im not forgetting. The ONLY reason they go is because their buddies are going and they don't want to see their buddies die or get crippled and maimed if there is anything at all that they can do to help it.
They all believe bush the chickenshit doesn't deserve the misplaced, misguided loyalty given to him. He deserves a uniform, vest, helmet and M4 with a basic load and a seat riding shotgun in a Humvee on the Baghdad Airport road doing convoy duty for a year.
I really hope his parents are proud of the oxygen thief they raised.
posted by: MMichaelAK on 04.14.06 at 02:44 PM [permalink]
Let's have some specific names, units, etc., Michael. Because everyone I talk to says things are tough, but everyone believes in the mission. I have the benefit of citing an actual op-ed piece from the Washington Post to support my position.
posted by: bean on 04.14.06 at 06:11 PM [permalink]
