WP: Dissension Grows In Senior Ranks On War Strategy

[huckleberry]

Long, but a MUST READ!!

By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 9, 2004; Page A01

Deep divisions are emerging at the top of the U.S. military over the course of the occupation of Iraq, with some senior officers beginning to say that the United States faces the prospect of casualties for years without achieving its goal of establishing a free and democratic Iraq.

Army Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack Jr., the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, who spent much of the year in western Iraq, said he believes that at the tactical level at which fighting occurs, the U.S. military is still winning. But when asked whether he believes the United States is losing, he said, "I think strategically, we are."

Army Col. Paul Hughes, who last year was the first director of strategic planning for the U.S. occupation authority in Baghdad, said he agrees with that view and noted that a pattern of winning battles while losing a war characterized the U.S. failure in Vietnam. "Unless we ensure that we have coherency in our policy, we will lose strategically," he said in an interview Friday.

snip

Some officers say the place to begin restructuring U.S. policy is by ousting Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, whom they see as responsible for a series of strategic and tactical blunders over the past year. Several of those interviewed said a profound anger is building within the Army at Rumsfeld and those around him.

A senior general at the Pentagon said he believes the United States is already on the road to defeat. "It is doubtful we can go on much longer like this," he said. "The American people may not stand for it -- and they should not."

much more at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11227-2004May8.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. my hubby (ex-MP) said this would happen

if the brass won't stand by the troops, the troops will break rank and quickly! The military guys aren't going to let the politicos hang this on the troops-- Iraq is fubar thanks to Rummy Rove and Wolfie and the GI's won't take the rap for it and they shouldn't have to!

[Moderator]

2. dupe by seconds

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x541763