Critics and criticism...

[Gato_Solo]

Critics and rebuttal...There are those who believe that this is a huge number, but, out of approximately 4700 retired generals, only six speaking out is an extremely small number. The one question I have is, who's asking the questions?

 

[Gonz]

Where did these generals stand in 2001, 2002, 2003, etc?

 

[Gato_Solo]

Where did these generals stand in 2001, 2002, 2003, etc?

Some were in the Pentagon, some were in the field, and some came to Iraq. There are rules about criticizing the administration before you retire, though, so the question is moot.

 

[Gonz]

Moot or not, it would help to see their ideologies & standing before evaluating where they are now. We'll never know & the NY Times,et al, will have a field day because of it.

 

[2minkey]

does ideology matter when the basic issue seems to be incompetence?

 

[Winky]

Well, I was there and I saw what you did,
I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off the grin
I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies

 

[Gato_Solo]

does ideology matter when the basic issue seems to be incompetence?

If the critical few were competent, they'd have had more rank when they were retired. Once again...how many have criticized, out of how many who are retired? (6 out of 4,700, for those who want to do the math) I can find 6 people who think dog crap makes an excellent dessert, but would you eat it?

 

[2minkey]

i understand yer point but the competence in question isn't that of the retired generals.

 

[HomeLAN]

Sure it is. They made it so the moment they decided to make this noise so public.

 

[Winky]

Just a half dozen guys
bad mouthing our Commander-in-Chief
in time of war...

 

[unclehobart]

Gato,
Do the Articles in the UCMJ relating to not dissing your superiors follow you into your retired private life? Could it scrag their pensions and whatnot?

 

[2minkey]

Just a half dozen guys
bad mouthing our Commander-in-Chief
in time of war...

yeah, those fags should just fall in line and O B E Y.

 

[Gonz]

They should have retired 3 years ago if they were so upset. They're looking for political favor. Nothing more.

 

[2minkey]

yeah. or maybe they can now speak freely so they're doing so?

maybe there's a post for you in the politburo... they don't like dissent there either.

 

[Gonz]

They could have spoken freely 3 years ago, right after they retired before gaining political friends.

 

[2minkey]

sure, three years ago before the overall lack of a real strategy and real evidence of half-assed planning became obvious.

nah, then it would have been dismissed as naysayer speculation.

duh...

 

[Gato_Solo]

yeah. or maybe they can now speak freely so they're doing so?

maybe there's a post for you in the politburo... they don't like dissent there either.

Nice try, 2minkey, but the question remains...why only 6 out of around 4700?

sure, three years ago before the overall lack of a real strategy and real evidence of half-assed planning became obvious.

nah, then it would have been dismissed as naysayer speculation.

duh...

Usually, when a country goes to war, the exit strategy is in the final stages of planning...unless the war is unexpected. Then the exit strategy is started when the war starts. Considering this war was over within 3 weeks, how much of a plan do you think they had? The war went quite well...too well...but the exit is planned. Just not to your liking. You want detailed information, and spelled out goals, but that's not how it works. Bottom line is, we leave when we think the job is done, and not before.

 

[Gonz]

As soon as we leave Germany & Japan is a good time to begin discussing exit strategies for Iraq & Afghanistan.

 

[2minkey]

Usually, when a country goes to war, the exit strategy is in the final stages of planning...unless the war is unexpected. Then the exit strategy is started when the war starts. Considering this war was over within 3 weeks, how much of a plan do you think they had? The war went quite well...too well...but the exit is planned. Just not to your liking. You want detailed information, and spelled out goals, but that's not how it works. Bottom line is, we leave when we think the job is done, and not before.

Hmmmm.... I really didn't notice that the war had ended after three weeks. Seems more like three years to me. Funny thing is, the administration was naive enough to think they could get in and out quickly. Anybody with a smidgen of knowledge of the area and its people woulda said "bullshit" at that one. Piss poor and uninformed planning is absolutely the case.

 

[Gato_Solo]

Hmmmm.... I really didn't notice that the war had ended after three weeks. Seems more like three years to me. Funny thing is, the administration was naive enough to think they could get in and out quickly. Anybody with a smidgen of knowledge of the area and its people woulda said "bullshit" at that one. Piss poor and uninformed planning is absolutely the case.

So...how long did the Iraqi army fight? When they folded, the war, by the standard definition, was over. What we have now, is a bunch of holligans, most not even from Iraq, coming in and stirring up shit. The US has already stated how, and when, we leave Iraq. If the terrorists really wanted us to leave, they'd let us complete the rebuilding of the infrastructure and stabilization process, but they don't do that, do they? Anybody with a smidgen of knowledge of our openly stated purposes would say your whole post was bullshit. When you have a plan, let us know, until then, you are filed under the same catagories as the other folks who have no idea what they talk about, except to denigrate the people who are doing the real work.