Ret. Army General Tommy Franks::: Larger initial invasion force in Iraq may have been deadly mistake
04/06/2007
mywesttexas.com
Colin Guy -Staff Writer
Midland Reporter-Telegram
Deploying a larger invasion force during the first stage of the Iraq War could have been a mistake that cost thousands of American lives, retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks, told an audience at the Petroleum Club on Thursday.
During a question and answer session at the end of a benefit for Texas Special Olympics, Franks, who was the commanding general of the U.S. Central Command from 2000 to 2003, indicated in his response to an audience member that it would have taken up to six months to deploy a substantially larger force to Iraq than what was sent March 20, 2003. During this time Saddam Hussein's regime would have had more time to prepare for the invasion and could potentially have mounted a much fiercer and deadlier resistance to U.S. forces and their allies.
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"I believe as many as 50,000 Americans would have lost their lives as a result of a better dug-in enemy," Franks said.
Additionally, he said Hussein may have used the six-month period to initiate the mass-murder of Iraqi Shiites and to destroy critical oil field and water infrastructure.
Franks also said now that there are troops on the ground it likely would be beneficial to increase the amount of troops on the ground. He said commanders in Iraq believe an addition of 21,000 additional troops will help make a difference and he trusts their judgment.
Franks discussed the war only briefly at the end of the luncheon. The keynote speech he delivered was focused on his memories of living in Midland and the impact that the town and its populace had on his life.
Franks said there are three types of people in life. Those who lead, those who follow and those "who sit around and wonder what everyone else is doing." Midland, he said, is filled with leaders.
Franks continued to say he could remember when Midland had the world's largest Rolls Royce dealership and the largest Lear dealership, indicators of the strength of the regional economy.
"You and I have watched over the years as a lot has changed," he said. "It's like a sine wave, a lot of up and down. It pleases me to see Midland is in the lead once more. And it's fun to come back here and relive, in many cases, my misspent youth."
Franks reminisced about days spent racing down Wall Street, attending debutante balls at the Petroleum Club and playing football for Lee High. He also recollected his first visit to the White House after President George W. Bush was elected.
Franks said the recently elected president took a look at the numerous stars and medals spread across his uniform and commented that it "looks like a boy from Midland, Texas did all right." After glancing slowly around the White House's Blue Room and then at its newest occupant, Franks said he told Bush "it looks like more than one of us did all right."
Franks said with the values instilled in his generation by people like his father, a mechanic who worked six days a week and "never owned a rocking chair," it is no surprise so many famous people grew up in Midland.
"What an honor to be with people that have learned to succeed, that appreciate the value of life, the value of democracy and who have learned about the value of children," he said.
Franks also used his speech as an opportunity to promote the Special Olympics and challenged the audience to support the organization and the youth and adults that it serves.
Margaret Larson, president of the Texas Special Olympics, told audience members more than 25,000 athletes participate in the organization's events in Texas and more than 40,000 volunteers dedicate their time to the group. However, she said, they are always in need of additional help and notified the audience participating in the Special Olympics programs bolsters the self-esteem of both the athletes and the volunteers.
"We need you, there are many things happening in our movement and its a movement to change lives," she said. |
