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Politics : Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jmhollen who wrote (2728)	2/17/2004 2:44:11 AM
From: CalculatedRisk	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81568

My suspicion is that my father and you would get along great! He always enjoys talking with fellow pilots. For some reason the flying bug never bite me. Still, one of my earliest childhood memories is of taxiing around the airport in Guam with my Dad in a Super Connie. The plane had been converted for electronic surveillance (an early version of the AWACS) and my Dad was flying missions off the coast of North Korea in the late '50s. That was near the end of his career; he retired with his 20 years in ’61 or ‘62. My Dad’s view of Bush is different from mine. Of course, we have lived very different lives. He is not satisfied with Bush, but his anger is directed somewhat at Rumsfeld. To understand this, please read the email from my Dad’s youngest brother (A Vietnam Vet) included at the bottom. But mostly my Dad is angry with Cheney. Both of our fathers grew up in an era when even the hint of war profiteering was considered treasonous. If you mention “Halliburton” around my Dad, you will get a very detailed outline of Cheney’s life and you will still see the steel in an old fighter pilot’s eyes. A parting story: In the ‘80s, my Dad (then in his 60s) was able to arrange for a carrier landing in an F-14 Tomcat (backseat of course). It was a short flight out of Miramar to a carrier just off the coast. He was like a little kid for a year! He still talks about it now. Best to you. Email from my Uncle to my Dad: Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 9:19 AM Subject: Re: Great Article on Iraq post war planning I can't thank you enough for the article! It is the most revealing of any I have read, including those of the Wall Street Journal. Brother John, make sure you read it! I am going to "forward" it to those I correspond with in regard to Iraq. Every American should read it! I have attempted to write admin/congress with every death in Iraq, but obviously I can't keep up with the rate of causalities. However, I always state that Rumsfeld is as much a buffoon as McNamara with the same arrogance. I have attributed the "chaos" to the failure to deploy sufficient ground forces which this article clearly supports. I was aware of the position of Generals Shinseki and Zuni. What I didn't realize was that the administration, specifically Cheney and Rumsfeld completely ignored the lessons of the past and intelligent expectations of requirements from such institutions as the Army War College. The refusal to allow OSD personnel to participate in CIA Iraq gaming is criminal. Rumsfeld apparently doesn't even like intelligent planning as regard to force projection, i.e. TPFDD. (Reminds me of Lord Roberts dismantling of the existing British Army transportation system during the Boar War in South Africa which resulted in the British troops/horses nearly starving! TPFDD has been under development for years, in fact, if I am not correct, it was originally derived from German Army logistic planning as revealed after WWII.) I was very confused as to the post-conflict chaos in Iraq because in my "War Gaming" experience, especially at CINCLANT, post conflict Civil Affairs were always addressed in detail, usually by the Army Reserve personnel assigned to CINCLANT for that purpose. Apparently Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz decided the "Civil Affairs" of the post conflict Iraq! While I personally feel that President Bush and his wife have restored class to the White House, I think of him as the "King without any clothes" and doubt if he has an original thought. He has been "used" in a sense by Cheney and Rumsfeld. Sec. of State Powell must be terribly frustrated, especially after his presentation of WMD to the U.N.. Rice, while you may disagree, I feel is only a symbol of affirmative action and political correctness and little else. I bought into the threat of WMD/terrorism and now that appears to been grossly inaccurate intelligence or outright fraud. President Bush (The 2nd) had best step forward and explain and accept responsibility for the WMD nonsense because the Democrats will drive a "stake" in his heart over it. It may not rise to the level of Nixon's Watergate, but it is a very serious breach of faith and creditability. Otherwise, the policy of "containment" would have sufficed for Iraq. While President Bush won't do it, I wish he would "dump" Lord Dick Cheney of Halliburton as VPres! As to your young Marines, it is fortunate we have such "volunteers" who are willing, for various reasons, to serve. It must be terribly depressing for those who put their life on the line in WWII and later conflicts to view the present state of affairs, but keep smiling! Take Care Here is the article my Uncle is referring to “Blind into Baghdad”: theatlantic.com