Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stockman_scott who wrote (189979)	6/22/2006 11:38:35 PM
From: bentway	Respond to of 281500

"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." Oddly enough, the conservatives have co-opted this song, as if the Who wrote it for THEM! It's listed as one of the top "conservative" rock songs by the National Review.

To: stockman_scott who wrote (189979)	6/23/2006 10:46:01 AM
From: Hawkmoon	Respond to of 281500

Kind of going back a few months for this one, aren't you Scott? I find it interesting that he was willing to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, but now he's unwilling to fight Al Qai'da, and other Islamo-Fascists, attempting to overthrow the elected government of Iraq. Did he believe the operation to "invade" Haiti to re-install Aristide was "legitimate"? How about Panama, where we overthrew Noriega? Did he resign THEN? I wonder if he was opposed to the Somalia operation, in which he commanded the 15th MEU. usmc.mil Well, we know Al Qai'da affiliated warlords are in Somalia tearing the country apart, so why isn't he advocating returning there to "finish the job" (or why didn't he resign before we "invaded" Somalia the first time)? He's also been a political supporter for James Webb, who's running for Senator in Virginia (note the connection with Murtha): webbforsenate.com And here he is criticizing the current policy of bringing the Iraqi police and army up to suffficient capacity to defend their own country and restore civil order (that IS the current policy as I've seen it), yet offers no alternative: So what is to be done? We need fresh ideas and fresh faces. That means, as a first step, replacing Rumsfeld and many others unwilling to fundamentally change their approach. So as a former JCS J-3 Operations Officer, where are his plans for these alternative policy changes? Where is his ownership and responsibility for advising people like Webb, and the American people, as to how things should be done differently? One thing's for certain, unilateral departure, without waiting for a direct request from the Iraqi government first, will not be successful. It will undermine the newly birthed, but still shaky, governmental and security structure that it has taken 3 years to achieve. And then we'll have to worry about the repercussions OF THAT possibility and whether it will lead to all-out civil war, the break up of Iraq, and assimilation, and/or domination, of the Shia region by Ahmadinejad's Iran, further strengthening his posiiton of power in the region. Yeah... all of this criticism about Iraq, and the fact that we haven't yet "won" there, yet we're still fighting in Afghanistan. So why no criticism over Afghanistan (and I'm sure someone must be able to find something to criticize there)? Might it be because Iraq was politically controversial, while Afghanistan was not? But since the insurgencies in BOTH countries have not yet been totally defeated, it strikes me as odd that only Iraq is the subject of these criticisms.. aside from the obvious fact that the critics HAVE NO ALTERNATIVES to present that would accomplish the objectives at hand. So he was a Lt. General... Big Deal.... His rank doesn't impress me.. only his alternatives. Post Script: And I found this article that CLEARLY defines Newbold's motives as an attempt to exact revenge upon Rumsfeld for being "too abrasive". Just who the hell does he think is in charge of the Pentagon?? The Generals, or the civilian authority?? freerepublic.com And by god I've seen PLENTY of officers (especially Naval and Marine) who are JUST as abrasive to their subordinates and NCOs. But the NCOs don't have the luxury of resigning. They have to stay there. Hawk