tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post8276554330075911597..comments2024-03-22T05:20:44.167-07:00Comments on The Disaffected Lib: Krugman Outs PetraeusThe Mound of Soundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-37943955066476022942007-07-20T19:51:00.000-07:002007-07-20T19:51:00.000-07:00Truman's own career was very much at stake in his ...Truman's own career was very much at stake in his decision to relieve MacArthur. Dugout Doug (or "Bugout" as he was known by some)had some pretty big political aspirations of his own and plenty of Republican backers. Truman could have played it safe and ignored MacArthur's insubordination but he didn't and no one should today. We elect our politicians (and obviously don't do that terribly well) but no general, Hillier included, has any popular mandate and should not presume otherwise. <BR/>Kingston, if you've read any of my earlier posts you'll know that I oppose the mission to Afghanistan primarily because I see it as a hopelessly undermanned effort, even on our part. 54,000 sq. kms. in Kandahar province and a battle group of 1,000 rifles? I don't know if you've read Petraeus's FM 3-24. It's really just the lessons of counterinsurgency, particularly over the past century and a half, digested and updated. Real T.E. Lawrence/Che Guevera/Ho Chi Minh stuff. What it reveals is that "the mission" crafted by Hillier is frankly inept. <BR/>I'd love someone to tell me why Hillier, who went into Kandahar with a shoestring force, has made so little noise about reinforcing his combat group to meet the Taliban's force escalation? What kind of general is that? We don't even have any reserves to throw into this mismatched effort. Instead we rely on artillery and air strikes against residential areas and consign our soldiers to running patrols, trolling for IEDs. What kind of general is that?The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-83427689529616789022007-07-20T16:11:00.000-07:002007-07-20T16:11:00.000-07:00P.S. Mound, if memory serves, Truman didn't sack h...P.S. Mound, if memory serves, Truman didn't sack him till he looked like he would be a threat to his own political career.Burton, Formerly Kingstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05539157151309542216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-83917242406627739342007-07-20T16:08:00.000-07:002007-07-20T16:08:00.000-07:00Some more thoughts from me( like anyone cares), na...Some more thoughts from me( like anyone cares), na, I would rather here it from the commanders in the field rather then the cleaned up political correct version and or slanted version (either right or left) you would get from the majority of political columnists that we read either day. I have met and talked to Gen Hillier and trust me he is not political, he says what he feels and he doesn't pull punches, he will slam any political party that he doesn't feel provides the support for the missions they are assigning to the forces. This might be right or wrong in different people minds but in mine after 22 yrs in, it is very refreshing.Burton, Formerly Kingstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05539157151309542216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-67373456908137001122007-07-20T15:39:00.000-07:002007-07-20T15:39:00.000-07:00"It's becoming obvious that the military - whether..."It's becoming obvious that the military - whether in the US, Britain or Canada - have to be put back in their place"<BR/><BR/>Yey, brother. Yey.<BR/>(Foottothefire)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-20790476882925703202007-07-20T14:36:00.000-07:002007-07-20T14:36:00.000-07:00Yes, MacArthur also used his political clout again...Yes, MacArthur also used his political clout against Harry Truman who had the courage to sack the pushy bugger. Clearly there were others before MacArthur but there's been no excuse for that sort of thing since. There's nothing wrong with preparing reports but a great deal of mischief to be had when generals start acting as partisan advocates. If generals want to play politics, let them stand for election. If not they should know their place and stay within their boundaries.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-80055757116660264092007-07-20T13:55:00.000-07:002007-07-20T13:55:00.000-07:00Generals never in politics? Yeah right, just throw...Generals never in politics? Yeah right, just throwing that out there, are you?<BR/><BR/>Currie and Byng used politics as the club to get the Canadian Corp into a single unit in WWI.<BR/><BR/>MacArthur used politics against FDR in order to put the invasion of the Phillipeans ahead of Formosa in WWII.<BR/><BR/>Wellington used politics as a club to keep the Alliance in check all through the Napoleonic Wars and most especially within his command at Waterloo.<BR/><BR/>Napoleon was politics.<BR/><BR/>Alexandre the Great moved his capital to Persia because of politics.<BR/><BR/>Caeser crossed the Rubicon.<BR/><BR/>Ask Lincoln if his generals had nothing to do with politics!<BR/><BR/>You'll note that each of these examples comes from a 'democracy'. (Caveat: Napoleonic France probably doesn't qualify.)<BR/><BR/>I won't argue your post, but your premise is anything but accurate.<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>lancelancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14481248175442820597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-31741424197659178272007-07-20T13:13:00.000-07:002007-07-20T13:13:00.000-07:00Politicians "borrow" the goodwill of the troops by...Politicians "borrow" the goodwill of the troops by putting generals forward to promote unpopular wars. It is a disgusting practice. I agree with you it should not be done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-79720019488012641932007-07-20T11:30:00.000-07:002007-07-20T11:30:00.000-07:00Hi, Hope your having a good day. I can almost see ...Hi, Hope your having a good day. I can almost see what your saying but I do not really agree. I think it is more of the fact that the General's are stating what they see as the commanders to the public because all sides of the political spectrum are going overboard be it in govt,press, or our ever loving blogs. A Brit General put out a report last week concerning the set backs in Helmond province as he sees them in Afgan. The question maybe we should now be asking then, is do we want the opinion of the commanders on the ground or from the politicians who will color the issues to suit their side of the spectrum. Just some initial thoughts, will ponder it more. <BR/><BR/>Disclosure I am a serving member of the CF who has been in Afgan twice.Burton, Formerly Kingstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05539157151309542216noreply@blogger.com