U.S. general in Iraq: Growing disconnect with Washington

[ECH1969]

BAGHDAD -- "I don't know if I have the moral authority to send troops into combat anymore," a senior American general recently told United Press International.

"I'm no longer sure I can look (a soldier or a Marine) in the eye and say: 'This is something worth dying for.'" He doesn't mean Iraq. There are plenty of bad people here to fight, and plenty of innocents worth protecting. His moral crisis was that he had been to Washington, D.C.

He had been asked politically loaded questions from both sides of aisle about the war, each questioner seeking ammunition to use for their own political ends.

"Everything that happens in Iraq is viewed in Washington through a prism of whether it is good for George W. Bush or bad".

http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20051005-022643-9419r
--------------------------------------------------------------

The generals are waking up and realizing that the GOP doesn't give a shit about Iraqis only about 2006.

[merbex]

1. Are the Generals finally getting it that what is good for GWB* is not

good for America - in any sense whatsoever??

I'd like to think that the education most generals receive at West Point or the other service Academies would have gotten them to this point sooner

[Brother Buzz]

9. West Point is just a nursery school that cranks out lieutenents

The real military education begins, mid-career, at the Army War College (or one of the other branch service war colleges), and I'm happy to report they aren't happy with the idiot Bush*s foreign policy. They get it.

[jody]

18. How do you know Lt. Cols. and Colonels at the War Colleges "aren't happy

with the idiot Bush*s foreign policy"?

I hope you're correct but what proof do you have? :shrug:

[Brother Buzz]

24. War College Study

War College Study Calls Iraq a 'Detour'

Institute's report warns anti-terror campaign may launch 'open-ended andgratuitous conflict.'


by Chuck Neubauer and Ken Silverstein

WASHINGTON — A report published by the Army War College criticizes the Bush administration's global war on terrorism as "unfocused" and contends that the war in Iraq is "unnecessary" and a "detour" that has diverted attention and resources from the threat posed by Al Qaeda.

The report warns that the administration's global war on terrorism may have set the United States "on a course of open-ended and gratuitous conflict with states and non-state entities that pose no serious threat to the United States."

The report by Jeffrey Record, a visiting research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of the Army War College, calls for downsizing the war on terrorism and focusing instead on the threat from Al Qaeda, the terror network responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as well as other sites around the world.

<more>

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0112-01.htm

[jody]

25. How does one report represent the views of over a thousand senior officers

who attend War Colleges each year?

The report was by Jeffrey Record, a visiting research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of the Army War College. Record has also been a member of the Department of Strategy and International Security at the Air War College.

He is not an officer and I don't see how you can construe his writings to represent the views of senior commissioned officers. :shrug:

[Brother Buzz]

27. It doesn't, but I find no opposing views published by the War College...

and that speaks volumes.

Individual low grade field officers don't dare risk speaking publicly against the Bush* policy for fear of damaging their career; that is the job for generals. They know, nevertheless.

[jody]

28. Unless you have actual knowledge of student opinions at War Colleges, then

I believe your assertions are totally unsupported.

I suggest you read several hundred student papers from War Colleges and then form an opinion.

You can find those papers at:
Air War College Library
Army War College Library
Navy War College Library
National War College

[roseBudd]

30. I use a quote from that Army War College paper in my antiwar flyer, DL it

download the PDF and print and distribute:
http://bushcheated04.com/war2.pdf

I put them in the display window of empty free newspaper boxes, inside political books in the library (liberal & conservative) and select car windshields.

[jody]

31. I don't believe your statement is correct. The paper is not an Army

War College paper, it's a paper written by Dr. Jeffrey Record, a visiting instructor at the Army War College and carries the standard disclaimer, "The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This report is cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited."

You know already but for other DUers, the paper is BOUNDING THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

[roseBudd]

32. It is published on the Army War College web site, so I have cited

where the quote comes from.

[jody]

33. But it's not an Army War College paper. I know we are discussing fine

points but it's not correct to call it an Army War College paper because that leads some to believe it is endorsed by the College.

If you want to go as far as you have, why not call it a Bush Administration paper because Bush controls the Army War College.

I say again, the paper was published by a visiting civilian instructor at the Army War College. War Colleges are very conscious of academic freedom and they would not infringe on an instructor's right to publish her/his own views.

It might mean that a controversial visiting instructor might not be invited back again but they can publish their opinions.

[cap]

35. actually, a lot of the top brass are unhappy

a friend of mine knows some of the brass and he reports that they never wanted to do Iraq from the get go.

[jody]

37. Understand but rumors from friends who know brass are not very substantial

For example, what rank? Generals, Colonels, Lieutenants?

What are/were their objections? Strategy, tactics, logistics, legitimacy?

:shrug:

[keta11]

38. This may be anecdotal but

My dad graduated from the National War College in DC this year. We lived together and he told me at the end of most days how class discussions went. According to him it was equal measure Neo-cons on one side and officers and professors who thought Iraq was the most idiotic idea.

He was on the good side.

[jody]

39. Your dad's observations are consistent with mine. Congratulations on

having a dad who is among the very top officers at a rank which consists of the very best of the best.

:toast: to your dad!

[keta11]

40. Thanks - he was really proud after graduating because

it was a lot of work. The living room was "converted" into a virtual library and his cube at the school was packed high with books as well.

[MuseRider]

2. It is

good that this is happening but it certainly would have been nice if they had thought about this a lot sooner.

[understandinglife]

3. Top of DU Homepage material. Thank you for posting.

Peace.

[understandinglife]

23. Thank you, mods, for moving this to the DU homepage!

Peace.

[Mountainman]

4. The one thing that is never stated is, what the real reason to go to war

was. They talk about winning or losing a war when what they are either winning or losing is the new wealth to oilmen. Oilmen are very willing to stay the course and it doesn't matter to them how many people die or how much it costs.

Back home we talk about this war in value statements such as a war on terror which is all bull shit and meaningless.

We need to talk about whether capturing Iraq's resources for the good of the few is worth the sacrifices of the many. The obvious answer to that question is a resounding no.

The sooner we can talk about the real reason for this war the sooner it will end.

It is not about doing good for the Iraqi people or about democracy or about terrorists. I am not listening to any more debates based on that rhetoric. It is about the wealth and greed of a few.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. " ..... the GOP doesn't give a shit about Iraqis ..... "

They also don't give a shit about 'the troops'.

And the troops know it. They don't wanna believe ... but they know it.

[Pryderi]

6. UPI INTERNATIONAL PULLED THE STORY!

http://news.google.com/news?q=%22Bradley%20Becker%22%20%22moral%20authority%22&hl=en&hs=Gst&lr=&c2coff=1&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&filter=0&sa=N&tab=wn

1984 IS A LONG FUCKING DECADE!

[David Zephyr]

7. It appears that they did indeed pull the story. Simply amazing!

This is the breaking news: Censorship.

[Pryderi]

8. I took a screenshot

<img src="">

[psychopomp]

10. Story still up at link in OP though

I could hardly believe UPI ran this story...looks like somebody else couldn't believe it either and rushed a call to a higher-up at the wire service.

[mod mom]

11. Let's hope Lt Col Bradley Becker won't have to pay the ultimate price for

his brave words!

[Jack from Charlotte]

13. I'm think Lt. Col. Becker will never see those birdies on his shoulders.*

[screembloodymurder]

17. Well done!

I'm glad to see someone's keeping these bastards honest.

[bperci108]

16. Am I mistaken....

Doesn't BushCo. lickspittle Rev. Moon own UPI?


:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[texpatriot2004]

12. Good for him. He "doesn't have the moral authority" I am glad to

hear that he can't look soldiers in the eye and tell them it's worth dying for because it's NOT. I hate to say that, type that because so many have already died and been wounded but that is the truth.

[ECH1969]

14. That wasn't what he was saying

He actually believes he is protecting Iraqis, but he also believes that the government doesn't care about protecting Iraqis.

[kostya]

15. Pulled on UPI, but still up here

http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20051005-022643-9419r

[barb162]

19. kick

[barb162]

20. kick

[jody]

21. Officer is saying congress is polarized on the Iraqi war, nothing more. nt

[BootinUp]

22. Actually he is slamming both sides of the aisle

I appreciate that he is at least talking about the problem. He is talking to the American people and saying, why don't you elect some non-clowns to run your government!

[BeHereNow]

26. Rightfully so- "Slamming BOTH sides"

Our government, ALL of it, has been highjacked by
the multi-national corporate interests. All legislation is
controlled by, and in the interest of these global
mega-conglomerates. They are the puppet masters
of BOTH democratic and republican representatives.

When they withhold information declaring
such information as "national security" issues, I say BULL.
They do not give a crap about America- not in the least.
The FACT is, they are beholden to "CORPORATE interests" NOT
American interests.

The MASSIVE amounts of money that are hidden in offshore
accounts, the taxes NOT paid or returned to our economy by the richest
corporate entities in this country, were all made
possible by the very representatives who are charged
with acting in the best interest of AMERICANS and they are an ABOMINATION in our country, not to mention every country
they operate in.

They are responsible for the destruction of education, employment
and healthcare in this country, the very staples of civilization, and they MUST go!
Never again should we allow public servants to accept
financing from the corporate monsters who could care
a less if we live or die in a global market.

Rant off-
BHN

[ClintonTyree]

29. I totally agree...

if there are Dems (IF?) that are "enabling" the bush administration's illegal and immoral war then they should be challenged just as much or more than the Repukes. You can understand it from the Repukes, war is money and that's all they care about, but coming from Democrats that supposedly care about the lives of our fighting men and women and supposedly would never send them into harm's way on a lie, you expect more. I'm not seeing more, I'm seeing enablers too afraid to take a stand against the bush cabal, too afraid to take a stand and jeopardize their precious positions.
There is no morality in this war. There is no noble cause, it's a war of greed and revenge, bush's greed and bush's revenge. "He tried to kill my Daddy". So thousands have to die and hundreds of billions spent to satisfy the blood lust of some spoiled, ignorant, frat-boy punk.
Fuck bush and fuck this war. Get out of Iraq, NOW!

[leftchick]

34. Once a nation decides to go to war, the consequences will be ugly

ya think? Actually, if these sources are to be believed, this sounds one fuck of a lot like Vietnam. Now bring the Troops HOME!

[Vinca]

36. You've got to wonder what the hell is going on when

the military leaders say one brigade is operable and Shrub multiplies it a hundred fold or more. Sometimes I think Junior can't recognize lies from truth anymore.