War College Report: Iraq War an 'Error'

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040113/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_report&cid=542&ncid=1480

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A report published by the Army War College calls the Bush administration's war on terrorism unfocused and says the invasion of Iraq was "a strategic error."

The research paper by Jeffrey Record, a professor at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, said the president's strategy "promises much more than it can deliver" and threatens to spread U.S. military resources too thin. Record also wrote that Saddam Hussein's Iraq did not present a threat to the United States and was a distraction from the war on terrorism.

Record is a visiting professor at the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa. The paper was published last month by the Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute.

Lt. Col. Merideth Bucher, public affairs officer for the Army War College, said Monday it is not unusual for students, mostly higher ranking officers, at the war college to be exposed to critical thought that might be contrary to current national policy. She said students are often exposed to speakers with varying views.

more

[NJCher]

1. heard this on NPR, too

Very damaging. If only Americans paid attention to the news in depth.


Cher

[Leilani]

2. This report

follows exactly what Wes Clark has been saying all along.

Vote Wes Clark!

Vote against needless wars.

[papau]

3. How will the 9 use this piece of major ammo? (some links below)

How will the 9 use this piece of major ammo? (Army criticizes detour into an "unnecessary" war in Iraq/"unrealistic" anti-terrorism quest)


links to full report and to a prior report that is "consistent"
The report, which can be found HERE": <http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ssi/pubs/2003/bounding/bounding.htm >

"consistent with earlier reports": <http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0109/dailyUpdate.html?s=entt >


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8435-2004Jan11.html

A scathing new report published by the Army War College broadly criticizes the Bush administration's handling of the war on terrorism, accusing it of taking a detour into an "unnecessary" war in Iraq and pursuing an "unrealistic" quest against terrorism that may lead to U.S. wars with states that pose no serious threat.

The report, by Jeffrey Record, a visiting professor at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, warns that as a result of those mistakes, the Army is "near the breaking point."

It recommends, among other things, scaling back the scope of the "global war on terrorism" and instead focusing on the narrower threat posed by the al Qaeda terrorist network.

"he global war on terrorism as currently defined and waged is dangerously indiscriminate and ambitious, and accordingly . . . its parameters should be readjusted," Record writes. Currently, he adds, the anti-terrorism campaign "is strategically unfocused, promises more than it can deliver, and threatens to dissipate U.S. military resources in an endless and hopeless search for absolute security." <snip>

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Moderator]

4. papau

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you

DU Moderator

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Well...things seem to be getting much more interesting, don't they? nt

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. It just goes to show you

Contrary to popular belief, The military does not walk in lockstop with the neocons. Most neocons are Chickenhawks who do not know the reality of war firsthand.

[maggrwaggr]

7. This is a big deal

From what I remember of growing up with a military officer Dad, the war college was VERY highly regarded.

If this gets out, the soldiers in Iraq are gonna start hitchhiking home.