SecDef Resigning

Colleges & Universities Service Academy Parents
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<p>So I can’t believe this hasn’t been started yet, but I believe the bigger bombshell of the day was the resignation of Secretary Rumsfeld and the nomination of former CIA head and Texas aTm president Robert Gates. </p>

<p>I’m not quite sure how I feel about this yet, although I know more than a few who are probably ready to gloat.</p>

<p>Leaving Iraq out of it Rumsfeld made many changes in the military. “Transformation” has become the key word in recent years and most of that was begun with him. He ruffled alot of top brass feathers and I think that is what ultimately led to his resignation.</p>

<p>Unfortunately I do not yet know enough about Gates to make any comments one way or the other.</p>

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<p>Although I mentioned it in the other thread, he should be sent straight to the HAGUE and tried for war crimes. I was thinking he could be tried in one of those GITMO tribunals, that would be ironic seeing he started them, ahh, what a great day its been.</p>

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<p>Hey…I thought we were “staying the course”…looks to me like the course is pretty much done…Rumsfeld gone, with any luck Cheney will resign for “health issues” and then Georgie boy will be forced to use his brain…Oh no, our troops may be coming home, we will be moving closer to peace. The dems have taken over and what will that mean now…great day!</p>

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<p>wow, I thought I would get intelligent discussion on Secretary Rumsfeld. Maybe about his changes to the military or even discussion on his replacement, instead I get “send him to hague” and “maybe Georgie boy will have to use his brain.” As I said in a previous post; how about giving those in the positions they are in the respect they deserve by referring to them properly, eg President Bush. </p>

<p>I don’t know why I thought I would get intelligent discussion, but maybe there is still hope.</p>

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<p>I’ll give you my two cents, KP.</p>

<p>On a personal level, I like the guy. He takes no grief from anyone and is quite obviously both very intelligent and a visionary leader.</p>

<p>Now, I am no longer in the military, but I know several folks who are. They think as I do. However, very recently a good friend of mine (and current SWO) informed me of some of the mistakes Rumfeld made when planning the war as well as trying to implement changes at the Pentagon. Some of the changes were sorely needed, some were welcome. Others, as you can imagine, were not received well because when you try and change ANY bureacracy you are bound to get stiff resistance from those for who the status quo is a warm, comfy blanket.</p>

<p>Additionally, Rumsfeld come from the business (i.e. - REAL) world, and as such is very big on operational efficiency. He wanted to cut as much fat from the Defense department as possible, but ran across the fact that after the previous administration’s cuts, there wasn’t much MEAT left. Then 9/11 happened, and the military began growing again. Too many conflicting priorities at one time. Throw in a well-known streak of stubbornness, and you get a mild chaos.</p>

<p>As for the war, he was apparently instrumental in the design of the plan as it was executed, i.e. - a limited invasion with a smaller force. Central Command had a plan on the books that called for a full-blown invasion with 300,000 troops. (Can you imagine the reaction of the usual suspects had we REALLY gone to war and just wiped the slate clean?) Well, we didn’t send that many, and in part reason for that we have what we have today. Such is life in war: some tactics work, others don’t. Life’s tough.</p>

<p>I have no idea who this new gentleman is, nor have I had a chance to speak with my buddies to get their take. I will admit I was surprised when they told me of Rummy, how they both loved him and hated him, but there it is.</p>

<p>I think there is little doubt that the military needs to continue growing, and to do so both quickly and efficiently. I just read elsewhere that the USMC has requested that another brigade of Marine Infantry be created. All I can say to that is HOO-RAH! The officers to command it are even now going through the Academy. GET SOME!</p>

<p>And before anyone ignores the requests of Amistad (the Mod) and makes this political, be advised that I won’t play, so don’t bother if all you want ais a reaction from me. </p>

<p>Despite all the good and the bad that has happened to, within, and because of the military, their morale remains high, and they remain the biggest, meanest, and smartest bunch of bad-asses in uniform the world has ever seen. They have my unconditional support, respect, admiration, and gratitude.</p>

<p>There it is, man. That’s all I can offer you.</p>

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<p>To me it’s President Bush’s first attempt to cooperate in a bipartisan way with the new Congressional Leadership (come January.)</p>

<p>Now the ball is back in their side of the court.</p>

<p>Z got in before me, with a much better argument.</p>

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</p>

<p>Could be. Maybe not. Either way, it doesn’t matter. What’s done is done.</p>

<p>I just want everyone to consider what he was up against, though. Eight years of undeniable draconian cuts (I saw those myself first-hand). The end of the Cold War requiring the realignment of the military to fight regional conflicts rather than full-blown wars. Then the sudden and unexpected need to field a military that can not only fight two or more regional conflicts simultaneously, but also a shadow war against terrorist cells the world over. You can’t turn an organization as huge and as vital as the Pentagon in so many directions simultaneously and on a dime, even with the best support. The fact he took the job on and didn’t quit is a testament to his dedication, and the fact that the troops respect him personally no matter what they think of some of his policies is, as well.</p>

<p>Some have wanted to compare him to Robert McNamara. In one plain the comparison is valid, but Rumsfeld never came anywhere near being the micromanaging bean-counter McNamara was.</p>

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<p>“You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror” Quote by George W. Bush during a recent interview with Katie Couric (9/6/2006)</p>

<p>“The only way we can win is to leave before the job is done” Quote by George W. Bush (11/3/2006)</p>

<p>OK, and you are looking for “intelligent” discussion? </p>

<p>This blatant abuse of power and the killing of so many innocent lives must be stopped. The American people have spoken, and the recent changes mean the majority concers that this has gotten way out of hand. You have to ask yourself, what Peace means to you. Less officer billots, less government jobs and contracts??? For shame.</p>

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<p>Z, you sound like a war monger. Our miliary is becomming the laughing stock…Peace out. The course has reached it’s end.</p>

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<p>And just when you thought things were going well… :rolleyes:</p>

<p>Sorry, pedsox. If you want to argue you’ll have to find someone else in some other sandbox. I’m not playing.</p>

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<p>None of us will go back to the days when we would pick apart Confused 23’s arguments and fight every liberal looking at this board as a place to attack. And yes, in his frustration, Z did his fair share of attacking too. But he has recognized that: 1) it’s pointless to argue each statement (no one is coming here to be convinced, and 2) it isn’t the purpose of this forum. The purpose relates to the service academies and many on both sides have recognized this and prefer civilized discourse where we just agree to disagree.</p>

<p>I too will not play that game anymore. But I have noticed that the differences between the pro-administration group and the anti-administration group stem less from logic and much more from belief systems. Pro-admin posters tend to start from a position that there is truly dangerous evil in the world and that countries like the US must make stands where we can, fight it head on and fight it pre-emptively (the so-called Bush doctrine). Negotiations with such fanatics is pointless under this point of view. The underlying belief is also that (with MANY exceptions), this country’s citizens and government really does care about what is right and that democracy, liberty, etc. is something that should be a human right, which any can enjoy if those with power and those beliefs use it wisely. </p>

<p>The anti-administration crowd would say that this is the height of arrogance. That people and countries should live they way they want to. That while there is true evil in the world, GENERALLY speaking, others have different points of view and if we could only understand them, negotiate with them and learn more about them, we could live peacably with them. Anything else is simply the US throwing it’s muscle around and will result in pointless wars that accomplish nothing in the long run. Nazi German, Japan and wars that did “work” only did so because in those cases, everyone could agree that aggressive evil was on the march so it had to be stopped. Agreement is the critical determination of when such action should be taken. This moral relativistic perspective is a sharp contrast from the moral absolute position that describes the first paragrah above. This group is not anti-America but believes that we must change America towards this view or they may become anti-America.</p>

<p>This all may seem terribly obvious. My apologies if it does. But both views actually stem from positions where people care deeply and truly believe they are in the right – for mankind and for our country. I underscore these differences because they explain why pedsox and Misterflier will not sway Zaph and others. Zaph has recognized this (I believe) and perhaps pedsox and Misterflier will rethink using this board to try and change underlying belief systems that will not change anytime soon.</p>

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<p>What is unfortunate is that because of the spotlight on the war and Rumsfled’s personality, the really substantial and good work that has been accomplished in the improvement of the day-to-day operations of the Defense Department and the Services will be overlooked.</p>

<p>The wisdom of bringing in Service Secretaries like Fran Harvey, Don Winter and Mike Wynn; and others like Ken Krieg and Jack Bell has gone a long way to improving how things get done. For example, the Army alone has completed over 4,000 LEAN events at every level in the last year and a half resulting in savings of over $1billion. This is money that is plowed back to the soldiers. </p>

<p>These are changes that will serve the country well for a long time to come.</p>

<p>Fortunately, the baby isn’t going out with the bathwater.</p>