“Sam” Has My Attention
One of my recent commentors (see this post) sent me an email with a link to an opinion piece by Ret. Col. David H. Hackworth* about the armored vest fiasco that has probably resulted in dead American soldiers.
It is no secret that I am a fan of this administration’s foreign policy…including Iraq. I think it is important that the United States do something besides eliminating one country that was harboring Al Queda (Afganistan). We need to work on eliminating all regimes that harbor and actively support Islamo-facist thugs. Creating a working Democracy in Iraq…even a very weak and ineffectual one…is a major public step in weakening the dictatorial regimes in the middle-east that are breeding grounds for these animals. More should be said on this about what else needs to happen but this is an argument for another day.
*Hackworth is America’s most decorated living soldier
In this post I want to point out that I’m not an unskeptical fan of any administration or leader…whether current or former. Sam jumped on my case for indicating I supported Rumsfeld’s efforts to reform our armed services. He was right in all of his arguments although I didn’t give him a lot of credit at first (we talked past each other in most of the comments we posted). There are problems with the way reform efforts are being carried out. These problems are typical of the huge bureaucracy with many political and economic special interests that is our DOD.
Here’s a brief example from the above linked article:
For starters, the Pentagon’s top brass always focus on big-ticket toys like the irrelevant F-22 fighter, the crash-and-burn Osprey helicopter, the redundant Joint Strike Fighter and the dubious Stryker combat vehicle.
These 18-karat klinkers might be ideal weapons to fight a now-extinct Soviet bear, but they aren’t worth a bucket of spit in our present long-term struggle against terrorism.
The price tag for just these four wonder weapons runs about half a trillion dollars – great for war racketeers, political slush funds and other pork, and the general officers’ big-buck, military-industrial-congressional-complex-sponsored post-military careers, but not so good for the GI Joes and Jills operating in the killing zones without the right stuff.
Things like this have to be fixed. I don’t agree with Sam’s (and Kerry’s?) apparent contention that all we need are soldiers on the ground:
It takes grunts on the ground to kill terrorists, not fancy, expensive technology toys. That’s Army 101.
I do however agree with Sam that grunts are our military’s most important component. I think the Bush administration has made a huge mistake in not giving our soldiers better pay, benefits, and equipment. They should be held accountable for this. If the Dems would give me a candidate who I thought would do a better job in these area’s I’d vote for him. That isn’t going to happen this year. (Note…I’m not voting for Bush either. I live in Vi’R'ginia so my vote doesn’t really count. I’ll probably go for a write-in candidate.)
Kerry hasn’t indicated anything about what he would do to effectively pursue the War on Terror (and yes…to me that means our operations in Iraq and further offensive operations against terrorist supporting nations and groups). I can only support a foreign policy that will pro-actively go after the thugs. I never again want to smell burnt American buildings and people on my way to work as I did most of September in 2001.
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I saw a news thingy on Donald H. Rumsfeld. It wasn’t the most positive thing, but what can you expect from the media. They will taint any truth for a story.
I like the guy although I would be a bit scared to work for him. He sounds tough, but it would be good to have him on my side.
I feel no regrets about Iraq and all. All these babies can cry that we shouldn’t have gone in but will most likely do nothing to better the future. Always complaining… my idea of true politicians.
Comment by Michael — March 26, 2004 @ 7:37 am
It is a wise person who reads what ‘Hack’ has to say. He knows the game.
Comment by Mum — March 29, 2004 @ 8:20 am
Well, Jeremy, I think you and I have reached the same place on this particular issue. I was wrong in implying that grunts on the ground don’t need the support of technology-based weapons. I agree entirely with your assessment that what is needed is a more balanced approach to (expensive) weapons development and procurement. We need to provide our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines with the best weapons (and protection) available, and sometimes the best is not necessarily the most expensive.
Here is a perfect example of a low-cost ($700), high-tech alternative to some (notice I said some, not all) requirements currently fulfilled by $500,000 to $1.5 million unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV):
http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/reshor/rh-f03/recon.pdf
Of course, since this guy’s little start-up company will be competing with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, I don’t imagine he will win many Pentagon contracts. It makes too much sense, and the beltway bandits are simply too influential and powerful right now.
Finally, I too admit some misgivings regarding Kerry’s ability to fight the war on terrorism (I still think that is separate from the war on Iraq). Right now I just have too many doubts about President Bush’s veracity and integrity to even consider voting for him.
Jeremy, I want you to know that from 1987 until 1990 I worked in Room 1C420 in the Pentagon. If you are familiar with the topology, that room was located very close to the impact point of Flight 77 (1st Floor, C Ring, off Hallway 4), just inside the helipad entrance. I believe that office was destroyed, if not severely damaged. Like you, 9/11 will always remain with me, vividly.
With respect,
Comment by Sam — March 29, 2004 @ 12:22 pm