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Trooper
Group: Community Supporter
Last Login: Yesterday @ 11:11 AM
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OpForIt, I'm going to set you straight since you obviously take what you read in the media as Gospel. Well, the media (again) has it WRONG.
First of all, I know a little bit more about these issues since I work here in the Pentagon and have attended meetings (in the Secretary's Office and elsewhere) and heard the Principals discuss these issues.
First, no one cared or cares more about transforming the Army than SecDef. Why ? Because its responsibility to transform it and make sure that the greatest land force in the U.S. military is agile, lethal and supported.
Second, GEN Keane declined the offer because his wife is ill. Period. End of discussion.
Third, GEN Abizaid wanted to command CENTCOM. He's got it. Hopefully, his confirmation hearings will occur later this month.
Fourth, the SecDef trusts and likes GEN Shoomaker. Period. They have worked together and he knows (as anyone who as ever met the General (I have)) that the General is no YES man. That's good for the Army.
Fifth, the problems that were reported about the Army/OSD relationship really were about professionalism. No one should doubt the fact that many brief the SecDef on issues and when he raises questions, are expected to give him honest advice -- even if he doesn't initially agree with it. I can cite numerous examples where folks have advocated positions to him on issues that, once he heard the arguments, convinced him that they were right. Buildup for Iraq had MANY such discussions. Once the decision is made though, right or wrong, an Officer must salute and carry it out. Or resign. Going around the Secretary and pushing opinions or complaints inconsistent with DoD policy is NOT the way to do it (to be fair to SECARMY White and GEN Shinseki -- they were not behind what Army Leg Affairs did). Whether true or not, once DoD decided that its policy was NOT to accept the proposition that large numbers of troops would be necessary for Iraq, it is the proper thing for those under the Secretary's command (key words) to march in step or resign.
Bottom line: spout all you want. That's your right. Realize, however, that, when you are wrong, you REALLY are off on the deep end.
Class is dismissed.
You can run and you can hide, but you'll only die tired !
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Seasoned Vet
 
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 9/7/2005 7:22 PM
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quote:
- hence he, for the first time in history, had to call an officer back from retirement for the CofS position.
I sure wished that someone would have called retired Gen. Gavin back as ACS in '61. The 'right man' for the job is the 'right man' whether he is on active duty or recently retired IMO.
As I have mentioned before, retired Gen. Maxwell Taylor was called back by JFK to be chariman of the JCS in '61. So there actaully is a precedent for this type of thing.
quote:
For instance, I don't think any general would turn down CofS to command Centcom unless there was something else at work.
Well maybe you should do a little more research on Gen. Abizaid to discover why he just might want to be the CENTCOM commander right now. His day as ACS is coming, just you wait and see. So he is really not missing out on anything IMO.
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Seasoned Vet
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 10/2/2005 10:13 PM
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Abizaid's name WILL be heard in the future.
Go with God, but make Him walk the point.
If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets he has to watch somebody a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone axe - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a Vernier. - Robert Heinlein
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Hard Charger
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we will miss you pegleg......NOT
MIKE LANSAW
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Seasoned Vet
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 9/7/2005 7:22 PM
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I miss pegleg........but my aim is improving.[ ]
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Seasoned Vet
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 9/7/2005 7:22 PM
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IMO, this is why Abazaid wanted the CENTCOM command right now:
"An Arabic-speaking Army general of Lebanese descent has been nominated to replace Gen. Tommy Franks as head of U.S. Central Command, the Pentagon (news - web sites) announced Wednesday.
The nomination of Lt. Gen. John Abizaid, currently second-in-command under Franks, was widely expected since Franks announced last month he would retire this summer. Abizaid must be confirmed by the Senate before taking the reins at Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia, including Iraq (news - web sites) and a large swath of the Middle East.
Abizaid, a grandson of Lebanese immigrants, speaks fluent Arabic, which he studied at a university in Jordan. He also holds a master's degree in Middle East studies from Harvard and has said he loves the region's people and culture.
Abizaid referred to that background during a news conference at the height of combat in Iraq.
"I'm a soldier and I do my best, but I would say, as a person who has studied the Arab world and loves the Arab world, that the majority of educated Arabs that I talk to know that Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) has been a plague on the Arab world and on his own people, and they welcome his removal," Abizaid said March 23."
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Stare Master
Group: Community Supporter
Last Login: Today @ 3:54 PM
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John, great post. I always thought that the primary reason LTG Abizaid wanted command of CENTCOM was because of his background. One other plus is that in two years when they are looking for another JCS Chairman Gen. Abizaid will have the required joint command under his belt.
Quite frankly, I would not be surprised that any officer with a HOOAH background would prefer a warfighting command over an administrative position like Chief of Staff.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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