Posted by
Joe Voter on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 8:46:41 PM
The Iraq Study Group has issued their report and the press is on the offensive. Everyone is saying that President Bush's strategy is not working. It is true that we are not on our way to a victory in Iraq. But let's put partisan politics aside just for a moment and get to the root of the problem. The problem isn't strategy. Strategies can and should change as the war progresses. The real problem with the war in Iraq is leadership or lack of. And I'm not talking about the leadership of President Bush, I'm talking about the on the ground Commander of the Forces in Iraq. I'm talking about our officers in the military. Specifically, I'm talking about our General officers. The ones that are suppose to be leading our troops into battle. The ones that are suppose to inspire the troops, frighten the enemy, and secure a victory on the battlefield for America!
The majority of the General Officer Corp in our Armed Forces are nothing more than bureaucrats. During previous conflicts (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam) Officers were expected to lead from the front. From the Second Lt. to the Commanding General, Officers lead the way into battle and we won wars. However, today Officers are worried about being politically correct and when things go wrong. The officers blame the enlisted men.
We had great Generals that motivated not only our troops but they motivated the American public. We had General Patton who said great things like:
"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't.”
“I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.”
“A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later.”
“No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair.”
We had General Chesty Puller who lead his men in the battle. When an Army captain asked him for the direction of the line of retreat, Col Puller called his Tank Commander, gave them the Army position, and ordered: "If they start to pull back from that line, even one foot, I want you to open fire on them."
Turning to the captain, he replied "Does that answer your question? We're here to fight."
Where are our great Generals today?
Thanks for reading,
I'm Joe Voter!
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