Another DefenceWatch article

[Trident-za]

http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Hacks%20Target%20Homepage.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=20&rnd=2.159814211214972

This one is written by Col. Hackworth, a retired US military combat officer (as oppsed to a bean counter/paper pusher) who, I think, runs the magazine. If I remember correctly, he served 5 combat tours in Vietnam. Ive been reading DefenceWatch for nearly 3 years now, and I can sum up the overall "attitude" as follows:

1) passionately pro-US
2) completely pro-US military
3) completely against politicains and/or officers who put their own interests ahead of the interests of the "grunts"

Some might say that he (Hackworth) tries to score points by knocking the powers that be. Another way of looking at it would be say that he wants the military to get stronger - and it won't get stronger by ignoring the mistakes or covering them up. Decide for yourself. Just remember, though, the man has several combat tours under the belt and he isn't the politician type.

[James]

I appreciate you posting this and the article yesterday. I think it is helpful when people with a vast amount of credibility take issue with the way things are being run.
I've got a brother in law in Iraq at the moment. I wrote him several weeks ago to let him know that I would be quite happy to supplement any supplies he wants/needs with packages from home.

[Trident-za]

James... its great to actually hear a positive response for once! Thanks! :)

[budanski]

Keep in mind this guy is retired.

We had retired generals on TV during the Iraqi War proclaiming how things were in a "quagmire." They're still going by old doctrines that have repeatedly changed over the years. I'm not saying he's full of it but you should take that in consideration.

[Trident-za]

True, but remember that the guys sending him email/snail mail are not retired at all - they are THERE. (unless we believe the Col. is lying thru his teeth)

[Argyll]

Budanski,thats the best avatar I seen yet!!
rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl

[warchild1/27scout]

i think hack is a very good guy but i thought he was one talking about a bloodbath in iraq. i very much respect him and other combat officers but i wonder if they are the right ones to make decisions on going to war or not. we might have to go to war for something and maybe through the experiences of war it might keep a guy from making that hard decision to send a young man like he himself was into the horror of war.just a thought. budanski thats awesome. woot

[Trident-za]

i think hack is a very good guy but i thought he was one talking about a bloodbath in iraq. i very much respect him and other combat officers but i wonder if they are the right ones to make decisions on going to war or not. we might have to go to war for something and maybe through the experiences of war it might keep a guy from making that hard decision to send a young man like he himself was into the horror of war.just a thought. budanski thats awesome. woot

Damn, Warchild.... for the first time in recorded history I actually agree with you :) It is necessary, however, for people like Hack to be around and make sure lives aren't wasted for nothing - or worse, for some dumb politician's ego.

[budanski]

:D :D :D

[Trigger]

Hey Budanski, you need to get one with Daschle popping up too!
FRIGGIN' HILARIOUS!! rofl rofl rofl

[budanski]

I got another idea for D-asshole. But I dont think it would be appropriate. p-)

[Royal]

I'm gobsmacked. Every army has it's problems but I never thought that logistics would be raised as a US problem.

Sure Hackworth is retired and looking at this from 1000's of miles away, but he's been there and got the t-shirt. As he pointed out, squaddies through the ages have stolen, begged, borrowed or scrounged - usually in my experience from the yanks. Where are the Brits going to get their kit now?

During the build up in Kuwait there were stories in the UK press about troops not having enough toilet paper. CGS (Gen Sir Mike Jackson - a man I very much respect, despite the fact he's a para) said on a visit that a squaddie wasn't much use at anything if he didn't have the nouse to have a spare bog-roll in his bergan. Fair point, which sums up the British attitude for the last 300 years at least, but are these kinds of logistical foul ups really necessary in the 21st centuary?