A highly-commended active-duty Army officer
A highly-commended active-duty Army officer
has published “a blistering attack on U.S. generals, saying they have botched the war in Iraq and misled Congress about the situation there.”
“America’s generals have repeated the mistakes of Vietnam in Iraq,” charges Lt. Col. Paul Yingling, an Iraq veteran who is deputy commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. “The intellectual and moral failures . . . constitute a crisis in American generals.” [...]
[Yingling's essay in Armed Forces Journal] signals the public emergence of a split inside the military between younger, mid-career officers and the top brass.
Many majors and lieutenant colonels have privately expressed anger and frustration with the performance of Gen. Tommy R. Franks, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno and other top commanders in the war, calling them slow to grasp the realities of the war and overly optimistic in their assessments.
Some younger officers have stated privately that more generals should have been taken to task for their handling of the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison, news of which broke in 2004. The young officers also note that the Army’s elaborate “lessons learned” process does not criticize generals and that no generals in Iraq have been replaced for poor battlefield performance, a contrast to other U.S. wars.
Read Yingling’s full article HERE.
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Sounds like sour grapes from Lt. Col. Yingling. In my day, no one in their right mind went outside the chain of command.
April 27th, 2007 at 12:42 amThis is not your day.
April 27th, 2007 at 12:44 amSounds like sour grapes from Lt. Col. Yingling. In my day, no one in their right mind went outside the chain of command. Comment by Jake — April 27, 2007 @ 12:42 am
Your *expertise* playing xbox doesn’t count *junior*. Sour grapes? BAHAHA, from the soldier that was *praised* by the president?
BAHAHAHAHAHA, yeah, that’s what you SWIFTBOATERS always say about anyone that points out how incompetent you are. Sorry, son, but only you 30%ers that are too dumb to change your own diapers still believe your sh*t. The *lurkers* have spoken, and they say you’re an ignorant, dishonest, immoral, and evil dum bass!
April 27th, 2007 at 12:46 amFor the record, lurkers don’t speak — what I wouldn’t give to have another Greatest Generation take over America rather than the lazy, selfish youngsters of today.
April 27th, 2007 at 1:04 amI’m glad someone on the inside is telling it like it is. I’d rather have mutiny in the ranks than deadly incompetence at the top. If only it were one-or-the-other.
April 27th, 2007 at 1:24 amWell, to say the incoming generation is lazy and selfish is a direct reflection on the out going generation’s inability to instill values like work ethic. Someone was responsible for creating all of those “lazy, selfish youngsters”. Bad apples aside, aren’t parents responsible for the actions of their children? And which generation do the parents belong to? Sounds like yours.
April 27th, 2007 at 1:27 amJake, your time is gone. Your grave is waiting for you. It’s time you exit this world and let real humans take over. Until then, you should stop your spittle. It does nothing for you nor will it in the afterlife. St. Peter will turn you away as surely as neocons avoid actual fighting. your day is done.
April 27th, 2007 at 1:43 amFor the record, lurkers don’t speak Comment by Jake — April 27, 2007 @ 1:04 am
For the record, lurkers don’t speak to *you*, Jake*ss. You might consider that as a clue, son.
— what I wouldn’t give to have another Greatest Generation take over America rather than the lazy, selfish youngsters of today.
Comment by Jake — April 27, 2007 @ 1:04 am
BAHAHAHAHA, yeah, sure. A little gender confused child like yourself, is whining about YOUR generation… Loser.
Tell me, which generation do you claim was the *greatest*? The one that didn’t give women equal rights? The one that didn’t allow interracial marriage? The one that didn’t allow civil rights for minorities? The one that didn’t allow interracial marriages? The on that locked up all of the Japanese Americans, no matter whether they were born here or not? The one that didn’t permit Chinese Americans to be citizens?
You dream for a perfection that never was, and a fantasy that your grandfather told you about a time that is remembered fondly because he didn’t have to worry about being a st*pid racist bigot – like you turned out to be.
Jake*ss, you’re a racist, a bigot, and immoral coward, you lying st*pid piece of sh*t.
April 27th, 2007 at 1:44 amEdge,
Jake*sses comments are the same you hear from all of the young Tucker Carlson types. They dream of the days when they could be st*pid misogynistic homophobic bigots, and society would cheer them for their st*pidity. They also confuse the desperate act of defending a nation under attack with violence and military force, with that generation being more *masculine*. Considering they’re generally doughy little lazy sh*ts like Jake*ss and Limbaugh, it’s easy to see why they might have *masculinity* issues.
Do us a favor Jake*ss, go get some therapy. All of your “Rudying” as a girl this week just made people think you have a crisis of identity at all sorts of levels son/daughter/whatever you are tonight.
April 27th, 2007 at 1:47 amHey Jake ol’ buddy,
April 27th, 2007 at 1:50 amI am a member of that “greatest generation”. I was in Patton’s Third Army, 2nd infantry Regiment, Fifth Infantry Division . We fought because we were attacked and we fough for the forces of good. We did what was right. But none of my fellow veterans believe that this is a good fight. This fight needs to end. The administration does not represent American Ideals. This adminsitration is the “Evil” that we fought so hard against back in France on those cold winter days. As we used to say, The enemy is within!
For the RECORD, jake/elizabeth/michael/judy is going to hell with me to be with our MASTER,
SATAN
See you in hell hake/judy/elizabeth/michael (cause I’LL be THERE),
April 27th, 2007 at 2:27 amMr. Bush
MURDEROUS WAR CRIMINAL
COXUCKER PUNK TRAITOR TO THE USA (TM–BushCrimeCo)
Looks like “old timer” just debunked Jake*sses “lurker” myth. What an idiot.
April 27th, 2007 at 2:46 amTenet has a book out
Tenet has a book out
Tenet:We dont torture
French remarks about 911
April 27th, 2007 at 3:28 amArggghh!!!
April 27th, 2007 at 3:36 amPlease, stop saying that they do this because of stupidity…
They do it for money. They are far from stupid (at worse, clumsy).
The longer the war(s), the richer they get!
How do you expect the military/reconstruction/oil businesses to make benefits without a war???
IF TP DOES NOT DO AN ARTICLE ON IMPEACHING CHENEY THEN YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN THE MEDIA BLACKOUT
April 27th, 2007 at 5:12 amah ok jake so you ARE a korean war veteran again huh? what towns/bases were you stationed in and in what unit(s)? what was your rank?
and you mind describing (not the dollar amount, just other characteristics, like color, wording, etc) the checks you get from the VA? and what sort of other benefits does a brave veteran like you get?
oh, and do you remember the names and/ranks of any of the south korean officers you served beside?
April 27th, 2007 at 5:27 amWhy is Russia pulling back from CFE?
Many question, no answers. Only reason given: Interceptors. Thus I compiled some info about it.
Interceptors
Russia pulls back from CFE
April 27th, 2007 at 5:28 amIt all goes back to numbnuts in the White House and the wingnut ideologues who put him there. And lets not forget Cheney and his band of neocon smack~talkers. They have hijacked our government and created a Constitutional crisis the likes of which are unprecedented. Generals have always done all they cn to obey their civilian masters, but what to do when a ninconpoop like this one gets installed in the WH? It’s tough. Hey, even “Slam Dunk” Tenet is turning on these bozos…
April 27th, 2007 at 5:41 amThere is rebellion brewing in the US military and the Bush Regime has caused it.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:34 amAnyone who doubts Yingling’s thesis need only read Bob Woodward’s description of Tommy Franks’ cowardly acquiescence to Rumsfeld’s demands that he go to war with a fraction of the troops necessary to do the job. Or watch the pathetic chairman of the joint chiefs (dosen’t really matter which one) as he parrots the White House talking points.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:39 amOr note that generals who have since presided over the failed policy, the perhaps unnecessary deaths and injuries of thousands of Americans and countless Iraqis, have retired at the three and four-star rank, like so many conquering heroes.
From my perspective as a retired army lieutenant colonel, Yingling speaks for the majority of his contemporaries. Anybody who views this as “sour grapes” or a breach of the chain of command, simply dosen’t understand today’s military. Officers like Yingling are stakeholders, but they understand that the responsibility of the military is not to enhance the political prospects of their civilian masters, but to tell the truth.
If the military were serious about their sworn duty to protect and defend the constitution, they would arrest those in Washington responsible for attacking and undermining it. The responsibility for every aspect of the Iraq debacle rests with the Whitehouse junta.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:42 am” jake”
thanks for the abe simpson impression this morning, I haven’t laughed that hard since the time you pretended to be a korean war vet. What’s next, are you going to come out on your porch in your pajamas and yell at us young punks to get out of your yard? The “in my time…” is espeically precious.
April 27th, 2007 at 8:47 amthe message from this administration and all who serve at their pleasure, is loyalty, then duty. from the top down the President is sending a message to the young people of this country, shit happens, and no one, ever, ever is to blame, well except maybe women, can you say Karpinski?
April 27th, 2007 at 9:01 amI’m no American and I don’t teach english, but is this phrase better? “A highly-commended active-duty Army officer has published “a blistering attack on U.S. generals, saying they have misled Congress about the war and botched the situation in Iraq.â€
April 27th, 2007 at 9:03 amThis is what happens when Bush yes men rise to the top. Ideology trumps reality, cronyism trumps competence.
April 27th, 2007 at 9:31 amTime for a bunch of twenty somethings from some religious school to get paid $100.00 an hour to dig through Yingling’s past to find information to discredit him.
Time for snarling, Deadeye Dick Cheney to deliver another stinging personal assault on someone he doesn’t know about an article he hasn’t read.
-GSD
April 27th, 2007 at 9:43 amCol. Yingling’s article is well worth the read. The guy’s obviously no dummy. The courage he shows in speaking out is highly commendable.
April 27th, 2007 at 10:13 amWithin recent memory, the military at the Colonel level has been much more creative and forward looking than at the General level. This is the view of some very senior Pentagon civilians and outside advisors who had very high hopes for Rumsfeld’s tenure, only to be bitterly disappointed, not the view of liberals.
I agree with Cavjam that Yingling is to be commended for his courage, likely affecting his career prospects. It stands in stark contrast to the Generals who voiced complaints and objections only after they retired and were beyond the reach of retribution.
As to “going outside the chain of command”, this is done in every war. Look at Wes Clark, a host of commanders in Viet Nam, Korea or, e.g., Patton in World War II. Publicly expressed objections from the right or the left is both the norm and a necessary component of serious policy and strategy debate in our military history.
April 27th, 2007 at 11:00 amKudos the to Lt.Colonel.The degradation of the military lies at the feet of Tommie Franks.He is the idiot that signed off on going to war with too few troops and his the same genius who refused to supply more troops at Tora Bora when Bin Laden was cornered.
April 27th, 2007 at 12:58 pmMore over for all his ineptitude he was given the “Medal of Freedom.”
APOCALYPSE AGAIN!!!!!
April 27th, 2007 at 8:01 pmCongratulations to Lt. Col. Yingling, he’s a true hero. Here is a man who has the courage to forsake his career and publish the truth as he sees it. Everyone who has disagreed with this administration has been fired/dumped/attacked.
It should come as no surprise that the services are desimated and will take many years to rebuild as many young bright officers have left for the private sector as well as many senior NCO’s
April 28th, 2007 at 6:22 amSounds like sour grapes from Lt. Col. Yingling.
Comment by Jake — April 27, 2007 @ 12:42 am
really?
i didn’t read it until the weekend. it is is well-reasoned and persuasive.
i’m not much surprised that you didn’t like it, though.
April 30th, 2007 at 12:17 pm