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| Tommy Franks: War of Words |
| 2004-10-20 |
| President Bush and Senator John Kerry have very different views of the war on terrorism, and those differences ought to be debated in this presidential campaign. But the debate should focus on facts, not distortions of history. On more than one occasion, Senator Kerry has referred to the fight at Tora Bora in Afghanistan during late 2001 as a missed opportunity for America. He claims that our forces had Osama bin Laden cornered and allowed him to escape. How did it happen? According to Mr. Kerry, we "outsourced" the job to Afghan warlords. As commander of the allied forces in the Middle East, I was responsible for the operation at Tora Bora, and I can tell you that the senator's understanding of events doesn't square with reality. First, take Mr. Kerry's contention that we "had an opportunity to capture or kill Osama bin Laden" and that "we had him surrounded." We don't know to this day whether Mr. bin Laden was at Tora Bora in December 2001. Some intelligence sources said he was; others indicated he was in Pakistan at the time; still others suggested he was in Kashmir. Tora Bora was teeming with Taliban and Qaeda operatives, many of whom were killed or captured, but Mr. bin Laden was never within our grasp. Second, we did not "outsource" military action. We did rely heavily on Afghans because they knew Tora Bora, a mountainous, geographically difficult region on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is where Afghan mujahedeen holed up for years, keeping alive their resistance to the Soviet Union. Killing and capturing Taliban and Qaeda fighters was best done by the Afghan fighters who already knew the caves and tunnels. Third, the Afghans weren't left to do the job alone. Special forces from the United States and several other countries were there, providing tactical leadership and calling in air strikes. Pakistani troops also provided significant help - as many as 100,000 sealed the border and rounded up hundreds of Qaeda and Taliban fighters. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #21 David Hackett's I suspect you're referring to David Hackworth, the bitter old war-horse. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-10-20 10:58:09 PM |
| #20 Ummm... Anon Nona I don't know if you remember, but at the time the weapons were being looted, the U.S. soldiers were busy conducting an invasion. They didn't empty their bladders in the same place twice, let alone have time to stand around watching Saddam's playmates help themselves to secret stockpiles. At least that's how the embedded reporters told the story -- with lots of film for various stations around the world, I might add. Mrs. D: there's a David Hackett, rider (lots of videos, of himself and friends riding) and a Prof. Dave Hackett (biology, university in CA) as well. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-10-20 9:54:10 PM |
| #19 David Hackett Fishcer or David Hackett Souter? |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-20 7:36:27 PM |
| #18 including self-inflicted prove this, don't just recite spin |
| Posted by: AmericanIdiot 2004-10-20 7:31:16 PM |
| #17 Easy! You didn't see the film records of the stockpiles being looted, while US soldiers stood by without orders? Why on earth would you respect someone with that degree of negligence. You need to access David Hackett's website, before blindly accepting military spin. |
| Posted by: Anon Nona 2004-10-20 7:26:49 PM |
| #16 Anon Nona Rant.. Rant.. Rant.. Franks knows more abut all of this than Kerry ever will know. Kerry doesn't even show up for work usually. Franks didn't have a choice. FOAD UDB. Stick your head back up where the sun dont shine over at DU and Moveon.org. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-10-20 6:47:25 PM |
| #15 I thought security at DU had improved. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-20 6:32:27 PM |
| #14 Franks stood by and did nothing while Iraqis were looting weapons stockpiles. Which ever way he points the finger, it will wag back his way. I admire people who accept responsibility, and not book-cookers like that famous-for-15 clown. He can put his memoires where the Sun doesn't shine. |
| Posted by: Anon Nona 2004-10-20 6:27:43 PM |
| #13 Sarcasm? At the 'burg? I'm shocked, Shocked! |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-20 1:59:38 PM |
| #12 Jack? Sarcasm? When did that start? |
| Posted by: Fred 2004-10-20 1:55:18 PM |
| #11 I do believe that Jack is Back was engaging in sarcasm. |
| Posted by: Phitle Glavise4997 2004-10-20 1:31:27 PM |
| #10 actually, Franks did get 3 Purple Hearts in Vietnam, and was wounded in action several additional times but deemed them minor wounds that didn't require hospitalization... unlike Kerry who took every scratch, including self-inflicted wounds, to be a PH case. |
| Posted by: Jeff 2004-10-20 1:04:14 PM |
| #9 I am a little confused. Perhaps I need a Massachusetts education so that I am not such an idiotic American. 1.) Isn't Kerry's main gripe about Bush that he acts unilaterally, not working with international partners in the WoT? Isn't the constant gripe that we impose ourselves on foreign governments instead of letting them participate in deciding the course and sharing the burden of action? How does that square with: 2.)...Kerry's accusation that we are outsourcing the job [to an international partner]? |
| Posted by: Jules 187 2004-10-20 12:50:42 PM |
| #8 "My Captain, My Captain...Right or Wrong-My Captain!" Do you mean O Captain, My Captain or My Country, Right or Wrong? In any case, I suspect he'd subscribe to either. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-20 12:05:22 PM |
| #7 My dear American Idiot, surely your mum taught you that it doesn't do to insult your host if you intend to pursuade him? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-10-20 12:05:01 PM |
| #6 UKIdiot, lol! Launched another air-biscuit trying to be of consequence? Lol! Your J. Arthur pud-pulls are as laughably pathetic as your world view. Wotta ponce tool-fool, lol! FOAD / HAND. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-10-20 11:51:24 AM |
| #5 "My Captain, My Captain...Right or Wrong-My Captain!" So he wouldn't support Bush's 'Yeah i've made mistakes but a strong leader makes up his mind and never alters it' policy then? |
| Posted by: AmericanIdiot 2004-10-20 11:38:58 AM |
| #4 Gen Franks is a true warrior. If he had a personal motto, I suggest it would be: "Lead, Follow...or Get the Hell Outta the Way!" At the same time, here's one he'd not subscribe to: "My Captain, My Captain...Right or Wrong-My Captain!" |
| Posted by: RN 2004-10-20 10:54:51 AM |
| #3 Kerry and particularly Girlie MAn Edwars better watch it. The General has been known to pop people who are not honorable and a disgrace. |
| Posted by: Bill Nelson 2004-10-20 10:08:34 AM |
| #2 Troll, troll, troll your boat... |
| Posted by: gromky 2004-10-20 8:51:40 AM |
| #1 What the heck does he know? He wasn't wounded 3 times in Vietnam. He didn't have to brave the Boston mob in court. He didn't have to snowboard down mountains with clumsy secret service guys all over the piste. What the heck does he know. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2004-10-20 7:46:21 AM |