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| Great White North |
| Canadian Minister Quashes Honour for Anti-Bush U.S. General |
| 2006-05-19 |
| The Conservative Defence Minister intervened personally to stop the Royal Military College of Canada from awarding an honorary degree tomorrow to a retired American general who has been highly critical of the Bush administration. Gordon O'Connor ordered officials at RMC, the Canadian Forces' training academy for officers, not to award a doctorate in defence studies to U.S. General Anthony Zinni. "Our original plan was to give an honorary degree to Gen. Zinni at this week's convocation ceremonies," John Cowan, the principal of RMC, told the National Post. "That plan has since been revised.... There were concerns in Ottawa about the timing." Mr. Cowan confirmed that Mr. O'Connor, who as Defence Minister is also chancellor of the college, made the decision not to confer the degree on the retired Marine Corps general. "The Minister was concerned that doing this would appear to be taking sides in a domestic political dispute in the United States," he said. Instead, two retired Canadian soldiers, both former RMC professors, will be given honorary degrees at the ceremony. |
| Posted by:Gromosh Elminegum5705 |
| #9 I didn't have a problem w/his criticisms about the execution of the war. Shit, there were things I saw over there that I thought should've been handled different. I'm not sure I would've been as vehement about it though. As most of you know I just got back from there in March. I've heard the guy speak several times before the war and even after - he bitched about not having enough troops, Rummy allegedly not listening to his senior commanders, and the strategic execution of the conflict as a whole being done poorly as 10 years of meticulous planning was according to him discarded. I may agree or not w/his positions and his decision to do that book w/Clancy - but, the fact is his background and prior outstanding service at least gives him the credibility to play devil's advocate as opposed to a carbon blob like Murtha, Mike Moore, or any other hollywood pussy, etc. I also don't remember Zinni every lying about anything. I don't have a problem w/retired generals who are now civilians bitching if they can give the tangible/logical/constructive argument to better prosecute the war, i.e. kill more sand clowns and save more Yank lives. Troop strength is a valid argument imho after having been there. I think Zinni has plenty of honor and is one tough old sob. If he said something was hosed up, heck, maybe it was. IIRC didn't something like 26 other retired stars agreed w/him wrt Rummy. I don't dislike Rummy & I think he's got a strong intellect and is a tough old bird as well, but when 27 retired stars can agree on something maybe we as commonsense patriots need to take another look. I couldn't tell ya about ten years of CentCom planning as I wasn't there. OTOH, if you think Zinni should've did less bitching in the msm while working for us in the ME then I could definitely see your point on that. As far as the ME in general - he stated publicly Arafat was an un-repentent liar who couldn't be trusted - some of our own politicos didn't even have the nads to throw that bomb. Oh well, we'll prolly just agree on disagreeing on this one - such is life. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2006-05-19 14:57 |
| #8 Frank's right. No matter how good he seemed as a general, he took a dump on the current effort, therefore, he has dishonored himself. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-05-19 13:27 |
| #7 Zinni disgraced himself with his work in the ME, along with his high-profile criticism of Bush. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-05-19 11:05 |
| #6 NS, you might be right. However, most officers in the U.S. military don't even know which foreign military generals that West Point, Annapolis, or the USAF academy confer honorary degrees on etc. I'm not sure this would even be on the average canucks radar. Either way, now it is. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2006-05-19 10:32 |
| #5 I'm not sure anyone in the U.S. would've even noticed Canada even giving him this thing. Agree with you, BH6, but lots of folks in Canada will notice and that's what's important. Harper is defining himself for the Canadian people so that they know in the next election who he is and where he stands. Good for him, eh. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-05-19 10:24 |
| #4 I'd personally have no qualms w/Zinni being given this award. He was my general for a while when I first came in. Damn good one to - straight shooter - unlike a lot of the peacocks I've seen. I'm not sure anyone in the U.S. would've even noticed Canada even giving him this thing. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2006-05-19 10:19 |
| #3 Kudos Canucks. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-05-19 10:04 |
| #2 Thank you Canada. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-05-19 08:58 |
| #1 Zanny Zinni -- how's that book selling |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-05-19 01:06 |