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2006-04-15 Home Front: Politix

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Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-04-15 09:06|| || Front Page|| [11129 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Some will dismiss this article as character assassination. But the reality is that their criticisms of Rumsfeld aren't based on fact - the Iraqi and Afghan expeditions have been characterized by historically low losses. These men are now saying that they could have done better. The historical record goes against their assertions. They are therefore making an appeal to authority, i.e. "trust me - take my word for it - I was a big shot general", as opposed to being able to say that the US has done worse than other American or non-American armies have historically done. We must therefore see if they're worth trusting.

Appeals to authority don't do much for me. People in a position of authority must be able to make arguments backed up by the historical record.

But for people who do trust authorities based on them being "important people", this article is an important reminder that "important people" have their own agendas independent of the issues. "Important people" don't always tell the whole truth about their motivations.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-04-15 12:22|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-04-15 12:22|| Front Page Top

#2 You think, having studied history, these generals would understand that history will be unkind to them for doing this. All they are doing is calling attention to the fact that they were trusted with doing a job which they don't think they did it well, for a variety of excuses.

Some will defend these 5 and say that they did their duty and are now free to speak their minds. It's true, That would be fine - if they had a better plan. But they don't. They are just bitching about how mean the Sec Def is and how they knew better, usually because they are running for office or hakwing a book.

Personally, if it was me, and I had a big role that would be written in history books, I'd use the right to remain silent and wait until all of the evidence is presented in the courtroom of history before I gave away my case.

Posted by 2b 2006-04-15 12:39|| 2006-04-15 12:39|| Front Page Top

#3 they're defended on Fox by Wesley Clark, and we know he's an honorable man with no axe to sharpen, eh? He might even blink

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-04-15 13:46|| 2006-04-15 13:46|| Front Page Top

#4 I've heard the rumbling, cant be ignored...
it's not just these guys.

Posted by bk 2006-04-15 14:40|| 2006-04-15 14:40|| Front Page Top

#5 bk, no doubt there's more rumbling. Rummy is a tough SOB. I'll bet you can find lot's who used to work at G. D. Searle who will say the same things.

Until these guys start talking about how things should be done instead of how they should have been done, they can be easily ignored.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-04-15 14:47|| 2006-04-15 14:47|| Front Page Top

#6 Fellow generals and media pukes of the 1860s were critical of Gen. Grant. To which Lincoln replied -

I can't spare that man, he fights!

President Lincoln had a fair track record of relieving generals. I don't think he was shy about dumping ineffectives, to include the man who would be his opponent in the 1864 race.

Posted by Sligum Cromogum2349 2006-04-15 15:47|| 2006-04-15 15:47|| Front Page Top

#7 And if it wern't for that idiot Bell Hood litter Mac might have won the election and I wouldn't be a trivia question.

Posted by J Johnston 2006-04-15 16:23|| 2006-04-15 16:23|| Front Page Top

#8 Neither Iraq nor Afghanistan is a success yet, so I'd hold off on portraying Rummy as a genius.

He's been wrong more often than he's been right.

Posted by Rich Saudi 2006-04-15 23:27|| 2006-04-15 23:27|| Front Page Top

21:39 Asymmetrical Triangulation
23:53 Phil
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23:27 Rich Saudi
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