Rummy's "lighter, leaner, more agile" military is a big fat flop

[librarycard]

The rapid deployment/quick response Rummy was dreaming about has been a dismal failure, as proven by the insurgency in Iraq. Rummy said, "We don't need no heavy armor anymore." What we ended up with was canvas-sided humvees and the medium weight Stryker Brigade Combat Team, a rapid deployment vehicle thought to be useful in a fluid insurgent environment.

What's getting knocked out by IEDs and mortar fire, which have led to numerous crippling injuries routinely suffered by our ground troops?

Rummy, your new way of thinking and new way of fighting is FUBAR, as is the strategic military planning of the military elite. I used to think Thomas White was bad. Please, bring him out of mothballs and treat yourself to an extended vacation!

[Avalux]

1. He miscalculated terribly -

shock and awe - less troops - then Iraqis with flowers (he thought). He never once considered he didn't have enough troops, even though just about every retired general told him so. Dumb ass.

[atreides1]

5. Miscalculated is a little weak

Rummy is incompetent, and besides why should he listen to a bunch of Generals that he politely asked to retire, before the invasion of Iraq.

Rumsfeld only listens to generals that have their heads up his ass, first it was Myers, and now it'll be Pace. Don't expect anything to change, our troops will continue to die and lose body parts, Rummy and Pace will continue to do the Potomac Two Step every chance they get.

And the worst part of this, is that the military will sit on their hands and die in a bloody and glorious fashion, when they're not bombing wedding parties or shooting 6 year olds. So I guess the troops aren't any smarter then Rumsfled, are they?

[marmar]

2. Kind of like Rummy...

The longer this mess goes on, the more potential enemies are going to realize, "Geez, perhaps their military isn't so mighty after all, if they're having this much trouble with a loosely-organized group of insurgents."

[librarycard]

4. The army is about to get lighter

Montana wants its Guard units back, to fight forest fires. They weren't the first to ask, won't be the last.

[mopinko]

3. so, where did the money go?

you didn't even spend it on soldiers. we got grandmothers over there ferchrissakes.

[goodboy]

6. If they continue to miss recruiting goals, they'll have a leaner force

alright.

[Javaman]

10. Yeah, it really will be an army of one! LOL

[goodboy]

13. LOL...nice. (nt)

[Inland]

7. Maybe he could study the insurgents.

Lean, agile forces, mobile, with command on the field--while our forces are hunkering down in bunkers.

[librarycard]

9. excellent point

How many times was Rummy warned of having to fight a guerilla war inside city streets?

[Mist]

8. Lighter and leaner means none of that pesky body armor. n/t

[driver8]

11. How did Rummy become a military "expert"??

I don't recall ever seeing "Colonel" or "General" in front of his name. What makes this asshole think he knows anything about fighting wars?? Obviously, he doesn't...

Sending men into combat without flak jackets, no armor for the Humvees...yeah Rummy, you know what you are talking about.

Fucking idiot.

[clem_c_rock]

12. The more people that bring this up to him - the more he will push his plan

This guy makes MacNamara look like a saint.

[bobthedrummer]

14. He is a war criminal in The War President's administration.

He's big on RMA, RPMA and Force Transformation as well as his Office of Special Plans. I'd like to give him some real civilian oversight-because he is A WAR CRIMINAL.