Oooh Ouch! Bayh "If there is a civil war, which side will we be on?"

[underpants]

Just now on C-Span

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code...

Gen.Abizaid said that he doesn't think it is going to happen
Gen.Pac said that he thinks the US and Iraqi military will hold together.

Even Bayh followed up "If there is a civil war do we still have a mission in Iraq?"

Rummy said that he doesn't want to speculate on that.

[ThomCat]

1. It's his damned JOB to speculate on that.

He and Condoliza need to be prepared for what is likely to happen. How is it that people are letting him get away with this?

[BOSSHOG]

2. bush certainly has no fucking clue

He still scratches his head and stares blankly when there is any discussion of Shiites and Sunnis. "But aren't they same? Explain that to me again Unca Dick."

I suspect those Generals would like to take bush and rumsfeld to the woodshed about now.

[CottonBear]

8. How much does Rummy influence what the generals say at hearings

or to the media? Is there an official viewpoint that is put out there? Do the generals really believe what they are saying? Do the generals speak their mind behind closed doors at the Pentagon when meeting with Rummy and other civilian * officials or would that be career suicide?

edit: sp.

[rodeodance]

11. these are Rummy's Generals aren't they?

[BOSSHOG]

15. In an ideal world

A SECDEF would seek out every military expert and official to get information on such matters as going to war. Ideally, they should speak freely about military tactics. However, with bush and rumsfeld they only want to hear what supports their political agenda and that is far from ideal. Now, because of politics and not military acumen, the Generals have to be neutered in congressional hearings on live TV.

Let me share a passage from Bill Clinton's Book "My Life" and see what you think about how the relationship between civilian leadership and military leadership can be.

On the last day of September, I attended the retirement ceremony of General John Shalikashvili and gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He had been a superb chairman of the Joint Chiefs, supporting the expansion of NATO, the creation of the Partnership for Peace, and the deployment of our troops in more than 40 operations, including Bosnia, Haiti, Iraq, Rwanda and the Taiwan Strait. I had really enjoyed working with him. He was intelligent, straight-talking, and completely committed to the welfare of our men and women in uniform. As his replacement, I named General Hugh Shelton, who had so impressed me with his handling of the Haiti Operation.

Oh do we long for the good old days.

[CottonBear]

16. Thank you. I long for those days as well. n/t

[global1]

3. After Watching This Hearing It's Clear To Me That This Administration....

will never acknowledge a civil war and that they will never pull out of Iraq. They will keep throwing money and 'fodder' at this because they will never acknowledge that they were wrong. This is in the face that a majority of the country is beginning to catch on and is supporting some sort or redeployment or pull-out soon.

[davidinalameda]

4. if?

what the hell's been going on over there for the past several months?

I'm certainly not criticizing Bayh for his question though

I think it was a great way of putting Rummy on the spot

[global1]

5. Sessions Just Gave The Repugs Some Talking Points For Nov....

he got all the testifiers to say without hesitation that we shouldn't pull out that the Iraqi people don't want us out now. He framed the question with respect to the upcoming election.

[flyarm]

10. AND I JUST CALLED SESSIONS OFFICE IN DC AND SAID..

i have never heard in my 54 years, such a giant pile of dog poop in my life!

they hung up on me!!

fly

[rodeodance]

14. te he . good for you

[rodeodance]

12. he played support the troops mantra!

[drduffy]

6. Ohhhh, You meant Civil War Over There..... I though you meant

over here.........

I was ready to answer, the side against BuShCo.

Hell,

I'll answer, The side against BuShCo.......

[rodeodance]

7. So--once again Rummy has NO plan!

Rummy said that he doesn't want to speculate on that.

[rodeodance]

9. susan collins on cspan 1 now talking of same thing.

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code...

[Vidar]

13. I trust our government's ability to select the wrong side.

[bullimiami]

17. there is a civil war and kurds waiting to take their independence and oil.

what mission do we have again?

[zbdent]

18. The side with the oil fields

[underpants]

20. So TAHT'S why they don't redploy like Murtha and some brass want to

They will eventually leave the cities encircling them to keep the natives away from the oil fields. BRILLIANT!

[joanski0]

19. For most of the duration of the hearings, I

thought that those two Generals looked like the Manchurian Candidate. They had no expressions on their faces and their eyes glazed over when they talked.