General Eaton thank you, for telling me what I suspected

[nadinbrzezinski]

the Officer corp got it...

10-4 five by five... fully.

Translation to civies... the way the speech was crafted was understood by the men and women in uniform. They also received this as a message from a RESPONSIBLE CiC....

General thank you, I know they got it. I will quibble with the strategic message on Pakistan... I got it. I knew what he was talking about, but I think most civies (at least here) missed it.

[TexasObserver]

1. FAIL. Unrecommended.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. +1

:thumbsup:

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. somebody said something that matters?

WOW...

[Hekate]

3. Nadin, I missed the General's comments. Can you clarify?

Btw, I just recc'd the unrec so you'd be able to start over on that score. :eyes:

Hekate

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. He said that the speech, which was a bore for most

was understood by any graduate of the War College. He also said the cadets were fully engaged and understood that the CiC was not using them as props but explaining to them the strategic nature of the whole thing. This speech was crafted to talk chiefly to those carrying the mission. They also showed the cadets talking to the President in as excited a manner as a cadet will show.

To me the whole explanation of the Strategic mission, which is loose nukes in Warisistan and Pakistan's risk of falling to a failed state, was not that clear. But he said the General Staff got it.

And this is my view. they also got the ... shit we need to get ready to get out.

[Hekate]

11. I'm very glad to hear that he was speaking their language. I never think his speeches are boring...

... but then, I like his intellect and the way he never talks down to his audience. And since the POTUS is also the CiC, I'm glad they support him or at least understand where he's coming from.

Thanks for relaying this.

Hekate

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. He was and the reason, in my view, the strategic reasons

were a little muddled is that there is so much you can say before crossing into we don't want the other side to know how much we know.

And to those who believe the other is not monitoring this... no, the foot soldier is not, but leaders yes.

[Better Today]

16. Only one thing, every time the cadets were scanned across with

the camera they looked bored and some asleep.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Yes the ones who fell asleep

they probably did since being a cadet at Point is not a regular college and for many of them, especially plebes, (first year) it can be 20 hours with no sleep or more.

And I saw most of them engaged... a few were bored... like I have never, ever seen that in a regular college.

By the way those who were asleep, I am betting a one way ahem discussion with a Sergeant or senior cadet and a tooth brush... and field time. (aka cleaning something)

[Better Today]

24. Most were bored, some asleep, I saw none that looked engaged.

[lxlxlxl]

5. rec'd....where did you hear this?

i think obama deserves and has the respect of the corps. where did you hear this btw.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. MSNBC just now with Tweety

[dflprincess]

6. Somebody better let the people at VoteVets know

apparently they didn't understand it either. Of course they're "civies" now so maybe their opinion doesn't count. Just think how misguided our military policy would have been if the Founders had put civilians in control of the military. Oh wait...

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do ;jsessionid=F9712EFF9A9DF85946CFAD07CF9D5126?diaryId=3510

The veterans of VoteVets.org, the largest progressive group of veterans in America, said that the strategy left unanswered too many questions regarding strain on the Armed Forces, and didn't address other issues that would help ensure that the entire mission wouldn't be put on the backs of the troops.

Jon Soltz, Iraq war veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org said, "We have been supportive of every move the President has made since he was elected, and have supported an increased focus on Afghanistan since our inception, but given the serious questions that are unresolved, we aren't ready to support what he's laid out. First and foremost, we are always concerned about the strain on the American servicemember, and this plan leaves very big questions on that issue.

Is there increased sacrifice from other agencies equal to what the administration is putting on the troops? A counter-insurgency strategy, which the President has laid out, the engine of American foreign policy firing on all cylinders. Without increasing the commitment of other branches of American foreign policy, will we continue to see troops having to serve as negotiators, diplomats, and nation builders? They weren't trained for that, and it isn't right to place that responsibility on their shoulders.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I didn't say it was well explained at all

because it wasn't. But you can bet Eaton talked to some people STILL in uniform that have stars, so he got some valuable exchanges.

[phasma ex machina]

12. +1 left unanswered too many questions regarding strain on the Armed Forces

National Guard soldiers doing their 5th or 6th rotation into that hell hole.

[glitch]

14. Just tell them it's multi-dimensional "Risk"

Risk, the board game

Biden is correct, if the problem is loose nukes Special Forces are a better tool.

[Bobbie Jo]

10. Loud and Clear. nt

[VMI Dem]

15. Bwaaa.

LOL.

[O is 44]

17. Thanks for this...

I missed this interview. President Obama reminds me of a professor when he speaks so I can see where this may have went over lots of people's heads. Stupid tweety bird Matthews kept screaming that there were no bumper sticker phrases. It is about time we had a President who speaks to us as adults. Although, I don't agree with this troop increase, I feel he has no really good solution in such a messed up situation. The government in Afghanistan is corrupt (thanks Bush for propping up this crook) I just don't see how this is going to work.

On another note there was another retired general that spoke on the Ed show, his first name is Jack. He made a comment that the some of the cadets he spoke with did not like when the President set a withdrawal date. He says the military does not like to be told about timelines. I am waiting for one idiot media person to tell the military their job is to take orders, they don’t get an opinion.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. No the military does not like timelines

there are two reasons, one is strategic, the other is career oriented. I suspect for the cadets is the latter.

The strategic reason is that you do not want to tell your enemy, whoever it is. well shit this is the limit ok...

The career... if this works, the plebes (first year cadets) will not get to punch their ticket, no combat badge for them... that is bad for a career. A combat badge is good on your record... and they are in the war business after all. Also deploying to a war zone means some shinnies, no, not the CMH that usually people don't live through, but a bronze star looks good when advancement time comes.

Oh and I am not being cynical. I'm married to a career, now retired submariner (enlisted) and I served in another military that is way stingy with medals. And when I got my chance for doing a stupid maneuver, I refused it... that is another story. But I'd have to 'xplain the idiocy award to my mom.

[O is 44]

22. Got it thanks for the explanation...

My Dad is ex Navy and my little Bro gets his first deployment in a few weeks but thankfully he is going to Japan for now. I'm up this late because he is coming to visit me in Cali, he has been down south visiting my parents. My Dad was Navy right out of college but he was not involved in any wars.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Tell your brother to keep his nose clean and stay out of trouble

:hi:

[RoyGBiv]

18. I appreciate your insight ...

I did not see the General's comments.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. It was interesting to watch Eaton

he is, after all, very critical of the bushies and how they managed that mess. So having a capable CiC is a nice change for the military. I am sure some of his buddies still in uniform said that to him... and he passed it on. People who are out become the voices for those still in.