Architect Of Wars At Peace With Self (Franks & his new book)

[tlcandie]

Photo by: Jay Nolan
Tommy Franks sits on a 1958 Cushman Eagle motorcycle in his office in Tampa. Franks spoke about his book and his experiences with the Iraq War.

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBPFTDHFXD.html

<snip>
In it, Franks says he had a premonition about the Sept. 11 attacks four days before they occurred. At a meeting with CentCom's intelligence staff, he was asked what keeps him awake at night. ``A terrorist attack against the World Trade Center in New York,'' he answered.
<snip>

<snip>
A few months ago, (Richard) Clarke caused a sensation when he charged the Bush White House had ignored the threat of terrorism prior to Sept. 11. Franks describes Clarke as a self- absorbed theorist who didn't deliver what he promised.

``I never received a single operational recommendation, or a single page of actionable intelligence, from Richard Clarke,'' he writes.
<snip>

[BlueEyedSon]

1. "We don't do body counts" -- Gen. Tommy Franks

(re: Iraqi civilian casualties.)

'nuf said.

[daleo]

2. He had a premonition!

"In it, Franks says he had a premonition about the Sept. 11 attacks four days before they occurred. At a meeting with CentCom's intelligence staff, he was asked what keeps him awake at night. ``A terrorist attack against the World Trade Center in New York,'' he answered."

It reminds me of talk about the dreams that people were supposed to have told Bin Laden about. I wonder if anyone at the meeting can verify Franks's premonition.

Of course, he might have just had a sneak peek at the MIHOP/LIHOP plans.

"He also writes that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld asked him to begin planning for possible military action against Iraq in late November 2001, less than two months after U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan. ``No rest for the weary,'' he recalls."

There were no plans on Bush's desk - yeah, sure, they were on Franks's desk.

"It will take four to five more years before Iraq is stable enough for U.S. troops to pull out, Franks predicted. Earlier departure dates have been suggested, but those aren't reasonable because rebuilding the country is a complex job.

``As we were putting the plan together, I can tell you there was no expectation that this would be quick or that this would be easy,'' he said."

So, the cakewalk stuff was a lie, as we all thought.

"``As soon as we get through this election process,'' Franks said, ``then I predict we will see a downtrend in violent activity in Iraq, and I believe we will see an upswing in the ability of the Iraqis to control their own country.''"

Why would Iraqis give up after the U.S. election?

[MisterP]

3. just like "War Boosters Now Profiteers, See No Conflict" (LATimes)

of course not! No conscience, no shame!

[saigon68]

4. He's Lynndie's DADDY

His leadership allowed guys like Graner to do War Crimes.

He should be at the Hague like General Yamashita.

[tom_paine]

6. That is correct but as an Imperial Stooge he will NEVER see a war crimes

tribunal.

Which he should. Oh my yes he should.

I expect General Jodl slept very contentedly, too...

[saigon68]

8. JODL HANGED

October 16, 1946 In History


Died:
Alfred G Jodl, Col-Gen/German staff chief weather authority, hanged


Generaloberst Jodl signed the unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945 in Reims as the representative for Karl Doenitz. He was then arrested and transferred to Flensburg POW camp and later put before the International Military Tribunal at the Nuremberg Trials. He was accused of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace; planning, initiating and waging wars of aggression; war-crimes; and crimes against humanity. He pleaded not guilty "before God, before history and my people". Found guilty on all four charges he was hanged.

[tom_paine]

9. Bet he slept well prior to that

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. what an awful shirt & tie combination

blue and white and ...green?

:puke:

[saigon68]

7. His mommy never taught him to dress

Apparently he never had any peer pressure either.