Really excellent point about DoD transformation. Rummy was so busy talking that he missed a lot more than just one memo. I think he would have been successful as a peacetime transformation SecDef, but you can't do transformation and conduct a war at the same time.Appaholic wrote:
You're half right.I know militarily we won the Vietnam War, but politically lost it. This falls squarely on the feet of our government....and that is what is so frustrating to me about our politicians. I firmly believe in the Powell Doctrine, which is similar to Cap Weinberger's policy, that when you decide to use the military, you engage the conflict using overwhelming force and win decisively and quickly. I realize we have a changing military and Rummy was brought in to streamline the pentagon. However, as that administration stated on numerous occassions, everything changed on 9/11......except the memo didn't reach Rumsfeld's desk. We still tried to engage Afghan and Iraq with the streamlined forces which, considering what we were told was at stake (our very survival), we should have shelved the downsizing plan for a few years, used overwhelming force to annihlate Taliban and Al Quaida in Iraq quickly and decisively, and put all other comers on notice with the manner in which we won. Instead, we jacked our diks for three years in Iraq, at the expense of Afghan war, causing unnecessary loss of life and helping to foment the level of discourse in our own country. Now, I'll step down from my soapbox........
I also take your point about winning decisively in Afghanistan. On a smaller scale, we should have done something similar in Mog by destroying about six city blocks before withdrawing.
Attention all you bench warmers. Appy just showed you how to play at the varsity level. I hope you paid attention!









