Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Iraq War in hindsight
Apropos of a discussion that's been going on over on Prof Theo Farrell's blog about the Iraq War I just came across this testimony by Maj Gen Batiste who commanded the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq for a year. I don't think I've ever heard a more devastating indictment of a superior in one's resignation letter. Absolutely shattering criticism of Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. Have a look.
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7 comments:
Yeh, this General really lets rip. Great link - thanks. You may recall David growing discontent within the US military for Rummy which resulted in six senior former US Army officers (maybe one was a Marine) launching open attacks on his leadership. I think this was in the early Summer. The interesting thing - aside from the criticisms themselves, which are pretty bang on - was this generated debate within the services about whether retired officers ought to be openly critical of civilian leaders. Some military officers feel this might be crossing a line - and of course, there has been some sensitivity about US civliam-military relations that goes way back and came to the for in Korea, Vietnam, and more recently under Powell as Chairman of the JCS.
Finally, David do you remember that article on Rumsfeld DOD published in Foreign Affairs (I just tried to find it now, but couldn't) that basically argued that he was a terrible peacetime leader - really hated among the services. And that 9/11 and the War in Afghanistan had saved his ass. That he had emerged as a strong wartime leader of the DOD. Ironic huh.
The Marine general was Anthony Zinni. I forget the others. Zinni is very impressive. I've been reading his book Winning the Peace which is an extended version of an argument he has been making for a number of years: the army needs to trained and equipped to do more than 'killing people and breaking things'. Lots of criticism of the launching of the Iraq War, which he opposed, and much more on the conduct of Phase IV.
I've written a lot on civil-military relations, though never on the US. But I've never understood the sensitivity about military officers speaking out on issues of policy. It's anachronistic and unnecessary: is anybody really concerned about a military coup? Ain't going to happen. If doctors criticize health policy do we start to worry for democracy? Arguably, we'd have been better off if the generals were less supine in the war planning phase.
I can't remember the Foreign Affairs article you mention. But yeah I recall that Rumsfeld wasn't at all secure before 911. Very ironic. My guess is, however, that he's not going anywhere because I don't think Bush has the stomach for firing him or for the confirmation hearings of a replacement if he did.
The most recent issue of Survival has an article by Hew Strachan 'Civil-Military Relations After Iraq' (something like that) which is a must read.
Yes, Zinni is right on the money on this issue. He was very active on the diplomatic and civil affairs front when he was the Commander of CENTCOM. This is nicely captured in Dana Priest's excellent and highly readbale 'The Mission: Waging War and Keeping Peace with America's Military.'
Of course, the net effect of the 'generals revolt' over the Summer was to secure Rummy's job. There was no way that Bush could fire his Secretary of Defense (even if he was inclined to, which he was not) after senior military officers called for it.
I can understand sensitivity regarding serving military officers criticising US policy - this wd be a bit off. Recall the bruhaha from the 1949 Revolt of the Admirals - when serving US Navy officers testified in Congress against the Truman Admin's nuclear strategy (which, guess what, favoured the Air Force). But surely officers should be able to resign their commission in order to criticise admin policy. Otherwise, how can independent military expertise be brought to bear to hold the administration to account?
Periodic concern about a military coup, of sorts, in the United States is a hoot. Hype, of course, but does happen - as we shall discuss in Mod 5.
Maj Gen Batiste is amazing. I am so proud to hear an American with his credentials say what he said. However, I do disagree that the US needed to be in Iraq in the first place. I wholly understand and agree with the US led toppling of the Taliban regime, for the terrorist they harbored, etc. But Iraq was simply not meeting any reasonable criteria for US intervention.
David,
I have seen the abstract from the article in Survival you mentioned. However, I am wondering if we as KCL students have access to JSTOR or something so we can view the entire article.
Here is the link to the abstract:
http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/(rpdw1j45qjhflf55gcyfszed)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,5,12;journal,1,35;linkingpublicationresults,1:111409,1
Yes, absolutely you do have access to this and many other journals. Go and do the 'Information Literacy' module in the home area of webCT. It's explained there how to access and search journals and databases. Basically, you need your Athens password which you should have been provided. And then you access the journals via the website of ISS http://www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ look for 'ejournals' in the sidebar.
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