A British soldier who has just returned from Iraq yesterday described the situation in Basra as "hopeless and lost" and accused the Government of "trying to save face" by keeping troops there.
This isn't Finally happening, many have been speaking out all along, but were margenalized by the so called open press, one had to search deeply to find the statements and than pass them on, hoping that those who received would do the same.
He has more to say:
"They are getting access to a lot more weapons, which are also becoming stronger and stronger.
This is nothing new, all what we call 'Guerilla Insugencies' follow the same pattern. As they use anything at their disposal to fight an occupier to their country. As these conflicts progess an invaded countries people become smarter, as more of their fellow citizens, loved ones, are killed and maimed they become more agressive and their numbers increase. Those who never were interested in a military type life become experts in military tactics and get better with time.
The lessons We Should Have Learned from Vietnam, and more recently, as to bigger conflicts, from the Afgan/Soviet debacle. But instead, with a professional mlitary, the lessons taught, apparently, were that We Can Do The Next One Better! Well as we all have witnessed 'We Can't', because the only way an Insurgency, in an invaded country, can be stopped is if the greater majority of it's citizens don't support it!
He closes with this:
"It's a full-scale riot and the Government are just trying to save face. I think they should have everyone out within a year."
The fear of retribution is finally being taken over, as it always is eventually, By The Truth! As more become vocal in what they think and talk about amoung themselves.
Army Officer Accuses Generals of 'Intellectual and Moral Failures'
Inteligence within the active ranks is nothing new, nor are the moral feelings within ones being, and for many they start coming out publicly with their disgust growing! This officer isn't saying anything new, it's been said by many for the last four years, and even before the carnage started. Those saying it were retired from the military ranks, or ex-government workers, most high level, and especially by us veterans of previous conflicts.
An active-duty Army officer is publishing a blistering attack on U.S. generals, saying they have botched the war in Iraq and misled Congress about the situation there.
"America's generals have repeated the mistakes of Vietnam in Iraq," charges Lt. Col. Paul Yingling, an Iraq veteran who is deputy commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. "The intellectual and moral failures . . . constitute a crisis in American generals."
The above is an article about what Lt. Col. Yingling wrote, below short pieces of what he wrote and published, read the whole blistering truth. I'll tell you I can't wait till he puts his complete thoughts into book form, he tells it in the way many like myself wish we could but aren't natural writers.
A failure in generalship
By Lt. Col. Paul Yingling
"You officers amuse yourselves with God knows what buffooneries and never dream in the least of serious service. This is a source of stupidity which would become most dangerous in case of a serious conflict."
- Frederick the Great
For the second time in a generation, the United States faces the prospect of defeat at the hands of an insurgency. In April 1975, the U.S. fled the Republic of Vietnam, abandoning our allies to their fate at the hands of North Vietnamese communists. In 2007, Iraq's grave and deteriorating condition offers diminishing hope for an American victory and portends risk of an even wider and more destructive regional war.
Failures of Generalship in Vietnam
America's defeat in Vietnam is the most egregious failure in the history of American arms. America's general officer corps refused to prepare the Army to fight unconventional wars, despite ample indications that such preparations were in order. Having failed to prepare for such wars, America's generals sent our forces into battle without a coherent plan for victory. Unprepared for war and lacking a coherent strategy, America lost the war and the lives of more than 58,000 service members.
Failures of Generalship in Iraq
America's generals have repeated the mistakes of Vietnam in Iraq. First, throughout the 1990s our generals failed to envision the conditions of future combat and prepare their forces accordingly. Second, America's generals failed to estimate correctly both the means and the ways necessary to achieve the aims of policy prior to beginning the war in Iraq. Finally, America's generals did not provide Congress and the public with an accurate assessment of the conflict in Iraq.
You can also hear Lt. Col. Yingling in this NPR interview about his article.
Article Cites 'General Failure' of War Leaders
All Things Considered, April 27, 2007 · Lt. Col. Paul Yingling is an active duty commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Friday, he published an article in Armed Forces Journal entitled "General Failure." It charges Army generals with incompetent leadership of the Iraq war. Yingling talks with Melissa Block.
Listen to interview here
More and more are coming forward making their voices and thoughts heard even as the Media concentrate on the mundane and trivial while doing propaganda on what's really important!
But some are being heard dispite what the few, propaganda journalists, would like not to be!
Members of Military Make War Views Known
Morning Edition, April 24, 2007 · Members of the U.S. armed forces are prohibited from speaking out against the war in Iraq. The Uniform Code of Military Justice limits what soldiers may say about political issues.
But as opposition to the Iraq war mounts, some service members are finding ways to air their opinions. Some are speaking anonymously while others sign a petition.
Listen to report here
Sen. Reid came out with a simple statement, that was twisted and spun by the propagandists, but as a representative of The People spoke the truth already known and known for a long time by the growing numbers of the people who were realizing that what tens of thousands had been saying from the beginning, Sadly, were the Truths about what had been happening and the reasons why!
Reid's Remarks Lead to Challenge on War Funds
Morning Edition, April 20, 2007 · After more than 100 Iraq civilians were killed in bombings this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he feels the war is lost. So the White House has challenged Democrats to take a politically risky move and "defund" the war.
Listen to this report here
By the way, the pResident should read the bill, coming his way, much closer than many of the Peoples Representatives who are slamming it and obviously didn't read it. From what I understand the 'Date' givin is a slippery one, in others words not a hardset. He should also read about the monies, he and the previous congresses were unwilling to give, for military and veterans care that are covered in the bill, before he 'Vetoes' showing once more his Contempt for those who Actually Serve!
Now we have another voice, as guilty as those he worked under and with, trying to save some face, by coming forward, way to late for the Tens of Thousands who have been Killed, and the Even Greater Numbers of those Maimed! But from what little I've heard about his book one point does stand out that he is Right about. That there was little Debate, within the administration about going to War in Iraq! Many things point to just that, one only needs to hit the archives of what ws going on than. But one stands out for myself. The administration kept saying over and over that they knew exactly where the WMD's were, in Iraq, while the Inspectors were In-Country. The Inspectors, over and over again, kept requesting that intelligence only to be blocked, by the administration, with the Very Weak Excuse that it would compromise their means of Intelligence Collection, this while they Knew they were sending our Troops into an Invasion that had Nothing To Do with Our Countries Security, to kill and be killed!!
Tenet Blasts Bush Team on Run-Up to Iraq
All Things Considered, April 27, 2007 · Former CIA Director George Tenet says key members of the Bush administration are unfairly blaming him for faulty intelligence that preceded the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Tenet says the decision to invade was made without "serious discussion" and intelligence that did not support an invasion rationale was ignored.
Listen to report here
As I stated above, many already knew what was going to happen, in the Drum Beat to War, and what would happen if it took place, and were getting vocal about the coming Debacle. We all know about the Tens of Thousands who gathered in Washington, San Francisco, and in cities and towns around the country, and millions more around the world, on that October Day long before 'Shock and Awe'.
Another action, in the planning for just a few months, also took place, on that Tragic First Weekend of 'Shock and Awe'. It was called 'Operation Dire Distress', put together by Veterans For Peace and VVAW, and held in Washington, at American University. The Saturday 'Teach-In' was televised by C-Span, the whole day, and it was covered by many media outlets as was the March and Wreath Laying, at All the Veterans Memorials, even at the fence of the coming WWII Memorial, under construction, and the VA headquarters building.
We even had one brother Vietnam Vet, who watched the C-Span coverage from the Chicago area, jump on a Redeye and flew down to join us for the sunday march and wreath laying and join the ranks of Veterans For Peace.
You can read about this in the VFP Newsletters, in pdf, below:
Newsletter-May-2003
NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2003 OPERATION DIRE DISTRESS - A SUCCESS AND A BEGINNING by Woody Powell THE TEACH ... the world, and that we Peter Shaw playing bagpipes at Operation Dire have an important part to play in bringing that about. Distress. Photo by James Starowicz PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Dire Distress ... ...
Newsletter-September-2003
... THE TROOPS HOME NOW! tive excellence. Nation-wide exposure Both Operation Dire Distress and the San Francisco convention were faithfully recorded by C ... ...
Anyone interested, Veteran-Full Membership, Non-Veteran Associate Membership can join Veterans For Peace with this pdf form or visit the site or locale chapter.
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