The Ravaged Results Of Incompetence.

During the closing years of the decade that was the 1980’s President Ronald Regan proudly served as Commander in Chief of the finest military force in the world as the Berlin Wall crumbled and the Soviet Empire imploded before us. On February 23, 1991, that same great military force with George H.W. Bush as Commander in Chief began the ground war that would bring complete defeat to Saddam Hussein in the first Gulf War. This was the same military force that had been rebuilt and restored after the disaster that was Vietnam. This was the same military force that had been rebuilt and restored by dedicated, committed officers of vision such as General Bernard W. Rogers, General Edward C. Meyer, General John A. Wickham, Jr., General Carl E. Vuono, General Gordon R. Sullivan, General Dennis J. Reimer, and General Eric K. Shinseki and by equally visionary and committed noncommissioned officers like SMA Silas L. Copeland, SMA Leon L. Van Autreve, SMA William G. Bainbridge, SMA William A. Connelly, SMA Glen E. Morrell, SMA Julius W. Gates, SMA Richard A. Kidd, SMA Robert E. Hall, and SMA Jack L. Tilley. This same military force that these soldiers and many, many others dedicated their lives to restoring and building is now being decimated not by an enemy army, but from within by the power drunk likes of Donald Rumsfeld, George W. Bush and the codependent myopic military and civilian lapdogs that kowtow to them in the pentagon.

It seems to me that our national collective memory is all too short. I listen to the babbling heads on cable news and it is as though they want to separate the collective mistakes and resultant consequences of this administration’s actions and look at each as though it were some isolated incident which the administration is valiantly responding too. (Chris Mathews comes to mind most readily.) But, this is not reality. This is not truth. The post invasion chaos and the emerging civil war in Iraq is not some isolated incident. Hamas wining elections in Palestine is not some isolated incident. North Koreas new found intense belligerence is not some isolated incident and Iran’s aggressive pursuit of a nuclear weapon is not some isolated incident. We can, very reasonably, conclude that much of this belligerence and aggression and chaos is a direct result of the aggressive and egomaniacal attitude and actions of this administration. We can, very reasonably argue that our egregious military actions in Iraq from invasion to torture and our presidential statements about the “Axis of Evil” could certainly be interpreted as acts of unprovoked aggression. Prudent people would certainly assume this to be a reasonable conclusion. Why should we be surprised by the “sudden” and intense anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world? And, why should we now be surprised, shocked and awed that we are up to our a**es in alligators in Iraq and Afghanistan and simultaneously faced with a hugely more threatening and “real” nuclear threat from Iran.

What I am pointing out is simple and straightforward cause and affect. Nothing more and nothing less but it is also a huge, horrendous, and catastrophic foreign policy debacle and threat to our national security. My point is that this administration, and the single most responsible person, in the person of George W. Bush, has created a military and foreign relations nightmare. It is my belief that their myopic view of foreign policy and use of the military has resulted in a significantly weakened (hollow) military force that is barely maintaining readiness and op tempo in Iraq while at home our national guard is virtually in a non-operationally ready status and is almost incapable of providing their traditional natural disaster operations and assistance that was, I believe, demonstrated in a most profound manner during hurricane Katrina.

Yes! Yes, this is a pattern. It is a pattern of incompetence. It is a pattern of profound and catastrophic incompetence that is leaving this nation with a national debt that will suffocate the prosperity of generations to come and leave us with a military that is in a near debilitated condition and possibly incapable of protecting the nation. This administration is reaping what they have sewn and unfortunately American soldiers and citizens are sharing in that bloody bounty.
The simple fact that the Secretary of Defense would respond to Congressional questions in this manner is all too telling. Once again this administration shows its complete lack of concern for or accountability to the American people and Congress by responding with their canned answers which amount to no answers. Here we see the continuation of their incompetent behavior. There is no remorse. There is no humility or regret for their actions. There is only raw ego and audacity and it is reflected in Mr. Rumsfelt’s, General Paces, and General Abizade’s words.

I must always come back to the beginning with these things. It was and is obvious that we are in the befuddled mess we are in, in Iraq because of this administrations muddled world view and their obvious inability to think strategically and efficiently with regards to the use of military force and foreign policy. These latest poll results would do my heart good except for one thing. I have to ask myself why it took so long for a majority of Americans to see the truth. When I say “took so long” you must understand that I measure it this way; 2,306 (KIA) killed in action, and 16,653 (WIA) wounded in action.

Those Are The Sergeant Majors Thoughts On That.