Army Contests Rumsfeld Bid on Occupation

[True_Blue]

The Army is engaged in a bureaucratic brawl with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld over how to organize troops for "nation-building," a growing problem for the military as it settles in for lengthy occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan and possibly other countries.

Rumsfeld wants to shift thousands of civil affairs troops from the Special Operations Command to the regular Army on the theory that the service needs to do better at security and stabilization. This comes as he is pushing other components of the elite Special Operations Command -- such as Navy SEALs and the Army Delta Force -- to focus on aggressive actions against terrorists and other missions.

Officers specializing in civil affairs -- which helps establish local governments in occupied areas, oversees humanitarian assistance and coordinates military activities with aid organizations -- say they oppose the move. They say many officers believe, based in part on their experience in Iraq, that regular combat commanders do not understand their work and do not know how to use them well.

"This is a huge change," said retired Army Col. Michael Hess, who remains active in civil affairs issues and who said he has concerns about it.

more...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12518-2005Jan15.html?nav=headlines

[LynnTheDem]

1. "Nation-building"; yet another bush FLIP-FLOPPER of a LIE

"If we don't stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, then we're going to have a serious problem coming down the road."

-George W. bush, 10/3/00
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/debates/transcripts/u221003.html

"We're not into nation building. We're focused on justice."

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:adC-_UCOZbMJ:www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/cRosett/%3Fid%3D95001222+bush+against+nation-building&hl=en

Against 'Nation Building'
Finally, a coherent post-Cold War foreign policy.

DO READ the entire WSJ article (above) where they attack Clinton for his NATION-BUILDING and PRAISE BUSH for his determination to NOT nation-build.

OOPS huh, rightwingnuttery! BUSH turned into your WORST NIGHTMARE...CLINTON. A really incompetant CLINTON.

[Swamp Rat]

2. yep

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. kick

[gratuitous]

7. IOKIYAR

It's okay if you're a Republican.

The mantra of the overclass.

[Just Me]

8. Is permanent military presence supposed to be the same as,...

,..."nation building"?

No. I didn't think so.

Permanent military presence is called "occupation",...right?

[Supersedeas]

11. I agree....'figurehead building' and/or occupation administration is more

appropriate

[Malva Zebrina]

3. Out of control--sigh

Just read recent Sy Hersch article in the New Yorker--the entire Bush fascist cabal is out of control without accountability to anyone--anyone! We are under the complete control of the neo-conservatives whose plan has no hinderance, no barriers, and nothing at all holding it back or imposing any restrictions that would at least give some sense of sanity.

It has nowhere to go but up toward it's goal of world domination by ruthless, barbaric killing and murder of anyone they say and they can couch it all, for the edification of the American people, as part of the "war on terror"

[radric]

9. I agree..

not our job to be the world's policeman. After Afghanistan we should have gone after the AQ cells around the world with our allies at the time (which were many). Now with the Iraq invasion those allies won't help us cross the street. Iraq wasn't a threat and didn't have WMD. Even if Saddam liked killing his people, well, that's for the Iraqi people to do something about.

[Just Me]

10. There is ample means of restricting/contolling/rectifying the situation.

Those "ample means" must simply come out of the closet, provide documentary proof and testify against this regime.

They are out there!!! They must choose between their country and countrywo/men or this regime that is dragging us into another world war of this regime's making!!!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. "...and possibly other countries."

:think:

[Coastie for Truth]

6. My experience with the "Civil Affairs" Reserve units

Totally unmilitary (out of shape, over weight)"weekend warriors" - mostly small town lawyers, insurance brokers, and CPA's. No way are they "Special Forces" types.

[uppityperson]

12. Arrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! n/t

[OneMind]

13. *

*