Ex-Envoy Criticizes Bush's Postwar Policy (Zinni to Officer Corp)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27846-2003Sep4.html

A former U.S. commander for the Middle East who still consults for the State Department yesterday blasted the Bush administration's handling of postwar Iraq, saying it lacked a coherent strategy, a serious plan and sufficient resources.

"There is no strategy or mechanism for putting the pieces together," said retired Marine Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, and so, he said, "we're in danger of failing."

In an impassioned speech to several hundred Marine and Navy officers and others, Zinni invoked the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War in the 1960s and '70s. "My contemporaries, our feelings and sensitivities were forged on the battlefields of Vietnam, where we heard the garbage and the lies, and we saw the sacrifice," said Zinni, who was severely wounded while serving as an infantry officer in that conflict. "I ask you, is it happening again?"

<snip>

Zinni's comments to the joint meeting in Arlington of the U.S. Naval Institute and the Marine Corps Association, two professional groups for officers, were greeted warmly by his audience, with prolonged applause at the end. Some officers bought tapes and compact discs of the speech to give to others.

[MetaTrope]

1. "Postwar" Iraq?

With 140,000 American troops still on the ground?

[ewagner]

2. Wow!

Dubya is getting it from all sides! Maybe he'll learn to treat people with a little respect so they won't turn on you later....?

Naaaaw! Bush never learns.