Interesting read: "Bullet" Bob Dornan's take on committing troops

[zbdent]

Remember, this is 11/8/1995, under a Democratic President ...
so committing troops to a never-ending conflict is okay if
you're a Republican ... from the Congressional Record:

Ten Commandments for Committing U.S. Combat Forces

Developed by Congressman Robert K. Dornan and former Secretary
of Defense Caspar Weinberger

[DEVELOPED BY CONGRESSMAN ROBERT K. DORNAN AND FORMER
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CASPAR WEINBERGER]

1. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless the
situation is vital to U.S. or allied national interests.

2. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless all other
options already have been used or considered.

3. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless there is a
clear commitment, including allocated resources, to achieving
victory.

4. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless there are
clearly defined political and military objectives.

5. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless our
commitment of these forces will change if our objectives
change.

6. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless the
American people and Congress support the action.

7. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless under the
operational command of American commanders or allied
commanders under a ratified treaty.

8. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless properly
equipped, trained and maintained by the Congress.

9. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless there us
substantial and reliable intelligence information including
human intelligence.

10. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless the
commander in chief and Congress can explain to the loved ones
of any killed or wounded American soldier, sailor, Marine,
pilot or aircrewman why their family member or friend was sent
in harm's way.

--

--

Analysis

1. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless the
situation is vital to U.S. or allied national interests.

What vital interests are at stake? We already are preventing
the spread of conflict with troops elsewhere in the Balkans
such as Macedonia.

2. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless all other
options already have been used or considered.

What about lifting the arms embargo? What about tightening
trade sanctions? What about further air strikes?

3. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless there is a
clear commitment, including allocated resources, to achieving
victory.

Are 25,000 U.S. troops enough? Are there enough European
forces?

4. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless there are
clearly defined political and military objectives.

What are the political objectives--protect small `enclaves' in
the middle of a civil war? What are the military
objectives--seize and hold specific terrain or stand and
become targets for all warring sides?

5. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless our
commitment of these forces will change if our objective
change.

Will we realistically be able to withdraw U.S. forces after a
year if peace is not achieved, even if these forces are
directly engaged in combat?

6. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless the
American people and Congress support the action.

Neither Congress nor the American people support this
operation. A recent CBS/New York Times poll indicated only 37%
of Americans support the President's position on Bosnia.
Further, 79% believe he should seek approval from Congress
before sending any troops.

7. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless under the
operational command of American commanders or allied
commanders under a ratified treaty.

The command structure for U.S. troops involved in this
operation seems confused at best with U.S. ground troops
serving under deputy European commanders and a NATO council of
civilian representatives from member states. Will France and
Denmark have to approve U.S. combat requests for M-1 tanks and
AC-130 gunships?

8. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless properly
equipped, trained and maintained by the Congress.

Why has the President nearly doubled the defense cuts he
promised in his campaign and under funded his own `Bottom Up
Review' defense plan by as much as $150 billion? Shouldn't he
restore spending if he plans to use our military as world
policemen in Bosnia, Haiti, and elsewhere?

9. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless there is
substantial and reliable intelligence information including
human intelligence.

What reliable intelligence sources do we have in Bosnia? Will
our sources be compromised through intelligence sharing
agreements with non-NATO countries such as Russia?

10. Thou shall not commit U.S. combat forces unless the
commander in chief and Congress can explain to the loved ones
of any killed or wounded American soldier, sailor, Marine,
pilot or aircrewman why their family member or friend was sent
in harm's way.

Can we honestly make this case? American lives are at stake!

[RobertSeattle]

1. You must be missing the BIG ASTERISK

* = These only apply to a Democratic President.

[Bicoastal]

2. Incidentally, I once met Bob Dornan...

...and while we were talking, a painted wooden bird sprang out of his forehead, cuckooed three times, and disappeared back inside. Bob just pretended like it didn't happen.

True story.

[laststeamtrain]

3. Gotta love ol' B-1 Bob. A nut's nut...

[phaseolus]

4. 'Thou SHALT not', dammit.

Why yes, I am a grammar nerd, even when I spot mistakes in archaic languages I don't really speak. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard...