tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post5211254721925142378..comments2024-03-26T05:18:53.709-04:00Comments on Pen and Sword: Tom Ricks and the NeoconsJeff Huberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-58169018152330146662009-02-15T15:46:00.000-05:002009-02-15T15:46:00.000-05:00As I state in my next article (above), all of the ...As I state in my next article (above), all of the Odierno info seems to have come from Odierno. <BR/><BR/>Ricks makes complete short shrift of both AEI, PNAC and the neocon movement in general, in essence covering their tracks, which is what they want. <BR/><BR/>The Gamble's not to the AEI weekend is pure "balance" cover. Ricks is trying to make Petraeus and Odie the heroes. <BR/><BR/>Oh, when you post in here, try to use the kind of language you'd use if you were speaking to strangers in person. <BR/><BR/>JeffJeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-91513195445964268162009-02-15T15:35:00.000-05:002009-02-15T15:35:00.000-05:00One more thing I found that puzzles me about Ricks...One more thing I found that puzzles me about Ricks' "dissenter" article on Odierno being the "father" of the surge is this quote from a <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/08/AR2009020802321_2.html?wprss=rss_world/mideast&sid=ST2009020702304&s_pos=" REL="nofollow">2/9/09</A> article he wrote in the WaPost: "...Gen. Jack Keane, his [Petraeus'] longtime mentor and an influential proponent of the new strategy for Iraq." Ricks also wrote in the dissenter article that Keane did "crucial coaching" for Odierno in regards to the surge. <BR/><BR/>All this makes you wonder why Ricks, contrary to his own book, doesn't put Keane (and AEI) on par with Odierno as the most influential surge proponents in his recent WaPost writings. Has he gotten too close to Odierno? Possibly but I don't think so. But for now, it remains a mystery. <BR/><BR/>So skip his WaPost articles on the surge and just buy the book ("The Gamble") instead. Then let the debate with Woodward's book (relating to the surge) begin (if it hasn't already)!Charlie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13879011878658416429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-71353712897154928832009-02-15T14:56:00.000-05:002009-02-15T14:56:00.000-05:00Now that I remembered my blogger account info, I a...Now that I remembered my blogger account info, I am no longer "anonymous," so let me just add that I think Ricks was trying in his Odierno/"dissenter" piece to tell the story of the surge from the inside of the Pentagon and was misleading in calling him the "father" of the surge when his input is just half the story. <BR/><BR/>Maybe the other half from the outside looking in - the AEI/Jack Keane surge debate and planning - will be in a future Ricks article. An excerpt of these meetings from Ricks' excellent new book as an article itself would be nice. If it isn't any time soon, it should be because the inside/outside connection, meaning Dick Cheney talking with Jack Keane, who talked to Ordierno/Petraeus regularly and met with AEI hawks, all in late 2006 is vitally important in explaining how the surge came to be.Charlie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13879011878658416429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-38159195496538457602009-02-15T14:33:00.000-05:002009-02-15T14:33:00.000-05:00Ignorant anti-war heads like Jeff Huber really pis...Ignorant anti-war heads like Jeff Huber really piss me off, smearing Thomas E. Ricks like he does here. Either you want to know how the surge happened or you don't. And that means talking to neocons and career pro-war military officials who created it and those miltiary officials (like Gen. Casey) who opposed it, like Ricks did for "The Gamble." That is not impartial journalism, folks. It's called going to the heart of the genesis of the surge strategy.<BR/><BR/>The other point here is that on p. 94 of "The Gamble," Ricks heads a section called: "ONE WEEKEND AT AEI CHANGES THE WAR." So there it is, folks! He did NOT ignore AEI and indeed go in depth into how meetings at the 12-story AEI building in December 2006 with Gen. Jack Keane, Fred Kagan and other pro-surge officials led to the surge. <BR/><BR/>Should Ricks have mentioned AEI/Kagan in his WaPost piece? Yes. Why he left that out I have no idea. But to say Ricks IGNORES the AEI role in the creation of the surge when his new book clearly has lots of info on how AEI was instrumental in the surge shows ignorance on Huber's part.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-55133112262116133312009-02-12T06:34:00.000-05:002009-02-12T06:34:00.000-05:00Say it ain't so. I'm depressed. I thought "Fiasco"...Say it ain't so. I'm depressed. I thought "Fiasco" was a careful balanced account. Did I miss something? What happened?iamithinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14947709769235011428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-60855672472357039452009-02-12T00:51:00.000-05:002009-02-12T00:51:00.000-05:00This is pretty incredible. the military brass reso...This is pretty incredible. the military brass resorting to blackmail to keep "some guy" (who answers to "Mr. President") from keeping a campaign promise? It sounds like these jokers have finally made the transition from MIC welfare queens to full-blown Praetorian Guards.<BR/><BR/>I wonder, does this "long war" they're itching for herald a return of the military draft? If they've got Mr. O this tightly wrapped around their little fingers, it certainly seems like a possibility. (And he might not need the encouragement; the draft was a fixture during our <I>last</I> Great Depression...)jpwhitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17975430453557627368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-36084915181800613892009-02-11T21:36:00.000-05:002009-02-11T21:36:00.000-05:00SP, Ricks is both and much more. The book arrival...SP, <BR/><BR/>Ricks is both and much more. The book arrival is no coincidence. I'm guessing it was D-Day in the info operation Gareth Porter has been talking about. <BR/><BR/>JeffJeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-9329995769262379542009-02-11T20:25:00.000-05:002009-02-11T20:25:00.000-05:00Jeff,After I read the Ricks series, especially the...Jeff,<BR/><BR/>After I read the Ricks series, especially the hagiography on Odierno, I knew something wasn't quite right. General Ray going around the C-o-C and getting "his" plan approved??? Going around the C-o-C -- check; "his" plan -- YGTBFKM! What really torqued me off about that article was the blatant, boastful C-o-C subversion; what the hell?! If it was a lowly O3 to O5 doing this, you can bet the flags would have them cashiered ricky-tick!!<BR/><BR/><BR/>Thanks for highlighting this quiet river of dis-information. You articulated what was bugging me about all of it.<BR/><BR/>No question the media campaign is underway to preserve both fronts in the WOT. But, given where Admiral Mike was pre- and post-CJCS, as well as Gates, I'm not so sure the Iraq angle will be executed as guys like Gen Ray and Gen Dave want. (Maybe they wnat the extension so some other general can be blamed for the inevitable loss???) And, if Taliban in Afghanistan are indeed headed into Mao's stage 3 (witness the bold Kabul attacks today), even if the generals get their way in Afghanistan, they are bound to lose.<BR/><BR/>(And Ricks? Hmmm... no doubt his new book's arrival is merely coincidental? The question, useful idiot or willing tool?? I know where you stand on this! Guess that sabbatical year he spent at Leavenworth was "worth it".)<BR/><BR/><BR/>SPServing Patriothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984393452206039835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-13001439075977848572009-02-11T15:55:00.000-05:002009-02-11T15:55:00.000-05:00Timr, Petraeus is the McA in this group. Big Ray ...Timr, <BR/><BR/>Petraeus is the McA in this group. Big Ray is an expendable decoy. <BR/><BR/>JeffJeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-5937302087002451972009-02-11T12:45:00.000-05:002009-02-11T12:45:00.000-05:00Ricks is making the rounds. He was on TDS last nit...Ricks is making the rounds. He was on TDS last nite and as usual Jon Stewart-a comedian-proves that he is by far a better interviewer in 5 min that any of the villagers are in 30 min. <BR/> I have been under the impression that is was a LtCol or a Col who not only originated the idea of the surge, but came up with the Sunni awakining councils<BR/> In your opinion, is Odinero going to go the same way that MacArthur did? Mac was very politically connected, yet Truman fired him. Is that in Ordineros future? After all he quite openly has drawn a line in the sand and dared Obama to cross it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-6135033540200806332009-02-10T15:56:00.000-05:002009-02-10T15:56:00.000-05:00Call sign: "Babe"Call sign: "Babe"Jeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-77021769666042145802009-02-10T14:23:00.000-05:002009-02-10T14:23:00.000-05:00Heh. Pet ox, Odierno. Your killin' me, nay slayin'...Heh. Pet ox, Odierno. Your killin' me, nay slayin' me! :)<BR/><BR/>GQAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-75751990510506968592009-02-10T10:49:00.000-05:002009-02-10T10:49:00.000-05:00Another great post! Thanks Commander.Another great post! Thanks Commander.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-87366496410628804332009-02-09T17:08:00.000-05:002009-02-09T17:08:00.000-05:00EL, If only they could run their wars like they ru...EL, <BR/><BR/>If only they could run their wars like they run their con games. <BR/><BR/>JeffJeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-8478240207959198552009-02-09T16:46:00.000-05:002009-02-09T16:46:00.000-05:00Yes Jeff :)Yes Jeff :)nunyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08833886980442919570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-17143918374098425422009-02-09T15:49:00.000-05:002009-02-09T15:49:00.000-05:00You had to see this coming.Gates saying "it's not ...You had to see this coming.<BR/><BR/>Gates saying "it's not time." <BR/><BR/>Patreus at the Super Bowl. <BR/><BR/>Ricks on MTP. <BR/><BR/>It's all on schedule.Elderladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02268520056042293783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-31814145715546215302009-02-09T14:05:00.000-05:002009-02-09T14:05:00.000-05:00Or just another wrong number?Or just another wrong number?Jeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-34834061209493848352009-02-09T13:33:00.000-05:002009-02-09T13:33:00.000-05:00A wake up call in Washington?BWWAAA hahahahahahahh...A wake up call in Washington?<BR/><BR/>BWWAAA hahahahahahahhaha.nunyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08833886980442919570noreply@blogger.com