Quote:
Originally posted by richlevy
Finding someone in the military who liked Clinton, or any Democrat, is always going to be tough. Deserved or not, Democrats have the reputation for not being as hawkish as Republicans. Personally, I can live with that. Most of what keeps this country together is domestic issues, like keeping deficits down and employment up.
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Top military people loved Clinton because he got many of their defective weapons systems working (B-1 bomber, B-2 bomber, Patriot missile system, useless aircraft carriers were finally made functional and finally got an airplane that could attack something, etc). Clinton also asked the right questions in meetings. He made, what they regard, as good, decisive, and explicit decisions on Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, etc. Military brass likes that. Clinton kept the US out of boondoggles such as Somolia. Clinton advocated the Powell doctrine which military brass likes.
But relations between the George Jr administration and military are quite foul. Administration had to go to find a new Chairman for the Joint Chiefs. Every current three and four star general was considered unacceptable to this administration. They had to get a general out of retirement because relations between the George Jr administration and military are that foul. Relations between the current joint chief and George Jr administration is about a foul as can be as demonstrated by how often the military opinion had to be expressed among the ranks of retired military personnel.
We know the Joint Cheif Chairman was correct when he said we needed up to 200,000 troops in Iraq to maintain order. Third and Fourth Infantry and 101st Airborne have their tours of duty extended 3 more months because not enough troops were sent - as the joint cheifs predicted and as this administration poo-pooed. Since the Iraq war, we have increased (not decreased) troop strength to 150,000 because as Central Command general said but a few weeks ago - the war is still not over regardless of what the administration is telling the Pentagon. Even worse, we don't have the right troops for the job. Heavy infantry is not trained for civilian affairs and police functions.
Relations between this adminstration and the military are quite foul. Some of what Rumsfled is doing is quite necessary and long overdue. But to say the miliatry likes George Jr over Clinton is totally erroneous. They loved Clinton at the highest levels because the got what they wanted most - except a defense budget larger than any cold war budget. But under Clinton, the military became more agile and more competent with less troops and material. Why could the new military operate in Afganistan? Clinton got them the transports they needed and the advanced weapons they preferred. Military liked both Clinton and George Sr. better than this George Jr administration.