I remember when 'The Origins of the Coup of 2012' was a big topic of discussion in the 90s - mostly cited by the GOP as a cudgel Clinton's humanitarian military intervention in the Balkans. I think the Coup 2012 essay is great to spur discussion but slightly off the mark when discussing the current Iraq War.
I don't think military leaders are upset doing non-war fighting missions - I think they are upset that the UCMJ and rules of engagement have been politicized and the tradition of military honor worn down to a thin veneer on raw power. Couple the lack of respect for the rules and a cavalier disregard for force numbers and you get a bunch of unhappy military leaders.
I don't think the same Iraq mission with double the troop levels, a respect for UCMJ by DoD leadership, and a consistent effort to solve the political aspects of the insurgency (not US based PR) would cause the problems predicted by 'Coup 2012'.
Posted by joejoejoe at April 13, 2006 11:37 PMHarpers has a discussion this week with Dunlap and others. Excerpts of "American Coup d’Etat: Military thinkers discuss the unthinkable”
Posted by b at April 14, 2006 04:09 AMThe White House gave a new vote of confidence to
"Yes, the president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very fine job during a challenging period in our nation's history."
By now we all know this is the standard phase by this WH. Is it time for a metal?
Posted by Judith at April 14, 2006 04:45 AMLet's try that again.
"Yes, the president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very fine job during a challenging period in our nation's history," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.
Posted by Judith at April 14, 2006 04:47 AMA quick point.
Bushco certainly isn't going to get rid of Rummy at this point...He's their best weapon shield and deflector or more appropriately magnet for all those slings, arrows, missiles that arrive daily and weekly in the form of harsh criticisms for all failures of this administration in terms of foreign policy disasters. He takes the blame for all of Junior's military misadventures/failures and disasters. Junior must be counting his blessings that this man is taking all the heat for him...Junior hides behind this man like the pure Chickenhawk-in-Chief he is.
Posted by emal at April 14, 2006 05:10 AMVoices of the Military come too late for Iraq. However, they better start speaking loudly about the latest development of the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, in addition to Rumsfeld's part in this mess called Iraq. Did they finally wake up and realize that this is not some fucking war game without dire consequences? True alliance to this Country would be for the Military to stand up and say "no" to Bush/Rumsfeld. "What if they gave a war and nobody came" comes to mind.
Posted by Judith at April 14, 2006 05:10 AMWhat does Colin Powell think of his fellow generals' opinions? Or John McCain? What do other out-of-uniform military types think? Who's out there asking for the record?
Posted by suds at April 14, 2006 05:25 AMRummy is gone by the end of May.
Posted by snark at April 14, 2006 05:35 AMEventually, Crazy Uncle Donald will resign.
My sources say at year's end. This will open the door for Bush to appoint his favorite Democrat, DINO Joe Lieberman to replace him.
God help us all.
Posted by Christopher at April 14, 2006 05:36 AMIt's all Bush.
Every day he doesn't fire Rummy is a day he says to us: "It's OK how our soldiers are dying. It's OK how the insurgency is growing. You're tactics are perfect, Rummy. All the mistakes are past, you can start doing a good job now."
George W. Bush is to blame and George W. Bush is responsible for his SecDef and forcing him - if he's incompetent - to do his job or get out.
Posted by Zappatero at April 14, 2006 05:42 AMRummy is gone by the end of May.
I'll see that bet. What's the wager? Screw money and PayPal - say photos of the loser using a ouija board and a scrabble set for prograstination in fortune telling drag? With eyeliner.
I think Rummy stays - barring a massive military failure or disaster. Say another 9-11 or maybe a dirty bomb inside the Green Zone. Because we know Iraq is already a freaking disaster, but he's still there, like scum on water.
I think the time for White House resignations and staff shake ups is over and past. The news & pressure has moved on.
Posted by idiosynchronic at April 14, 2006 06:13 AMWhat does Colin Powell think of his fellow generals' opinions?
More correctly, what does Colin Powell think about serving under civilians! I read the Harper's article b linked to above, and there are some scary statements in it. Not the least of these was a statement made by Powell when he was still Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and facing a demobilization (reduction) of the military. He is quoted through a discussion of experts:
BACEVICH: Powell is explicit on this in his memoirs. "I was determined to have the Joint Chiefs drive the military strategy train," he wrote. He was not going to have "military reorganization schemes shoved down our throat."
KOHN: This was not a coup, but it was very clearly a circumvention of civilian political authority.
Colin Powell isn't as far off the corporatist totalitarian mark as we're supposed to think he was.
Posted by pessimist at April 14, 2006 06:31 AMI'll see that bet. What's the wager? Screw money and PayPal - say photos of the loser using a ouija board and a scrabble set for prograstination in fortune telling drag? With eyeliner.
Dressing in drag? Is that supposed to be intimidating? I've got great legs. Bring it on.
Posted by snark at April 14, 2006 06:40 AMToo little, too late. Our once mighty military has been sacked of its best leaders and gutted of its capabilites in favor of Halliburton/KBR contracts. Even Iran is thumbing its nose at a paper tiger, and they know it.
Posted by Hank at April 14, 2006 06:41 AMPart of BushAmerica's extreme, appalling militarism is wild adoration of generals for their "plain-spokeness" and professional expertise. They are some of the most trusted figures in our society. Seriously, according to polls.
I wonder what the current crop of revelations is doing to that image. Clearly the generals are desperate to get the idea out there that von Rumsfeld, not them, was (is) utterly incompetent and didn't heed their advice. Result: the ongoing Iraq Civil War. But how does it make them look to have essentially gone quietly along with plans they apparently knew were inadequate and incompetent?
I scorn the generals for their dismal performance over the past 5 years, but I do think the center-left (and the Dems) need to find some way to use their (belated) dissenting views to help prevent the next stage of Nero Jr's bellicose, end times insanity: a strike against Iran. (Preferably nuclear, of course.)
How are the Dems responding to these talking generals? Cowering as usual? Hiding behind the Capitol water fountain? Just letting the opportunity pass without comment? As far as I can tell, that's about it. The enemy of my enemy is my friend---Politics 101, Dems. War, too.
Posted by euzoius at April 14, 2006 06:43 AMHey, Harry and Nancy, how about an immediate press conference with ALL the generals listed in this post, thanking them for their "courage" (no, seriously) in calling for von Rumsfeld's resignation, and saying that the Dems have long agreed with them? And demand that Nero Jr heed the call of our beloved professional military and support our troops by firing von Rumsfeld.
Why the hell not? We should be on the side of generals dissenting against Nero and von Rumsfeld, duh.
SOMETHING needs to be done with this opportunity. Think: what would KKKarl do?
Posted by euzoius at April 14, 2006 06:50 AMEventually, Crazy Uncle Donald will resign.
Keep in mind that he claims to have offered his resignation a couple of times and says that Bush wouldn't accept it. Not that I believe a word that comes out of anyone's mouth that is associated with this administration.
Posted by Simp at April 14, 2006 07:28 AMHow many of these guys spoke up BEFORE the president pulled the trigger on the biggest strategic blunder in our history?
I knew it was a monstrous blunder, and I never got past E-5.
Sorry fellas, too little, too late. Why should I respect born-again strategists any more than I respect the president?
Posted by Repack Rider at April 14, 2006 08:01 AMI don't see Rummy going anywhere. And Lieberman will not be nominated to a position in the WH - he's may be a DINO to us, but to Rove, he's a Democrat and therefore cannot be considered. It doesn't matter how much sucking up Joementum does, it ain't going anywhere.
Posted by ann at April 14, 2006 08:05 AMHarry and Nancy, how about an immediate press conference with ALL the generals listed in this post, thanking them for their "courage".
Hey man. They're on break. They've worked hard this year. You don't want them to forego their r&r, do you?
Posted by Zappatero at April 14, 2006 08:28 AM"A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do."
Army Cadet Honor Code
I guess they forgot something along the way.
And damnit Repack you beat me to it. And I was only an E-4!
Rumsfeld is as pathetic as MacNamara ever was. Unfortunately, if he is fired, a clone will be found to replace him. Definitely not someone that knows what they are doing. Bush can't deal with non-lap-dogs.
Posted by tempus at April 14, 2006 09:04 AMHeckuva job, Rummy!
Posted by Mike at April 14, 2006 09:06 AMDressing in drag? Is that supposed to be intimidating? I've got great legs. Bring it on.
And do you that intimidates me? I'm a cyclist with better legs than most men.
Posted by idiosynchronic at April 14, 2006 11:15 AM