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Luis Carlos Montalván no hometown provided writes:

A sucking chest wound: America’s Generals… How convenient it is for outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Peter Pace, to admit on the eve of his retirement to errors of judgment made in the Iraq war.
The fact that our Generals perpetually expressed adequate American troop levels in Iraq to Congress and the American people, when the opposite has always been the case, constitutes a dereliction of duty that continues to go unaddressed.
While leading American soldiers on patrols and trying to train Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) both in 2003 and 2005 in Al Anbar, Baghdad and Nineveh Provinces, we, and many other officers operating at the tactical and operational levels, consistently conveyed to our superior officers the need for more troops. There simply was not enough manpower to support the security, humanitarian, and nation-building efforts.
To this end, our Generals neither served their purpose nor did what they were promoted to do – take care of the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen under their charge, fight for their units and lead by example.
How is it that no senior officer has served any jail time for Abu Ghraib? Why did our senior leaders think ‘search and destroy’ was going to be any more effective in Iraq than it was in Vietnam? How is it that the officers responsible for lying about Pat Tillman’s death were only given notional reprimands? Why has no American officer been held accountable for hundreds of thousands of missing weapons and equipment in Iraq? Why is it that the only General Officers who have spoken up about failed war strategy are retired?
It is simply astonishing that through the incompetence and self-delusion of these men, who have disgraced the uniform, an insurgency and terrorists have grown stronger and that overall, our military posture is weakened.
Even now, Generals Petraeus and Odierno count their temporary successes with a miniscule force of 160,000 Soldiers and Marines, yet are as silent as church mice over the need for additional forces to make the gains more permanent.
In fact, we’re already talking about a reduction in forces, when any General who possessed the competence of say, a Captain, would be telling Congress to triple the size of the Army and Marines, or cut our losses.
Time will tell how this ugly and terrible debacle will unfold but the history of our military leaders during this era will ultimately reveal the truth and extent of their dereliction.
Jason Blindauer and Luis Carlos Montalván are former Army captains who both served in Iraq in 2003 and 2005.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

I am reminded of the RPG that buried itself inside an American soldier and the helicopter crew that took him on board and the doctors/nurses that operated on him all risking their lives: Channel 7 last Friday. In the meantime, the generals are safely ensconced in the green zone and Bush is culling his own RPG on his ranch in the form of unwanted trees. The RPG was removed and carried away and detonated. Imagine: A live Rocket Propelled Grenade buried inside a human with only the fins sticking out: Unbelievable. The letter writer submits an unbelievable letter grounded in reality. In the meantime, the generals retire on a generous pension for a job badly done and not done period, just as W. Bush for bushwhacking America and millions of Iraqi refugees let alone the dead and wounded. Ends:

Please, elaborate more on how we've all been f**ked by this israelocentric government.

It is amazing how brave young citizens [probably Republicans] keep volunteering to fight in Iraq and cowardly Democrats like Luis Carlos keep writing letters to help the terrorists win the war.It just shows the character of the two types of Americans.the American soldiers are fighting on two fronts.The terrorists in Iraq and the cowardly Democrats in the US.How brave these soldiers are to fight two such viscious enemies.God Bless our troops.

I forgot the soldiers are also fighting the liberal Democrat media.These soldiers are real tough.

An American

My son is fighting overseas. He volunteered for the military, and he's a hard core Democrat -- on his third deployment. I would suspect there are quit a few Democrats facing the enemy eye to eye; not just with verbal speculation.

The scary part is this freakshow of an administration is on a collision course with Iran, and there's nothing we can do about it.

Hey Draft Dodger. Was it an oversight, or did you forget Wee Willy Billy on purpose. Can't remember him wearing a uniform, but more than a few bombs were dropped on his orders.

A good many of Bushes inner circle have never been in combat. Bush was barely in the military. Combine that with hubris and a religious belief in this war, and we may go after Iran.

Bush has more than enough time to start another war.

And more than enough fools to back him.

Sharon,

You are correct, but I must also add there is still a few dollars in the federal reserve they have not stolen or given away yet. Time will tell and when we can really get some investigations done on this administration we will be amazed at what is found.

Shinseki : need at least 400,000 troops
Rumsfeld : 75,000 will do
Wolfowitz : Shinseki is "wildly off the mark"
The Generals : the crazies are in charge

It's like a farce, isn't it?

As you can see the Democrat responses to my posting show that the truth hurts.Mongoose I can not believe what you posted because I have learned fighting Democrats for 20 years that lying is what they do best.Mongoose, name one issue that the Democrats back that is not based in cowardness?Just one!! Also if your son is fighting in Iraq why would he belong to a party that is giving aid and comfort to the terrorists?Why would he belong to a party that wants to ban his right to own a gun when he comes home?

An AMerican:- "...name one issue that the Democrats back that is not based in cowardness"

Freedom of speech, even for narrow minded bigots.

Well you are wrong.The Democrats do not back freedom of speech.They pushed through Campaign Finance Reform that would not allow groups like the NRA to speak 60 days before an election.They are pushing the Fairness Doctrine to close down freedom of speech on talk radio.The only freedom of speech that the Democrats back is the liberal Democrat controled media.Good try!!

an american, my sweet boifriend! do you think you could hep me and change my poopy diaper. i promise i am trying to do better but sumtimes i forget to go to da bathroom. ~kiss~

an american, my sweet boifriend! do you think you could hep me and change my poopy diaper. i promise i am trying to do better but sumtimes i forget to go to da bathroom. ~kiss~

an american, my sweet boifriend! do you think you could hep me and change my poopy diaper. i promise i am trying to do better but sumtimes i forget to go to da bathroom. ~kiss~

an american, my sweet boifriend! do you think you could hep me and change my poopy diaper. i promise i am trying to do better but sumtimes i forget to go to da bathroom. ~kiss~

an american, my sweet boifriend! do you think you could hep me and change my poopy diaper. i promise i am trying to do better but sumtimes i forget to go to da bathroom. ~kiss~

AnAmerican,

Well, since Republicans are, and always have been, for sale to the highest bidder, I can see where the idea of Campaign Reform might get their panties all knotted up; their idea of "free speech" being what it is: "He who is most free with the cash gets spoken for best."

I am glad that Old Grouch is showing he can run with the dumbest Democrats and hold his own.He knows nothing of want he speaks.If anybody wants to see what Campaign Finance Reform has done to freedom of speech go to the NRA website.I could tell the story but it would take too long and the issue would go over Old Grouch's head.

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