Comments on: It is Time to Lead, Follow, or get the hell out of the War http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war A blog about Military Issues, Afghanistan, and everything in between Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:26:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fastfazz http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-5299 Fastfazz Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:30:02 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-5299 Im devastated. That so many smart people cant see that our President is an ideologue And his ideology is foreign to anything this country or the constitution allows. This man does not care about our great men and women who serve! unless they can be used for his own political expediency.. He and his administration are on an active mission to dismantle the very essence of our nation. Its disgraceful how our men and women are left swinging in the wind, sinful!!!! Sorry my rant ,this is a great site, just came across it today.Keep up the great work God bless........ Im devastated. That so many smart people cant see that our President is an ideologue And his ideology is foreign to anything this country or the constitution allows. This man does not care about our great men and women who serve! unless they can be used for his own political expediency.. He and his administration are on an active mission to dismantle the very essence of our nation. Its disgraceful how our men and women are left swinging in the wind, sinful!!!! Sorry my rant ,this is a great site, just came across it today.Keep up the great work God bless……..

]]> By: JB http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-4906 JB Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:08:21 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-4906 CIC To Do List: 1. Conduct Focus Groups on Afghanistan 2. Poll base & monitor body count 3. Ask Zbigniew Brzezinski what to do 4. Follow orders The men behind Barack Obama part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-KJCMWcoms CIC To Do List:
1. Conduct Focus Groups on Afghanistan
2. Poll base & monitor body count
3. Ask Zbigniew Brzezinski what to do
4. Follow orders

The men behind Barack Obama part 2

]]> By: PaulG http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-4905 PaulG Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:41:21 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-4905 I understand the desire for a quick action, but I believe strongly that the President is correct in not rushing into a decision. Let’s face facts: since the original Obama Administration strategy document was published in March, there have been significant changes both politically and militarily — none of them good. Support for the war has eroded significantly during the past 12 months and at an increasing rate during the past 6 months. The legitimacy of the Afghan government, questionable before, is now a joke. Our military position is worse than it was in March. All of this and more argue for a thorough strategic review. GEN McChrystal’s analysis was predicated on the strategy announced in March; if, as a result of this strategic review, the strategy changes, the analysis of what’s needed may well change also. We’ve seen the results of ad hoc strategic decision making before (think Vietnam and Iraq 2003-2007). Having personally been at the effect of ad hoc policy changes in Vietnam, I would much prefer a thorough, thoughtful review of our strategy. This is not going to go quickly. Meetings will have to be held, consensus obtained among many differing views (most of which have both pros and cons), documents will have to be prepared and circulated widely throughout the executive branch and Congress, as well as throughout the policy establishment. It could take quite a while but, hopefully, the end result will be worth the wait. We’re lucky in one respect: with winter coming on, the pace of combat operations should slacken. At least in this sense, this is probably the best time for a review. Like a majority of voters, I voted for Obama. I didn’t do it because I liked all of his campaign promises or his slogan of “Yes We Can”. I took those about as seriously as I take any politician’s promises. I voted for him because he was the smartest guy and appeared to be a deliberative thinker willing to reach out to people with views that differed from his own. Right now he seems to be doing what I hired him to do. There’s another side, as well, to the question of McChrystal only speaking to Obama once since he was confirmed in his post. Modern communications and technology make it easy to circumvent the chain of command. In Vietnam, this was common — battalion and brigade commanders, and often commanders of support units, tried to circumvent the chain of command and instruct the people on the ground what to do, how to do it and where it should be done — often with disastrous consequences. The same was true at the strategic level. We saw the same thing in Iraq, and we all know how well that went. It’s too early to tell, but I have hopes that this signals a return to the tried and true World War II approach — pick the best guy you can find for operational command and then communicate with him through the chain of command rather than directly. I understand the desire for a quick action, but I believe strongly that the President is correct in not rushing into a decision. Let’s face facts: since the original Obama Administration strategy document was published in March, there have been significant changes both politically and militarily — none of them good. Support for the war has eroded significantly during the past 12 months and at an increasing rate during the past 6 months. The legitimacy of the Afghan government, questionable before, is now a joke. Our military position is worse than it was in March. All of this and more argue for a thorough strategic review. GEN McChrystal’s analysis was predicated on the strategy announced in March; if, as a result of this strategic review, the strategy changes, the analysis of what’s needed may well change also.

We’ve seen the results of ad hoc strategic decision making before (think Vietnam and Iraq 2003-2007). Having personally been at the effect of ad hoc policy changes in Vietnam, I would much prefer a thorough, thoughtful review of our strategy. This is not going to go quickly. Meetings will have to be held, consensus obtained among many differing views (most of which have both pros and cons), documents will have to be prepared and circulated widely throughout the executive branch and Congress, as well as throughout the policy establishment. It could take quite a while but, hopefully, the end result will be worth the wait. We’re lucky in one respect: with winter coming on, the pace of combat operations should slacken. At least in this sense, this is probably the best time for a review.

Like a majority of voters, I voted for Obama. I didn’t do it because I liked all of his campaign promises or his slogan of “Yes We Can”. I took those about as seriously as I take any politician’s promises. I voted for him because he was the smartest guy and appeared to be a deliberative thinker willing to reach out to people with views that differed from his own. Right now he seems to be doing what I hired him to do.

There’s another side, as well, to the question of McChrystal only speaking to Obama once since he was confirmed in his post. Modern communications and technology make it easy to circumvent the chain of command. In Vietnam, this was common — battalion and brigade commanders, and often commanders of support units, tried to circumvent the chain of command and instruct the people on the ground what to do, how to do it and where it should be done — often with disastrous consequences. The same was true at the strategic level. We saw the same thing in Iraq, and we all know how well that went. It’s too early to tell, but I have hopes that this signals a return to the tried and true World War II approach — pick the best guy you can find for operational command and then communicate with him through the chain of command rather than directly.

]]> By: Juanita Williamson http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-4899 Juanita Williamson Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:55:21 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-4899 I am so glad your around to speak up and speak out. Seems to me Obama is doing everything he can to avoid making these important desisions, which really angers me, Our sons and daughters are over sea's busting their busts, getting hurt, getting killed. Obama needs to learn some work ethics, do his job or resign !!!!! I am so glad your around to speak up and speak out. Seems to me Obama is doing everything he can to avoid making these important desisions, which really angers me, Our sons and daughters are over sea’s busting their busts, getting hurt, getting killed. Obama needs to learn some work ethics, do his job or resign !!!!!

]]> By: Inge http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-4891 Inge Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:10:31 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-4891 The country is run by the old 60's anti-military bunch; so I'm not sure what the surprise. What I don't want to see is that our soldiers are sacrified for political purpose, and die in vein. Obama doesn't have a clue, and is trying to find a way to withdraw, that's reality. Let's call a spade a spade; we are looking very weak, and no change back to pre-9/11 strategy will change that. The country is run by the old 60′s anti-military bunch; so I’m not sure what the surprise. What I don’t want to see is that our soldiers are sacrified for political purpose, and die in vein.
Obama doesn’t have a clue, and is trying to find a way to withdraw, that’s reality.
Let’s call a spade a spade; we are looking very weak, and no change back to pre-9/11 strategy will change that.

]]> By: dennis http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-4883 dennis Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:58:38 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-4883 great read. Obama well make up his mine. one way or other.i just think for now he trusts Gen.McChrystal. great read. Obama well make up his mine. one way or other.i just think for now he trusts Gen.McChrystal.

]]> By: dennis http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-4881 dennis Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:31:59 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-4881 great read.must agree with you.i would think Gen.McChrystal can hold his own,for now. as for Obama he has to many irons in the firer. but i think he trusts McChrystal assessment.and will think it out with the best info, he has at hand. great read.must agree with you.i would think Gen.McChrystal can hold his own,for now. as for Obama he has to many irons in the firer. but i think he trusts McChrystal assessment.and will think it out with the best info, he has at hand.

]]> By: membrain http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-4876 membrain Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:30:28 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-4876 Last night I watched 9/11, the documentary by the french filmaker brothers who were on the scene when it happened. It could happen again if Obama doesn't get this right. Only worse the next time. .-= membrain´s last blog ..<a href="http://membrain.blogspot.com/2009/09/general-mcchrystal-on-60-minutes.html" rel="nofollow">General McChrystal on 60 Minutes</a> =-. Last night I watched 9/11, the documentary by the french filmaker brothers who were on the scene when it happened.

It could happen again if Obama doesn’t get this right. Only worse the next time.
.-= membrain´s last blog ..General McChrystal on 60 Minutes =-.

]]> By: MTM http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-4875 MTM Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:06:40 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-4875 I could not agree more! This war is in serious danger of sliding out of control. The commander in Afghan was replaced because of his expertise...listen to this man and let the decisions about resources and troops be up to the leaders on the ground. I could not agree more! This war is in serious danger of sliding out of control. The commander in Afghan was replaced because of his expertise…listen to this man and let the decisions about resources and troops be up to the leaders on the ground.

]]> By: Bouhammer http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/comment-page-1/#comment-4873 Bouhammer Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:14:15 +0000 http://www.bouhammer.com/2009/09/it-is-time-to-lead-follow-or-get-the-hell-out-of-the-war/#comment-4873 CK, Thanks for your comment. As a person who voted for Obama, I think your opinion is very important. It shows that it is not just one side or another who thinks a certain way. CK,

Thanks for your comment. As a person who voted for Obama, I think your opinion is very important. It shows that it is not just one side or another who thinks a certain way.

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