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	<title>Comments on: Yet Another Lesson in the Chain of Command</title>
	<atom:link href="http://commentsfromleftfield.com/2008/05/yet-another-lesson-in-the-chain-of-command/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://commentsfromleftfield.com/2008/05/yet-another-lesson-in-the-chain-of-command</link>
	<description>Loaning brain cells to those in need since 2003</description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:54:22 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Outside The Beltway &#124; OTB</title>
		<link>http://commentsfromleftfield.com/2008/05/yet-another-lesson-in-the-chain-of-command#comment-35350</link>
		<dc:creator>Outside The Beltway &#124; OTB</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 12:02:32 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>&lt;strong&gt;Rumsfeld Blames Generals for Troop Strength...&lt;/strong&gt;

Some recently released Pentagon documents include an &#8220;hour-long talk [then-Secretary of Defense Donald] Rumsfeld and Gen. Peter Pace, then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had with military officers in late 2006.&#8221;  The Swamp...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Rumsfeld Blames Generals for Troop Strength&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>Some recently released Pentagon documents include an &#8220;hour-long talk [then-Secretary of Defense Donald] Rumsfeld and Gen. Peter Pace, then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had with military officers in late 2006.&#8221;  The Swamp&#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: Steve J.</title>
		<link>http://commentsfromleftfield.com/2008/05/yet-another-lesson-in-the-chain-of-command#comment-35314</link>
		<dc:creator>Steve J.</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 06:59:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://commentsfromleftfield.com/?p=4099#comment-35314</guid>
		<description>Kyle,

Rummy lied again...

Satyam at ThinkProgress notes that in 2006, Rumsfeld claimed that the commanders on the ground in Iraq never asked for more troops:

RUMSFELD: Now, it turns out he [Shinkseki] was right. The commanders–you guys ended up wanting roughly the same as you had for the major combat operation, and that’s what we have. There is no damned guidebook that says what the number ought to be. We were queued up to go up to what, 400-plus thousand.

Q: Yes, they were already in queue.

RUMSFELD: They were in the queue. We would have gone right on if they’d wanted them, but they didn’t, so life goes on.

Gen. James "Spider" Marks says the opposite:

BLITZER: But -- I want to bring our other generals in in a moment. But based on your firsthand observations, your firsthand knowledge, General Marks, did the defense secretary reject recommendations from military commanders for more troops?

BRIG. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Sure. Oh, absolutely. I mean, that's been documented if you read General Franks' book, and the current book, "Cobra II," indicates very, very clearly, and in fact, that is in fact what happened. We requested the 1st Cavalry Division. That was denied. At a very critical point in the war, I might say.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Kyle,</p>
<p>Rummy lied again&#8230;</p>
<p>Satyam at ThinkProgress notes that in 2006, Rumsfeld claimed that the commanders on the ground in Iraq never asked for more troops:</p>
<p>RUMSFELD: Now, it turns out he [Shinkseki] was right. The commanders–you guys ended up wanting roughly the same as you had for the major combat operation, and that’s what we have. There is no damned guidebook that says what the number ought to be. We were queued up to go up to what, 400-plus thousand.</p>
<p>Q: Yes, they were already in queue.</p>
<p>RUMSFELD: They were in the queue. We would have gone right on if they’d wanted them, but they didn’t, so life goes on.</p>
<p>Gen. James &#8220;Spider&#8221; Marks says the opposite:</p>
<p>BLITZER: But &#8212; I want to bring our other generals in in a moment. But based on your firsthand observations, your firsthand knowledge, General Marks, did the defense secretary reject recommendations from military commanders for more troops?</p>
<p>BRIG. GEN. JAMES &#8220;SPIDER&#8221; MARKS, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Sure. Oh, absolutely. I mean, that&#8217;s been documented if you read General Franks&#8217; book, and the current book, &#8220;Cobra II,&#8221; indicates very, very clearly, and in fact, that is in fact what happened. We requested the 1st Cavalry Division. That was denied. At a very critical point in the war, I might say.</p>
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