Major General Batiste's REAL Update on Iraq, Foreign Policy and our Military
Submitted by Gabriele Droz on June 28, 2007 - 1:08am.
Iraq | Middle East | National Security | Veterans & Military
Today, during a Foreign Affairs Hearing on the Iraq Escalation, Major General Batiste offered an astoundingly realistic and frightening rassessment of Iraq, US Foreign Policy, and the near-broken state of our Military. His 13 minute assessment can be watched here . I tried to embed the video but had no luck.
This man appears to be a brother of General Clark, at least in spirit, clarity, courage, and determination, except of course, General Clark would do the whole thing without a script. It's a must-see for anyone who wants to get a real feel for our current involvement in the Middle East, its problems and the present plus potential future consequences to the US.
Gen. Batiste, like Gen. Clark, promotes a long-term strategy of disciplined diplomacy, changing our tone from threatening to creating common goals and alliances, and using the military only as the very last resort. I could say a lot more, but he does it far better than me, so just watch it. It leaves me wondering if Gen. Clark and him have been meeting frequently, because I could swear the same words could have been used by Wes Clark.
After you listen to it, just for fun and annoyance, I also recommend watching this follow-up to Gen. Batiste's presentation by Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) and the ever-so-lovely "Military Armchair Expert" Frederick Kagan (9 minutes), along with the accompanying Daily Kos Diary: Kagan Lectures General Batiste on Military Strategy in Person.
My first diary here.
Gabriele
So true Sybil,
and it's such a perfect description. I thought Batiste's clear style and politeness were so exceptional. I would have reacted quite differently to these idiots.
"It does not take many words to tell the truth". Chief Joseph, Nez Perce
"We are the leaders we are waiting for". Hopi Elders
hate to link & run but no time to blog today.. this just in from Votevets...
Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,
Yesterday, Major General (ret.) John Batiste, a member of our board of advisors, testified in front of the House of Representatives on whether the so-called surge in Iraq is working. Then something curious happened.
An armchair soldier, Fred Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute, tried to maintain that he knows more about the military and Iraq than the man who was a commander on the ground for the United States Army. Both the Chicago Tribune, and our own Iraq veteran Brandon Friedman have the rundown, and how absurd the whole exchange was.
This is what we're up against. The few defenders of the President's failed strategy in Iraq don't include those who commanded in Iraq and are now out of the military and free to speak their minds. So they turn to so-called "experts" on Iraq, whose only real experience in this war is reading about it in the paper and writing thought-pieces about it.
Instead of all members of the panel respecting that there was one person - Major General Batiste - who had real experience in Iraq, and very valid points to make, some members of the panel decided to attack him as just being partisan. Most notably, in the hearing, Rep. Dan Burton chose to ignore all of the insight and evidence General Batiste was presenting, and claimed the General was just trying to defeat members of Burton's party.
Too bad for Rep. Burton that General Batiste noted he is a die-hard Republican, and "the whole problem" with what's happening in Washington is that defenders of the President are trying to make the war into a partisan issue.
This is why it is so important that you urge everyone you know to sign up at VoteVets.org. To put it as plainly as I can, only with numbers can we cut through the junk and take our credible, fact-based, and experienced case to the American people. Please, today, urge your friends and family to go to VoteVets.org and sign up.
Thank you for supporting the Voice of America's 21st Century Patriot!
Sincerely,
Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran
Chairman and Co-Founder, VoteVets.org
I'm glad Batiste's speech is getting the attention it deserves. It should be required watching for all US citizens.
It does not take many words to tell the truth". Chief Joseph, Nez Perce
"We are the leaders we are waiting for". Hopi Elders
If US citizens were required to watch the truth, how would they know what Paris Hilton and Phil Specter are up to? Seriously, this was an important blog. Thank you.
The NewsHour often interviews Kagan. Whatever the man says you may be assured that he is wrong. That's the rule.
General Batiste is getting better and better at answering questions.
Does General Batiste have a connection to General Clark? Jon Soltz says "yes."
The cofounder, Jon Soltz, said he "came up with the concept" for the ad himself. He and Wesley Clark, the former general and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, recruited Batiste and Eaton.) NewWeek
Here's a funny Batiste story from someone name Army Steve who also writes that
That was as much contact as I had with General Batiste, but my experience (and I'm out now, so I can be honest) was that he was a good commander, so I have a lot of respect for what he (and other veteran generals) has to say.
Thanks for bringing this here Gabriele.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
Thanks for the funny story. I needed a good laugh today!
"It does not take many words to tell the truth". Chief Joseph, Nez Perce
"We are the leaders we are waiting for". Hopi Elders
Actually I've been around for quite a while. I was one of the two Wes Clark 2004 for President (volunteer) coordinators in Santa Barbara, CA back in 2003, and am still going strong - just not too active right now. But I'll be ready to jump in at a moment's notice should Wes ... well, you know what I mean.
"It does not take many words to tell the truth". Chief Joseph, Nez Perce
"We are the leaders we are waiting for". Hopi Elders
side note: With that "whack-a-mole" obsessed committee on foreign affairs we're sunk I'm afraid. That youtube vid is very telling.
There are far too few adults in DC attempting to rein in our boy-king and his 'vice'roy.