Comments on: Kerry For More Troops, Against Troop Call-Ups

By: Jem

Jem — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

To be fair, most Air Force GENERALS (because about 70% or so are pilots) spend large parts of their careers managing no group larger than a flight crew. Many other Air Force officers, however, who have no hope of reaching such exaulted status, are experienced in managing significant groups of people. Further, virtually all officers who become generals serve as commanders at squadron and group level (and many also at wing level) before they get their stars.

Few in the Air Force, however, get as much opportunity to lead large groups as their Army and Marine Corps peers do...

Finally, there are plenty of retired general officers who have greater respect from the people of the Air Force than "Crypt Keeper" McPeak...

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Amen to Jem about McPeak. I was there when he instituted the "manly man" V-neck white T-shirts, the airline pilot uniforms, etc. That was the signal that the fighter pilot mafia was back in charge after the Cold War was over and the SAC guys went into terminal decline.

By: Jeff Begley

Jeff Begley — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

It may be true that an Air Force General has managed a large number of people sometime in his career. However, the man has no concept of ground force operations to the extent that he should be a presidential advisor (God forbid Kerry get that far). The IRR call-up is an Army call-up.

The Air Force has little part in stability operations and is primarily a damage and transport tool. It's very hard for a jet to provide round the clock security or rebuild a pipeline.

I have to agree with Mr. Joyner on this one. McPeak is not qualified to be speaking on this matter.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I'll cut McPeak some slack here. By virtue of his seat on the JCS, he had insight into how the entire DoD operated as a whole. He had a say in how operations were run at the joint staff level so his knowledge about how the different services worked together is better than any of ours here. He might be vain and arrogant, but he's not stupid.

By: Jeff Begley

Jeff Begley — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I'm going to have to argue that one, too. McPeak had only four years experience at the joint level. He does not have a single stability operation under his belt. His only experience with modern combat operations was Desert Storm where we didn't stay and rebuild.

I've had seven years of nothing but Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq. I believe I could make a good argument that I have more experience in this arena that a JCS Air Force General. I know I can win an argument about current experience.

He's smart but out-dated. His last class attendance was in the late 70s and his last published article was in 1990 with his career ending in 1994. The man is now out of his depth to be speaking about ground requirements and policy. The entire face of war and SASO has changed since 9/11.

By: Say Anything

Say Anything — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Senator Kerry On Troop Call-Ups
Senator Kerry isn't very happy about the Pentagon's decision to call up Individual Ready Reserve troops for service in Iraq (via OTB). Washington - Senator John F. Kerryâs campaign yesterday seized on the Pentagonâs call-up of thousands of former soldi...

By: The American Mind

The American Mind — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Kerry's House of Ketchup #17
Kerry speaks. Welcome to the greatest political linkfest since...well ever! But enough of the lack of modesty there is...

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