Article

2007-12-08 Home Front: WoT

Another Surge Convert: Major General John Batiste

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Frank G 2007-12-08 15:29|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top
File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1 Hurah. Wouldn't trust him as far I can throw an anvil. (2 metres)

Posted by Thomas Woof 2007-12-08 16:04|| LiversRus]">[LiversRus] 2007-12-08 16:04|| Front Page Top

#2 it is no longer politically useful to be anti-war. They lost in their attempt to hurt Bush by being anti-war. Now they are all going to jump on the band wagon and ride in on the Victory parade.

They are just disgusting. Really, they are. Since being a liberal means having no convictions, they will on get on the same page here soon enough.

Posted by Whomong Guelph4611 2007-12-08 16:18|| 2007-12-08 16:18|| Front Page Top

#3 Interesting change of heart. We can only speculate on the motivation. The nicest spin seems to be "finally came to his senses" which is not exactly flattering.

So was Batiste anti-Rumsfeld because the the war or because of the whole transformation/net-centric warfare thingie?

Posted by SteveS 2007-12-08 18:16|| 2007-12-08 18:16|| Front Page Top

#4 I prefer the cynical motivation. He lacks a personal sense of direction and has sensed which way the wind is blowing. Do not trust such a man, but take great pleasure in the tweaking this "change of mind" will make among our internal enemies

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-12-08 18:22|| 2007-12-08 18:22|| Front Page Top

#5 I should remember, but can't, whether this guy was one of those "anti-war" types who actually were more opposed to the old Non-Campaign (my term) than they were to seeking some measure of success in Iraq.

The redeeming aspect of the former generals I have in mind was that they offered specific, concrete critiques and criticism. This aspect failed to excuse their criminal stupidity in allowing themselves to be used the way they were, and in general to display such carelessness in stepping into the most vicious and stupid political environment ever seen. But at least they had SOMETHING to say other than "whhaaa, we're not happy, life is hard, whaaaa, etc.", which is about all we've heard for the past 4 years from most "critics".

Posted by Verlaine 2007-12-08 19:35|| 2007-12-08 19:35|| Front Page Top

#6 ...So now we know exactly how long it takes for a General to figure out which way the wind is blowing.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2007-12-08 19:41|| 2007-12-08 19:41|| Front Page Top

#7 I just read "House to House" which is covers the experiences of Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia in Iraq. In that book, Batista comes off as one of Hackworth's perfumed princes, as he demands that infantry who have just come off the line after 11 days of all fighting, no showers, no hot meals and no sleep get themselves cleaned up for a photo op with him.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2007-12-08 20:42|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2007-12-08 20:42|| Front Page Top

#8 I'm reading it too, ZF - not Batiste's best showing, is it?

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-12-08 21:00|| 2007-12-08 21:00|| Front Page Top

23:57 swksvolFF
23:47 gorb
23:45 Red Dawg
23:41 swksvolFF
23:41 Red Dawg
23:20 Alaska Paul
23:09 Alaska Paul
22:43 ryuge
22:39 Gabby Cussworth
22:29 Dave D.
22:26 Anonymoose
22:26 Red Dawg
22:09 Frank G
22:09 Red Dawg
21:52 Pappy
21:30 M. Murcek
21:12 danking70
21:09 danking70
21:05 phil_b
21:04 Frank G
21:00 Frank G
20:49 gorb
20:46 gorb
20:42 Zhang Fei