In message , Tankfixer
writes
In article ,
mumbled
In message , Colin Campbell
writes
Can you imagine how many generals would be out of a job if a crisis
occurred somewhere and the president asked to be briefed on his
military options - and the generals gave him a 'deer in the
headlights' look?

Isn't that what happened when Clinton wanted options for hitting
bin-Laden in Afghanistan?

I understand they had a plan to put Rangers/SOF on the ground and snatch
him.

But since people might get hurt....

Cuts both ways. Reading "Bush at War", one thing that leapt out was how
difficult it was to actually get any sort of operation going in
Afghanistan: sending SOF in, knives clenched in their teeth, is all very
well until they have casualties that need extracting, or something goes
wrong somewhere in the plan.

"It was bedrock doctrine with Shelton and most military officers that
combat operations could not commence without full search and rescue. The
CSAR was the lifeline for those who flew combat missions and there was a
presumption that the military brass would go all out to ensure it was in
place."

--
The nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its
warriors, will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done
by fools.
-Thucydides


Paul J. Adam - mainbox{at}jrwlynch[dot]demon(dot)codotuk