In message , Tom Cervo
writes
quoting Hackworth
Hey, I am one of those: I took a swing at Clark during the Kosovo campaign when
I thought he screwed up the operation, and I called him a "Perfumed Prince."
Only years later did I discover from his book and other research that I was
wrong-the blame should have been worn by British timidity and William Cohen,
U.S. SecDef at the time.

Right. Instead of leaving the Russians to enjoy a moment of glory before
finding themselves isolated and helpless, begging for food and water, we
should have shot our way into the airfield they'd just grabbed
(presumably shooting at them if they declined to leave peacefully? Or
was that going to be blamed on 'inefficient subordinates'?) This is
meant to be a wise, sensible and considered strategic decision?

It could be said that a wise commander would have considered the
possibility in advance and made some plans; or at least issued a warning
order covering the possibility..



"British timidity"? Just how many reservists was the US mobilising for a
ground offensive into Kosovo? I seem to recall the option being
categorically ruled out in the US... but we were getting ready to sign
Queen's Orders. (Out of interest, just why was Clark condemned to rely
on the UK's famously reluctant, fearful and combat-averse Parachute
Regiment, when he presumably had his choice of US and other NATO units
to dispatch?)


Sorry, but Hackworth is more interested in pandering to prejudice than
rational analysis. (For instance, his cheerful bluster about the
"useless" 9mm pistol and the "ineffective" M16 family... tell you what,
he can stand in front of me and I'll put a few rounds from either into
him; then he can tell me how "ineffective" they are)




--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk