John Vukich – 2/13/07

This page was last updated on February 13, 2007.

Apply common sense [sic] to war; John Vukich; Beaver County Times; February 13, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“This isn’t a Democratic or Republican letter. It’s just a letter from someone with a small amount of common sense [sic].”

[RWC] When someone asserts, “This isn’t a Democratic or Republican letter,” you’re almost guaranteed it’s one or the other.

“It seems to me that a whole lot of generals are prematurely retiring. Quite a few division commanders retired instead of moving up in rank and position. Gen. Tommy Franks could’ve gone down in history with names like Bradley and Eisenhower but instead will go down with Westmoreland as a general whose war was run by politicians.”

[RWC] I don’t know if it’s true or not, but what evidence does Mr. Vukich have that politicians are making military decisions?

Gen. Franks announced his retirement on May 22, 2003, immediately after the invasion of Iraq. Both the Afghanistan and Iraq invasion campaigns were very successful. As a result, Mr. Vukich’s conclusion doesn’t make sense.

Mr. Vukich failed to note General Douglas McArthur during the Korean War.

“The lack of military experience in the White House is showing. U.S. Central Command covers 27 countries in the Middle East and the surrounding area.

“Granted, there is one island nation and some coastline involved, but c’mon. Is it just me, or does putting an admiral in the position of deputy commander of Central Command seem absurd? Desert warfare run by the Navy? Did the president run out of generals? A task as simple as setting fields of fire so your hunting buddy doesn’t get shot in the face to ignoring division commanders only goes to prove the lack of experience.”

[RWC] It’s just you and your fellow travelers, Mr. Vukich.

Too bad for Mr. Vukich he didn’t check Vice Admiral David Nichols’ biography. According to the Centcom website, “Vice Admiral Nichols was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the ROTC program following graduation from the University of Tennessee. He is a graduate of Army Ranger School.” Adm. Nichols also had Centcom experience during the Clinton administration as “U.S. Central Command Deputy Director of Operations from June 1998 until June 2000 and Executive Assistant to the Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Command from May 1996 until May 1998.” Paraphrasing Mr. Vukich, “Did Bill Clinton run out of generals?”

What evidence does Mr. Vukich have showing President Bush is “ignoring division commanders?”

“Protesting or speaking out doesn’t make you unpatriotic. I remember protesters when I was in the Army, and it made me think about their constitutional rights and raising my right hand to swear to protect and defend the Constitution.

“Freedom from oppression is what this war and all other wars are supposed to be about. Instead of hating each other, let’s put our heads together and find something we can all hate, like the traffic lights in New Brighton.”

[RWC] Did I miss something? Mr. Vukich writes this letter and another and then says we shouldn’t hate each other? Perhaps he should start with himself.