The TV Generals
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:32 pm by CrankyYou know those retired generals who appear on CNN and Fox and say stuff about “the situation on the ground in Iraq” and whatnot?
There’s actually a blog that keeps track of this “Gang of Generals”. Check out Tikipundit’s collection of four-star pundits who ought to consider just keeping quiet.
To outsiders, it might seem like honest opinions expressed by honest (albeit tardy — not to say cowardly or retiring) former American defense leaders — the kind who go home, kiss the trophy wife, pet the trophy dog, wash the trophy windows of the trophy mock Tudor, shoot the breeze with the retired upper-crust neighbor next door while raking leaves and so on — the perfect picture of the American Dream (albeit in neighborhoods you couldn’t afford to live in)), are just that: honest opinions by taxpaying citizens. And you think, by Gawd, they have a right to say what they think. After all, they served our country for decades.
The real picture is much more ugly.
November 4th, 2006 at 1:33 am
WSJ’s James Taranto quoted some SSgt in Iraq the other day about what’s wrong with our plan. Couldn’t help myself. Had to point out that officers are more educated, more experienced, yada yada. This is on-the-ground action, dammit. Never being an officer lover, each keystroke was painful indeed, but ground action is for real, and that’s what senior officers get paid for. I’ve worked with enough of them to know what’s right.
When it comes to TV, or any antique media for that matter, all bets are off. A retired general is just that: retired. The day you leave active duty, you lose touch. Period. You’re no longer getting up in the AM with a cup of coffee, wondering what the hell this day’s evil will bring. You’re an outsider. You’ve got no more pull than the gal who brings your mail, or the guy who picks up your garbage.
And that must piss these big dogs off to no end. Classic case of being all dressed up with nowhere to go.
Shit, there’s always TV.
Give me a retired MSgt now and then, and I might just pay attention. Otherwise, show me camping out on the net trying to find out what’s really going on.
November 4th, 2006 at 10:08 am
Where’s Tiki’s linki?
November 4th, 2006 at 10:23 am
My question exactly. Answer:
link
November 4th, 2006 at 11:55 am
I spent 4 years in US Army, 1966-70 watching generals from a distance. I once saw one close up in 1969. We did military intelligence work, a misnomer, and we had several observations. There are no stupid generals, you can’t become a general and be stupid. However there are mean generals and pure bat-sh*t crazy generals who know how to work the system for their own maximum benefit.
It was fun seeing the general in 1969, he came through our operations building with his entourage and he stopped to talk to a soldier who worked next to me. He asked, “Where you from son?” and the reply was “Texas, Sir.” Then the general asked if there were any problems that he could help the soldier with. The soldier’s reply was, “Yes Sir! I do have a real big problem that I just can’t figure out, Sir can you help me understand existentialism?” The entourage rushed the general on out of the room and that was the only time I ever saw a general close up.
November 4th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
That is frickin’ funny.