Iraq/Iran: Hugh Hewitt interviews Gen. Wm. Odom

[Chicken Little]

Hugh interviews General William Odom, director of the NSA under President Ronald Reagan.

This is a 35 minute interview but it covers a ton of ground.  IMO it is well worth the investment.  Its the closest thing I've heard to a debate on the issues and options from anyone.


Audio
Transcript

[iplaw]

Since you're posting it I can take a guess as to what he said before even reading it...

BTW, he's been pretty transparent about his view of the Iraq war from the get go.

How many times does it have to be said that everyone has an opinion about the WOT.  Just because your in the military doesn't make you right.  There are plenty of other ex military commanders who think he's dead wrong.  

I'm sure he thinks he's right, but he's not running the show.  Are his thoughts any more important than General Petraus' who is currently in command?

[Chicken Little]

quote:Originally posted by iplaw

...How many times does it have to be said that everyone has an opinion about the WOT...

Oh, stop fussing.[xx(]  A great many of us, including you, could afford to learn more about Iraq, Iran, and the Middle East.  If this was just some typical AM radio screamathon, I wouldn't bother.  But its not.

/And I thought I'd get a pat on the head for posting a neo vs. paleo conservative debate...sheesh.

[tim huntzinger]

And I would imagine that the fact he is retired would make him MORE objective, less beholden to the Administration.

[Chicken Little]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

And I would imagine that the fact he is retired would make him MORE objective, less beholden to the Administration.

Yeah, he actually gets to that in the last five minutes, i.e., what should a general do when he disagrees with his superiors?  They had the same problem in Vietnam. Like I said, it's interesting.

[iplaw]

quote:
/And I thought I'd get a pat on the head for posting a neo vs. paleo conservative debate...sheesh.

You should know better than that by now...[]

I'm sure he has opinions on how things out to be done, but after all opinions are like, well, you know like...Tim Huntzinger.

[Conan71]

Here ya go Timmy, clown of the day:

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by iplaw

Since you're posting it I can take a guess as to what he said before even reading it...

BTW, he's been pretty transparent about his view of the Iraq war from the get go.

How many times does it have to be said that everyone has an opinion about the WOT.  Just because your in the military doesn't make you right.  There are plenty of other ex military commanders who think he's dead wrong.  

I'm sure he thinks he's right, but he's not running the show.  Are his thoughts any more important than General Petraus' who is currently in command?

Well his view is about as relevant as that of Patton or MacArthur on the WOT...

[Chicken Little]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71



Well his view is about as relevant as that of Patton or MacArthur on the WOT...

Huh? Patraus or Odom?  Or Hewitt?  IP?

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

quote:Originally posted by Conan71



Well his view is about as relevant as that of Patton or MacArthur on the WOT...

Huh? Patraus or Odom?  Or Hewitt?  IP?

Odom.  Unless he's the one actively controlling the situation and privy to all the present intelligence, he's doing nothing more than second-guessing.  Someone who was in charge of the NSA nearly 20 years ago would presumbably be about as far out of the loop as the two dead generals I mentioned.

[iplaw]

Was that post for me CL?

[Chicken Little]

Oh, okay.  So Odom, the guy that helped sweep the USSR into the trashcan...his opinion is worthless?

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

Oh, okay.  So Odom, the guy that helped sweep the USSR into the trashcan...his opinion is worthless?

Not worthless, just another opinion.  We aren't fighting the USSR anymore......

[Chicken Little]

Certainly not, I agree completely.  We are fighting a far weaker enemy...ineffectively.  But, you guys think its okay to ignore counsel from people who have seen it all before.  

Odom is a soldier with high-level counterinsurgency experience in Vietnam and a cool-headed strategist who out-played the commies in a game that could have resulted in global annihilation.

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' - Santayana

[iplaw]

quote:
We are fighting a far weaker enemy...ineffectively.

Well that weaker enemy did something Russia could have effectively never done. It attacked us on our own soil and killed thousands of Americans.

In fact, I agree the USSR was mightier, but was nowhere near as nuts as this enemy is.

Terrorists are a completely different enemy, with different tactics and protocols than we used in dealing with an established power, with a uniformed army like the USSR.  

The USSR wanted power and equal footing with the US.  Terrorists want annihilation of the US, and they could care less about power and diplomacy...

quote:
But, you guys think its okay to ignore counsel from people who have seen it all before.

Again, I don't discount him, but he's just one opinion.  

My main issue was that you cherry picked this interview with this one specific person because it fits with what you believe, not because he's some swammi.  Just my POV.