Gen. Eric Shinseki from 02.25.03

On February 25, 2003, four months before the end of his term as Chief of Staff of the Army, Shinseki told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he thought an occupying force of several hundred thousand men would be needed to stabilize postwar Iraq. He was pressed to provide a range by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI). Below is an excerpt from the exchange: SEN. LEVIN: General Shinseki, could you give us some idea as to the magnitude of the Army's force requirement for an occupation of Iraq following a successful completion of the war? GEN. SHINSEKI: In specific numbers, I would have to rely on combatant commanders' exact requirements. But I think -- SEN. LEVIN: How about a range? GEN. SHINSEKI: I would say that what's been mobilized to this point -- something on the order of several hundred thousand soldiers are probably, you know, a figure that would be required. We're talking about posthostilities control over a piece of geography that's fairly significant, with the kinds of ethnic tensions that could lead to other problems. And so it takes a significant ground-force presence.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• General
• Eric
• shinseki
• Iraq
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[quicksite]

A good man - one of many who have been career professionals who performed their jobs with expertise and high integrity -- thus making them unsuitable for being listened to by the Bush Admin of narcissistic war profiteers. Those who were right were mocked and kicked to the curb. Those who knew better but played the game for Bush (like Powell) deserve our contempt - not rehabilitation. And those who committed crimes against US & our Constitution should be charged and face trials.

[bowlerdude]

wow he is a responsible human being

[leandro0341]

There's no way 'Dubya' would have been able to sell the people his war if we needed the several hundred thousand troops to handle our invasion of Iraq. Instead, we sent in 140,000 or so, which wasn't enough to handle the post-invasion quagmire, thus prolonging the war and the contracts earn more and more money! Meanwhile, the majority don't care because it isn't their son/daughter in harm's way.

[actonbath]

REMF-Socialist Generals. Another ass kissing Clinton General.

The joke was as an F.O. he caused more ARVN casualties than the f'ing Cong.

[NeilFraudstrong]

This video is why I will always respect Gen. Eric Shinseki.

[rcdESPANYOL4ever]

@daddymak9 no I'm just under the assumption that it was impossible for Condoleeza Rice to dodge the draft since never in America's history have women been required to register for the draft. Therefore, Rice was not a draft dodger.

[daddymak9]

@rcdESPANYOL4ever Are you under the assumption that women cannot serve in the military?

[rcdESPANYOL4ever]

@daddymak9 I agree with you but Condoleeza Rice didn't dodge the draft.... shes a woman

[jlgourley]

Every West Point cadet from now to the end of time should study and memorize this.

[Creator01]

He seemed nervous during this clip. Almost as if there was political pressure on him.

[daddymak9]

Come on. Didn't you know that draftdodging cowards like Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice and George Bush know more about how to win a war than an army general? If they had listened to this guy six years ago, would we have had to listen to arguments about the surge in 2008?

[ShERl0cK75]

This man, this great leader was right he was right about everything from the start. Just listen to this small exerpt from his testimony prior to the Iraq war. And in return what did they do to him for speaking what was right. They said "Peace. See ya". Is that how we treat our comrades in Arms?