Gen Norman Schwarzkopf, Dead at 78 } Kids Die for Nothing at Wars
WASHI
It seems to me like yesterday. I brought a
small tv from home to put in my office and
keep up with the news of the war. I even
took days off at the same time I had the big
guys coming from NJ to see if they will find something not 100% properly
displayed to blame the management because we were going though a recession and we
were selling Diamonds... so sales were down. This might not make sense but I found the war more important than my job. May be it was my cockiness because I’ve done well,
in my mind at least had a good reputation for pulling miracles out of my pocket.
small tv from home to put in my office and
keep up with the news of the war. I even
took days off at the same time I had the big
guys coming from NJ to see if they will find something not 100% properly
displayed to blame the management because we were going though a recession and we
were selling Diamonds... so sales were down. This might not make sense but I found the war more important than my job. May be it was my cockiness because I’ve done well,
in my mind at least had a good reputation for pulling miracles out of my pocket.
I had never watched a war and this one I wanted to see since it was being
televised live for the first time in history... I wanted to see how our boys got
killed and what was there that
made our government send them there. General Schwarzkopf was the
reluctant soldier. He was old enough to know that young kids die for nothing
in wars. It’s something to meditate about that the General’s commander in
chief is dying and I been told in the next 48 hrs he’ll probably be gone and
the funeral is already prepared, even though these things are made way
ahead of time, but his is final. The General that helped win the war for us
Vs. a with a big army who did not know how to fight a modern country
and they were going to die among our kids because________________
televised live for the first time in history... I wanted to see how our boys got
killed and what was there that
made our government send them there. General Schwarzkopf was the
reluctant soldier. He was old enough to know that young kids die for nothing
in wars. It’s something to meditate about that the General’s commander in
chief is dying and I been told in the next 48 hrs he’ll probably be gone and
the funeral is already prepared, even though these things are made way
ahead of time, but his is final. The General that helped win the war for us
Vs. a with a big army who did not know how to fight a modern country
and they were going to die among our kids because________________
you need to fill that in because I don’t know. Im not being funny about
this. I know the reasons given. But being quarter backing the day after
I’m reluctant to find a good reason for having so many dead people.
I know it was over oil, but Im also being told that in a few years we will exporting
gas and oil is not going to be the major import to keep our industries
and cars running.,
this. I know the reasons given. But being quarter backing the day after
I’m reluctant to find a good reason for having so many dead people.
I know it was over oil, but Im also being told that in a few years we will exporting
gas and oil is not going to be the major import to keep our industries
and cars running.,
(This is Adam Gonzalez {on a working Vacation} for adamfoxie*)
Retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who topped an illustrious military
career by commanding the U.S.-led international coalition that drove
Sadssein's forces out of Kuwait in 1991 but kept a low public profile in
controversies over the second Gulf War against Iraq, died Thursday.
He was 78.
career by commanding the U.S.-led international coalition that drove
Sadssein's forces out of Kuwait in 1991 but kept a low public profile in
controversies over the second Gulf War against Iraq, died Thursday.
He was 78.
A sister of Schwarzkopf, Ruth Barenbaum of Middlebury, Vt., said that he
died in Tampa, Fla., from complications from pneumonia. "We're still in a
state of shock," she said by phone. "This was a surprise to us all."
died in Tampa, Fla., from complications from pneumonia. "We're still in a
state of shock," she said by phone. "This was a surprise to us all."
A much-decorated combat soldier in Vietnam, Schwarzkopf was known
popularly as "Stormin' Norman" for a notoriously explosive temper.
popularly as "Stormin' Norman" for a notoriously explosive temper.
He served in his last military assignment in Tampa as commander
-in-chief of U.S. Central Command, the headquarters responsible for U.S.
military and security concerns in nearly 20 countries from the eastern
Mediterranean and Africa to Pakistan.
-in-chief of U.S. Central Command, the headquarters responsible for U.S.
military and security concerns in nearly 20 countries from the eastern
Mediterranean and Africa to Pakistan.
Schwarzkopf became "CINC-Centcom" in 1988 and when Saddam Hussein
invaded Kuwait three years later to punish it for allegedly stealing Iraqi oil
reserves, he commanded Operation Desert Storm, the coalition of some
30 countries organized by President George H.W. Bush that succeeded
in driving the Iraqis out.
invaded Kuwait three years later to punish it for allegedly stealing Iraqi oil
reserves, he commanded Operation Desert Storm, the coalition of some
30 countries organized by President George H.W. Bush that succeeded
in driving the Iraqis out.
"Gen. Norm Schwarzkopf, to me, epitomized the 'duty, service, country’
creed that has defended our freedom and seen this great nation through
our most trying international crises," Bush said in a statement. "More than
that, he was a good and decent man — and a dear friend."
creed that has defended our freedom and seen this great nation through
our most trying international crises," Bush said in a statement. "More than
that, he was a good and decent man — and a dear friend."
At the peak of his postwar national celebrity, Schwarzkopf — a self-
proclaimed political independent — rejected suggestions that he run for
office, and remained far more private than other generals, although he did
serve briefly as a military commentator for NBC.
proclaimed political independent — rejected suggestions that he run for
office, and remained far more private than other generals, although he did
serve briefly as a military commentator for NBC.
While focused primarily in his later years on charitable enterprises, he
campaigned for President George W. Bush in 2000 but was ambivalent
about the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying he doubted victory would be as
easy as the White House and Pentagon predicted. In early 2003 he told
the Washington Post the outcome was an unknown:
campaigned for President George W. Bush in 2000 but was ambivalent
about the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying he doubted victory would be as
easy as the White House and Pentagon predicted. In early 2003 he told
the Washington Post the outcome was an unknown:
"What is postwar Iraq going to look like, with the Kurds and the Sunnis
and the Shiites? That's a huge question, to my mind. It really should be
part of the overall campaign plan," he said.
and the Shiites? That's a huge question, to my mind. It really should be
part of the overall campaign plan," he said.
Initially Schwarzkopf had endorsed the invasion, saying he was convinced
that former Secretary of State Colin Powell had given the United Nations
powerful evidence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. After that proved
false, he said decisions to go to war should depend on what U.N. weapons
inspectors found.
that former Secretary of State Colin Powell had given the United Nations
powerful evidence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. After that proved
false, he said decisions to go to war should depend on what U.N. weapons
inspectors found.
He seldom spoke up during the conflict, but in late 2004, he sharply criticized
then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the Pentagon for mistakes
that included inadequate training for Army reservists sent to Iraq and for
erroneous judgments about Iraq.
then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the Pentagon for mistakes
that included inadequate training for Army reservists sent to Iraq and for
erroneous judgments about Iraq.
"In the final analysis I think we are behind schedule. … I don't think we counted
on it turning into jihad (holy war)," he said in an NBC interview.
on it turning into jihad (holy war)," he said in an NBC interview.
Schwarzkopf was born Aug. 24, 1934, in Trenton, N.J., where his father,
Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., founder and commander of the New Jersey
State Police, was then leading the investigation of the Lindbergh kidnap
case, which ended with the arrest and 1936 execution of German-born
carpenter Richard Hauptmann for stealing and murdering the famed
aviator's infant son.
Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., founder and commander of the New Jersey
State Police, was then leading the investigation of the Lindbergh kidnap
case, which ended with the arrest and 1936 execution of German-born
carpenter Richard Hauptmann for stealing and murdering the famed
aviator's infant son.
The elder Schwarzkopf was named Herbert, but when the son was asked
what his "H'' stood for, he would reply, "H." Although reputed to be short-
tempered with aides and subordinates, he was a friendly, talkative and
even jovial figure who didn't like "Stormin' Norman" and preferred to be
known as "the Bear," a sobriquet given him by troops.
what his "H'' stood for, he would reply, "H." Although reputed to be short-
tempered with aides and subordinates, he was a friendly, talkative and
even jovial figure who didn't like "Stormin' Norman" and preferred to be
known as "the Bear," a sobriquet given him by troops.
He also was outspoken at times, including when he described Gen.
William Westmoreland, the U.S. commander in Vietnam, as "a horse’s
ass" in an Associated Press interview.
William Westmoreland, the U.S. commander in Vietnam, as "a horse’s
ass" in an Associated Press interview.
As a teenager Norman accompanied his father to Iran, where the elder
Schwarzkopf trained the country's national police force and was an
adviser to Reza Pahlavi, the young Shah of Iran.
Schwarzkopf trained the country's national police force and was an
adviser to Reza Pahlavi, the young Shah of Iran.
Young Norman studied there and in Switzerland, Germany and Italy, then
followed in his father's footsteps to West Point, graduating in 1956 with an
engineering degree. After stints in the U.S. and abroad, he earned a master’s
degree in engineering at the University of Southern California and later taught
missile engineering at West Point.
followed in his father's footsteps to West Point, graduating in 1956 with an
engineering degree. After stints in the U.S. and abroad, he earned a master’s
degree in engineering at the University of Southern California and later taught
missile engineering at West Point.
In 1966 he volunteered for Vietnam and served two tours, first as a U.S.
adviser to South Vietnamese paratroops and later as a battalion commander
in the U.S. Army's Americal Division. He earned three Silver Stars for valor
— including one for saving troops from a minefield — plus a Bronze Star,
a Purple Heart and three Distinguished Service Medals.
adviser to South Vietnamese paratroops and later as a battalion commander
in the U.S. Army's Americal Division. He earned three Silver Stars for valor
— including one for saving troops from a minefield — plus a Bronze Star,
a Purple Heart and three Distinguished Service Medals.
While many career officers left military service embittered by Vietnam,
Schwarzkopf was among those who opted to stay and help rebuild the
tattered Army into a potent, modernized all-volunteer force.
Schwarzkopf was among those who opted to stay and help rebuild the
tattered Army into a potent, modernized all-volunteer force.
After Saddam invaded Kuwait in August 1990, Schwarzkopf played a key
diplomatic role by helping to persuade Saudi Arabia's King Fahd to allow
U.S. and other foreign troops to deploy on Saudi territory as a staging area
for the war to come.
diplomatic role by helping to persuade Saudi Arabia's King Fahd to allow
U.S. and other foreign troops to deploy on Saudi territory as a staging area
for the war to come.
On Jan. 17, 1991, a five-month buildup called Desert Shield became Operation
Desert Storm as allied aircraft attacked Iraqi bases and Baghdad government
facilities. The six-week aerial campaign climaxed with a massive ground
offensive on Feb. 24-28, routing the Iraqis from Kuwait in 100 hours before
U.S. officials called a halt.
Desert Storm as allied aircraft attacked Iraqi bases and Baghdad government
facilities. The six-week aerial campaign climaxed with a massive ground
offensive on Feb. 24-28, routing the Iraqis from Kuwait in 100 hours before
U.S. officials called a halt.
Schwarzkopf said afterward he agreed with Bush's decision to stop the war
rather than drive to Baghdad to capture Saddam, as his mission had been
only to oust the Iraqis from Kuwait.
rather than drive to Baghdad to capture Saddam, as his mission had been
only to oust the Iraqis from Kuwait.
But in a desert tent meeting with vanquished Iraqi generals, he allowed a key concession on Iraq's use of helicopters, which later backfired by enabling
Saddam to crack down more easily on rebellious Shiites and Kurds.
Saddam to crack down more easily on rebellious Shiites and Kurds.
While he later avoided the public second-guessing by academics and think
tank experts over the ambiguous outcome of Gulf War I and its impact on
Gulf War II, he told The Washington Post in 2003, "You can't help but…
with 20/20 hindsight, go back and say, 'Look, had we done something
different, we probably wouldn't be facing what we are facing today.'"
tank experts over the ambiguous outcome of Gulf War I and its impact on
Gulf War II, he told The Washington Post in 2003, "You can't help but…
with 20/20 hindsight, go back and say, 'Look, had we done something
different, we probably wouldn't be facing what we are facing today.'"
After retiring from the Army in 1992, Schwarzkopf wrote a best-selling
autobiography, "It Doesn't Take A Hero." Of his Gulf war role, he said,
"I like to say I'm not a hero. I was lucky enough to lead a very successful war
." He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and honored with decorations
from France, Britain, Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates,
Qatar and Bahrain.
autobiography, "It Doesn't Take A Hero." Of his Gulf war role, he said,
"I like to say I'm not a hero. I was lucky enough to lead a very successful war
." He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and honored with decorations
from France, Britain, Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates,
Qatar and Bahrain.
Schwarzkopf was a national spokesman for prostate cancer awareness and for Recovery of the Grizzly Bear, served on the Nature Conservancy board of
governors and was active in various charities for chronically ill children.
governors and was active in various charities for chronically ill children.
"I may have made my reputation as a general in the Army and I'm very
proud of that," he once told the AP. "But I've always felt that I was more
than one-dimensional. I'd like to think I'm a caring human being. … It's nice
to feel that you have a purpose."
proud of that," he once told the AP. "But I've always felt that I was more
than one-dimensional. I'd like to think I'm a caring human being. … It's nice
to feel that you have a purpose."
Schwarzkopf and his wife, Brenda, had three children: Cynthia, Jessica
and Christian.
and Christian.
———
Pyle reported from New York. Associated Press writer Jay Lindsay in Boston
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