Do you think that if General Colin Powell were president, he would be able to combat ISIS more effectively?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 17:09:58 -0500

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Nov 21 at 2015 5:11 PM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 17:11:10 -0500

Absolutely! Powell, the mastermind of the Powell Doctrine balanced the right amount of firepower to engage the mission. Many think he is to dovish, but if he believes and enemy needs to be destroyed, especially preemptively, then he will do it!

He was forceful during the lead up to Iraq, and although the intel was wrong, he did what was right given the intel he did have. We are much more firm on what we need to do and what the threat is.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 21 at 2015 5:24 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 17:24:38 -0500

General Powell went wobbly during the Plame investigation; he knew the truth and yet remained silent and allowed his boss to twist slowly in the wind taking undeserved abuse for over a year. I'm sorry, but I do not trust the man.

He performed well as a member of the COC, but I have my doubts about him in the top job.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2015 10:10 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 22:10:01 -0500

There are days I think just about anybody could be more effective at fighting ISIS than the current plan.
We need to open up a can of cyber-warfare whoop-ass to shut down recruiting, propaganda, and C2.
We need to disrupt their lines of supply. I was heartened to see the recent strike against the fuel tankers moving illicit oil into Turkey for sale. We need more of that.
We need to get smart about handling Syrian refugees. I have suggested setting up camps in Cyprus; close enough to Syria to encourage repatriation later, but with a big moat around it to keep people in and bad guys out. It would be a fantastic place to train folks who want to take up arms against ISIS. Or Assad. Or whoever the bad guys are.
Seems like everybody operating in Syria is at best a friend of convenience. Nearly all are erstwhile enemies of the USA. Hard to pick a team to back in that gong show.
I hate to say it, but our best bet for something resembling stability post-conflict is likely Assad.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Nov 21 at 2015 10:17 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 22:17:17 -0500

I'm in the same camp as Captain Seid Waddell with a couple of additional reasons. First, as GHW Bush's CJCS, he didn't fight hard enough to have the US led coalition to take out Saddam in Desert Storm.
Secondly, and its a personal one, as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he was very vocal that we didn't need a pay raise one year because we made enough as it was. I knew soldiers and their families who were on WIC (including one of my soldiers in my squad) and food stamps. Granted he should've known that with his pay grade life would be tough in Monterey County until he got post housing. But with CJCS like that, who needs an enemy.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 22 at 2015 1:15 AM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 01:15:35 -0500

Probably not as that whole thing was a political fiasco... Probably one of the reasons he didn't run...

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 22 at 2015 2:02 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 02:02:44 -0500

I'd think any retired COCOM Flag would be better doing that primarily due to a much more realistic view of how the world spins with military stuff. That opinion shifts with the topics that I'd expect the Flags to be weaker in such as economic, constitutional issues, separation of powers. etc. They didn't have to fuss with that their adult life, for which I don't blame them. So given the current world circumstances, we're overdue for a MIL rotation. People will either adore Colin Powell or be down on what they perceive is wimpy action or lack of action when it counted.

Response by Cpl Benjamin Long made Nov 22 at 2015 6:07 AM

Cpl Benjamin Long — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 06:07:47 -0500

No, I think we would need General Patton

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 22 at 2015 11:08 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 11:08:56 -0500

I do not believe General Powell would do anything different than the current administration. His liberal bent became very apparent and his support for the current president.