Defense Secretary Ash Carter testifies before the House Armed Services Committee, June 17, 2015. Carter outlined the Defense Department’s strategy on dealing with terror threats in the Middle East and approaches to dealing with recent significant gains by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. DoD photo by Glenn Fawcett
Ted Gup, Politico: Will Ash Carter's Arrogance Ruin Him?
The Pentagon chief’s harsh dismissal of Iraqi soldiers is all too typical. I should know.
A mere three months in office, Ashton Carter is quickly establishing himself as the scold of Washington. His main target: the Iraqis. On Wednesday the defense secretary once again denigrated Iraqi troops, saying a “combination of disunity, deserters, and so-called ‘ghost soldiers’—who are paid on the books but don’t show up or don’t exist — has greatly diminished their capacity.” Carter also told the House Armed Services Committee that efforts to recruit Iraqis against the Islamic State had thus far produced dismal results – a mere 7,000 recruits of the 24,000 hoped for. Three weeks earlier, following the fall of Ramadi, Carter spoke disdainfully on Sunday television of the Iraqi military’s performance in the field—how they cut and ran and showed “no will to fight.”
It remains to be seen whether Carter’s bluntness will inspire the Iraqis to action—or only further alienate a people whose culture does not react well to public shame, not to mention slurs on their manhood. But no one who knows him well should be surprised by Carter’s apparent arrogance, which appears to be unmitigated by any concept of diplomacy—least of all me.
Because Carter scolded me once. I hope the Iraqis get over it sooner than I did.
WNU Editor: In the case of Iraq .... after the fall of Ramadi any spin from the US Sec. of Defense would have been laughed at by everyone. There are cases where truth (and bluntness) is needed .... and while his bluntness will probably earn him no allies or friends in Baghdad .... they will at least know where he stands.
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