David H. Hackworth

Our politics are bipartisan as the Bush administration and Congress work to pass legislation to help physical and economic recovery, and to arm law enforcement and intelligence agencies with the tools needed to overcome the modern terrorist threat. Our relief agencies are staggering under the contributions of money, supplies and assistance pouring in from across the country. Our allies and even some longtime adversaries overseas are coming together with us in an historic coalition against terror. And our military is on the move with its allies.

But as our shock and grief soften with the passage of time, our determination and resolve must not. Several articles in this edition of DefenseWatch address the long-term nature of the terrorist threat and of the need for all Americans - not just men and women in uniform - to gird themselves for a war that will have failures as well as victories, one that in all likelihood will not end in a ceremony on the surrender deck of a U.S. Navy warship, but as Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld noted this week, “It is a much more subtle, nuanced, difficult, shadowy set of problems.”

I would like to call your particular attention to the powerful essay by retired Air Force Lt. Col. Tony Kern that appears below. “Every American citizen was in the crosshairs of the attack, not just those that were unfortunate enough to be in the World Trade Center or Pentagon,” Kern warns. “The will of the American people will decide this war. If we are to win, it will be because we have what it takes to persevere through a few more hits, learn from our mistakes, improvise, and adapt.”

In short, we face a conflict where not just the military services, but average citizens alike, are both targets and participants in the actual fight. In fact, the first Americans to fight in battle were not the elite special operations forces now preparing for combat, but a small handful of American civilians onboard United Airlines Flight 93 who fought barehanded against the knife-wielding terrorists and sacrificed their lives to prevent the hijackers from striking the U.S. Capitol.

One of the goals here at DefenseWatch is to go beyond informing you, our readers, with information and perspective. We also hope to fully engage you in discussion and debate, and to use your own reports on the state of military and veteran issues to spark news coverage and corrective response.

Proposal: A new medal for civilian heroes

I would like to pose one issue for your feedback: In our tradition of a separate uniformed service that serves and fights the nation’s wars, we have developed over time a formal system of decorations and awards to recognize heroism, selfless sacrifice and valor by our people in uniform. There is the Medal of Honor for distinguished and conspicuous gallantry; the Navy, Air Force and Distinguished Service Crosses for battlefield valor; the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and other medals.

We do not currently have, I believe, an equal form of recognition for those Americans not in military service, who have already uplifted our hearts by their bravery and sacrifice in a ongoing battle against terrorism that is as fierce and unrelenting as any war. Not only the young men on United Flight 93 distinguished themselves in battle, but so too did the hundreds of New York firefighters and police officers and emergency response workers who perished in the World Trade Center collapse, and their counterparts at the Pentagon who braved fire and smoke to rescue victims of that attack.

Let me know what you think of this idea: Congress should enact legislation that establishes the creation of a special American Medal of Valor for civilians who distinguish themselves in response to acts of international terrorism. The legislation should establish a formal, independent board to establish the procedures by which such an award may be nominated and granted to those deserving of its honor.

I believe the creation of such an award would be an important way to remind Americans that the fight against terrorism is not solely the responsibility of our brethren in uniform, but that we are all soldiers in this war.

What is your thought? Please send your observations and thoughts to defensewatch@aol.com and let’s have a serious discussion of the concept.

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Hack’s Target For The Week: Flag-Waving Won’t Be Enough

By David H. Hackworth

A 21st-century storm is gathering force and heading toward the dark shores of international terrorism. States that have been providing sanctuary and support for years to the likes of Osama bin Laden and the fanatic fruitcakes who follow him and his sort will soon feel the winds of a new kind of war -- a global conflict that will be fought on two levels: covertly and unconventionally from the shadows with a trench knife; and overtly, with the thunder of our most awesome weapons, clearly foreshadowed by those unmistakable B-52 contrails in the sky.

Even though this hybrid war won't be a quick slam-bam-thank-you-ma'am fix like Desert Storm or as casualty-free as the air war over Slobodan Milosevic's Serbia, have no doubt that we'll win. But be prepared for this conflict to take years and cost all the true grit our nation can muster.

After another surprise attack on our country and our way of life -- Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 -- we didn't get in our first major blow until mid-1942 at Midway, and it wasn't until 1943 that our war machine was really out there punching. But by 1944 we were finally on a roll, stomping the enemy around the globe, and by August of 1945 we'd won. It was a tough, bloody war with many terrible reversals, but from each setback we learned and grew stronger -- and ever more determined to fight on.

This time around, we're fortunate that President Bush has already fielded a team capable of crafting and delivering a mighty international fist - leaders like Colin Powell, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice and Gen. Hugh Shelton. These "A" players won't ready, fire, aim a few missiles at a vitamin factory in Sudan or a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan and report to the nation "mission accomplished." They'll take the hard road and have the wisdom, patience and endurance to go the distance.

In the meantime, the media should stop speculating about the campaign. Sure, author Tom Clancy is schoolbook smart. Sure, CNN pundit and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark has inside sources. But surprise and stealth must become our secret weapons. We need to tune into the World War II slogan: Loose Lips Sink Ships. Everyone on the planet shouldn't be in the loop about every move our commanders and troops are making. Milosevic, for example, got a lot of his intell from "loose lips" the last time around, and we were the worse off for it.

What we do need to focus on is doing whatever we can to defang any future terrorist attacks. Now that we're under siege, every citizen must stay minefield alert. Any activity that appears suspicious should be reported at once. There are hundreds of terrorist sleepers out there just waiting to execute an order or implement a plan to: ram a dynamite-loaded boat, truck or small plane into a nuclear reactor; put germs in the water supply, the subway, a crowded auditorium or a building's air-conditioning system; or drive a gasoline tanker into a power grid, oil refinery or a packed football stadium. The target list and the weapons of choice are limited only by the perps' imaginations.

And we must never underestimate our foes again. The fiends we're up against are dedicated fanatics -- often well educated -- who hate our country and what it stands for with every fiber of their twisted souls. They'll continue to go after us as tenaciously as Japan's World War II suicide soldiers, whom we had to burn and blast one by one out of caves from Guadalcanal to Okinawa.

But there are no Romes, Berlins and Tokyos as final objectives here. Sure, there are terrorist heads for the taking, but then there's the slow lifting of countless rocks in order to tear out the terrorist tentacles wrapped around our everyday lives.

President Lincoln said at Gettysburg that our "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Once again our very survival is at stake. And real patriotism won't be about waving a flag or singing a song. It will be having the courage and commitment to stay with this war until dawn's early light, even after we're long weary of the slow-going and the sacrifice.

Http://www.hackworth.com is the address of David Hackworth's home page. Sign in for the free weekly Defending America column at his Web site. Send mail to P.O. Box 11179, Greenwich, CT 06831.

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ARTICLE 1 - We Are All in The Terrorists’ Crosshairs

By Lt. Col. Tony Kern USAF (Ret.)

Like everyone else in this great country, I am reeling from last week's attack on our sovereignty. But unlike some, I am not reeling from surprise.

As a career soldier and a student and teacher of military history, I have a different perspective and I think you should hear it. This war will be won or lost by the American citizens, not diplomats, politicians or soldiers. Let me briefly explain.

In spite of what the media, and even our own government is telling us, this act was not committed by a group of mentally deranged fanatics. To dismiss them as such would be among the gravest of mistakes. This attack was committed by a ferocious, intelligent and dedicated adversary.

Don't take this the wrong way. I don't admire these men and I deplore their tactics, but I respect their capabilities. The many parallels that have been made with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are apropos. Not only because it was a brilliant sneak attack against a complacent America, but also because we may well be pulling our new adversaries out of caves 30 years after we think this war is over, just like my father's generation had to do with the formidable Japanese in the years following World War II.

These men hate the United States with all of their being, and we must not underestimate the power of their moral commitment. Napoleon, perhaps the world's greatest combination of soldier and statesman, stated "the moral is to the physical as three is to one." Patton thought the Frenchman underestimated its importance and said moral conviction was five times more important in battle than physical strength. Our enemies are willing - better said anxious - to give their lives for their cause. How committed are we America? And for how long?

In addition to demonstrating great moral conviction, the recent attack demonstrated a mastery of some of the basic fundamentals of warfare taught to most military officers worldwide, namely simplicity, security and surprise. When I first heard rumors that some of these men may have been trained at our own Air War College, it made perfect sense to me. This was not a random act of violence, and we can expect the same sort of military competence to be displayed in the battle to come.

This war will escalate, with a good portion of it happening right here in the good ol' U.S. of A. These men will not go easily into the night. They do not fear us. We must not fear them.

In spite of our overwhelming conventional strength as the world's only "superpower" (a truly silly term), we are the underdog in this fight. As you listen to the carefully scripted rhetoric designed to prepare us for the march for war, please realize that America is not equipped or seriously trained for the battle ahead.

To be certain, our soldiers are much better than the enemy, and we have some excellent "counter-terrorist" organizations, but they are mostly trained for hostage rescues, airfield seizures, or the occasional "body snatch," (which may come in handy). We will be fighting a war of annihilation, because if their early efforts are any indication, our enemy is ready and willing to die to the last man.

Eradicating the enemy will be costly and time-consuming. They have already deployed their forces in as many as 20 countries, and are likely living the lives of everyday citizens. Simply put, our soldiers will be tasked with a search and destroy mission on multiple foreign landscapes, and the public must be patient and supportive until the strategy and tactics can be worked out.

For the most part, our military is still in the process of redefining itself, and presided over by men and women who grew up with - and were promoted because they excelled in - Cold War doctrine, strategy and tactics. This will not be linear warfare, there will be no clear "centers of gravity" to strike with high technology weapons.

Our vast technological edge will certainly be helpful, but it will not be decisive. Perhaps the perfect metaphor for the coming battle was introduced by the terrorists themselves aboard the hijacked aircraft - this will be a knife fight, and it will be won or lost by the ingenuity and will of citizens and soldiers, not by software or smart bombs. We must also be patient with our military leaders.

Unlike Americans who are eager to put this messy time behind us, our adversaries have time on their side, and they will use it. They plan to fight a battle of attrition, hoping to drag the battle out until the American public loses its will to fight. This might be difficult to believe in this euphoric time of flag waving and patriotism, but it is generally acknowledged that America lacks the stomach for a long fight. We need
only look as far back as Vietnam, when North Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen
Giap (also a military history teacher) defeated the United States of America without ever winning a major tactical battle.

American soldiers who marched to war cheered on by flag-waving Americans in 1965 were reviled and spat upon less than three years later when they returned. Although we hope that Osama Bin Laden is no Giap, he is certain to understand and employ the concept. We can expect not only large doses of pain like the recent attacks, but also less audacious "sand in the gears" tactics, ranging from livestock infestations to attacks at water supplies and power distribution facilities.

These attacks are designed to hit us in our "comfort zone," forcing the average American to "pay more and play less" and eventually eroding our resolve. But it can only work if we let it.

It is clear to me that the will of the American citizenry - you and I - is the center of gravity the enemy has targeted. It will be the fulcrum upon which victory or defeat will turn. He believes us to be soft, impatient, and self-centered. He may be right, but if so, we must change.

The Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz, (the most often quoted and least read military theorist in history), says that there is a "remarkable trinity of war" that is composed of the (1) will of the people, (2) the political leadership of the government, and (3) the chance and probability that plays out on the field of battle, in that order.

Every American citizen was in the crosshairs of last Tuesday's attack, not
just those that were unfortunate enough to be in the World Trade Center or Pentagon. The will of the American people will decide this war.

If we are to win, it will be because we have what it takes to persevere through a few more hits, learn from our mistakes, improvise, and adapt. If we can do that, we will eventually prevail.

Everyone I've talked to in the past few days has shared a common frustration, saying in one form or another "I just wish I could do something!" You are already doing it. Just keep faith in America, and continue to support your President and military, and the outcome is certain. If we fail to do so, the outcome is equally certain.

God Bless America.

Kern was a career bomber pilot during his 20-year career, and served as Director of Military History at the U.S. Air Force Academy at the time of his retirement from active duty last year.

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ARTICLE 2 - A Letter from the USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81)

(Editor’s Note: The following letter from a junior U.S. Navy officer serving on the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill to his father was forwarded to us by a friend.)

Dear Dad,

Well, we are still out at sea, with little direction as to what our next priority is. The remainder of our port visits, which were to be centered around max liberty and goodwill to the United Kingdom, have all but been cancelled. We have spent every day since the attacks going back and forth within imaginary boxes drawn in the ocean, standing high-security watches, and trying to make the best of our time. It hasn't been that fun I must confess, and to be even more honest, a lot of people are frustrated at the fact that they either can't be home, or we don't have more direction right now.

We have seen the articles and the photographs, and they are sickening. Being isolated as we are, I don't think we appreciate the full scope of what is happening back home, but we are definitely feeling the effects.

About two hours ago the junior officers were called to the bridge to conduct shiphandling drills. We were about to do a man overboard when we got a call from the Lutjens (D185), a German warship that was moored ahead of us on the pier in Plymouth, England. While in port, the Winston S. Churchill and the Lutjens got together for a sports day/cookout on our fantail, and we made some pretty good friends.

Now at sea, they called over on bridge-to-bridge, requesting to pass us close up on our port side, to say goodbye. We prepared to render them honors on the bridge wing, and the Captain told the crew to come topside to wish them farewell. As they were making their approach, our Conning Officer announced through her binoculars that they were flying an American flag. As they came even closer, we saw that it was flying at half-mast.

The bridge wing was crowded with people as the Boatswain's Mate blew two whistles - attention to Port - the ship came up alongside and we saw that the entire crew of the German ship were manning the rails in their dress blues. They had made up a sign that was displayed on the side that read "We Stand By You."

Needless to say, there was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed alongside us for a few minutes and we cut our salutes. It was probably the most powerful thing I have seen in my entire life and more than a few of us fought to retain our composure. It was a beautiful day outside today.

We are no longer at liberty to divulge over unsecure e-mail our location, but we could not have asked for a finer day at sea. The German Navy did an incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly been the highest point in the days since the attacks.

It's amazing to think that only a half-century ago things were quite different, and to see the unity that is being demonstrated throughout Europe and the world makes us all feel proud to be out here doing our job.

After the ship pulled away and we prepared to begin our man overboard drills the Officer of the Deck turned to me and said, "I'm staying Navy." I'll write you when I know more about when I'll be home, but for now, this is probably the best news that I could send you. Love you guys.

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ARTICLE 3 - The Coming Storm of Retribution

By J. David Galland

Within days, or perhaps weeks, the military operation to take out Osama bin Laden and his consorts will begin with stunning force.

Soldiers from Great Britain will serve as the tip of the spear. They shall be at the forefront of a complex international coalition of forces, shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. military. Within the past few days, well informed sources have indicated to me that the noose is closing around bin Laden’s neck. Western officials harbor hope that opponents within Afghanistan may act against him, but in the absence of retribution from within Afghanistan’s own people, Western forces are prepared to devastate the Taliban in their quest for justice.

It is my assessment that military action would open with both strategic and tactical air strikes. Afghanistan and its embraced terrorist groups are virtually powerless against air attack. They are believed to have only between 20-25 Soviet-era ZSU-23 and - 4 anti-aircraft guns that lack acquisition radar. Likewise, the Taliban’s inventory of 50 SA-13 anti-aircraft missiles are also virtually worthless because their acquisition and guidance systems are barely functioning. The only weapons that pose a potential threat are the approximate 100 Stinger shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles left in the Taliban’s arsenal since the covert CIA program to aid the Mujahiddin rebellion against the Soviets.

The country’s armored force consists of basically what the Russians abandoned when they left the country in 1989, mostly old T-54’s and T-55 tanks, only a few of which operable.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and British naval force assembling in the Indian Ocean marks the largest bilateral force since the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Unclassified accounts indicate that at least a dozen British warships will soon join up with four U.S. carrier battle groups on station or currently heading for the region. Officials from both Washington and London are convinced that bin Laden is still hiding inside Afghanistan,and the evidence in the public record supports that contention. While press accounts indicate Western intelligence agencies have failed to pinpoint his location, it is generally believed bin Laden is lurking within his network of terrorist training camps in the north and west of Afghanistan.

My assessment is that the military force assembling to strike bin Laden (and possibly the Taliban movement as well) is preparing to saturate the areas in which bin Laden is known to operate with thousands o felite special operations and infantry forces. Existing military doctrine suggests they will penetrate the territory through a combination of covert high-altitude parachute drops and other, classified insertion techniques.

The coming military campaign appears unprecedented in modern history as a determined response to an explicit threat to freedom everywhere.The line of no return has been crossed.

J. David Galland, Deputy Editor of DefenseWatch, is a career U.S. Army senior Non-Commissioned Officer currently serving in Germany who has served in combat in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama and the Balkans.

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ARTICLE 4 - AN OPORD for Victory

By a Concerned American

1. Situation

(a) Enemy Forces. Terrorist. They will attack from bases located in throughout the world with support from some governments. They are attempting to goad us into immediate military action which is intended to polarize the Christian and Muslim governments. The main terrorist cells appear to be in Afganistan.

(1) The women are not treated as full citizens. There is a very high
suicide among women.
(2) Children are starving.

(b) The United States of America is engaged in a war against terrorism.

(1) Commanders intent.

(a) Minimize casualties by increasing support for our national objectives
and isolating the terrorist from support (international, national, and local).
(b) Maintain our freedoms in the face of terror.

(c) Attachments and detachments. The United States and its entirety will
are engaged. Foreign units will be used whenever they can.

(d) Assumptions.

(1) The terrorists are primarily Muslim. In order to keep from polarizing
the world we must respect some religious peculiarities. This influences
the choice of which actions we can taken and maintain religious neutrality.
(2) The women can be influenced by treating them with respect as Islam
"requires."

2. Mission.

The United States of America will survive the terrorist threat by destroying the support of the terrorist and direct action.

3. Execution.

Intent. Destroy the enemy’s support by feeding the people of Afghanistan and developing the infrastructure in Pakistan. Use the forward bases to drop food. Develop forward bases for future combat operations.

(a) Concept of operations.

Maneuvers

(a) Feed phase. Drop Food into Afganistan. Build forward bases and protective hamlets with interior and exterior security. Keep the people inside the interior. Use Female Military Police to protect the dignity and safety of the women inside the wire. This differs from the Vietnam Model for protective hamlets and models the successful British counterinsurgency in Malaysia.
(b) Seed phase. Build Support for U.S. objectives in Afganistan. Use Psychological Operations to prepare the population for the assault and identify friendly areas.
(c) Bleed phase. Destroy the terrorist.

4. Service and Support.

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ARTICLE 5 - Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld Warns of Long-Term Fight

Editor’s Note: Excerpts of a Pentagon news briefing by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2001

Rumsfeld: There's no question but that the people involved in the acts against the World Trade and the Pentagon had to have hoped that it would terrorize the American people. Instead, I think we've seen the nation come together. And certainly the Congress has been a source of unity and resolve, and there's no question but that they have responded in a very encouraging way as Americans, as opposed to Republicans or Democrats. …

As I've mentioned previously, we are engaged in a very broad-based effort. We do not intend to simply go after one or two people or one or two networks. We do intend to have the entire United States government engaged in this over a sustained period of time. …

Needless to say, there's not going to be a D-Day as such, and I'm sure there will not be a signing ceremony on the [USS] Missouri as such. This is not something that begins with a significant event or ends with a significant event. It is something that will involve a sustained effort over a good period of time.

Let there be no doubt as well that there will not be a single coalition as there was in the Gulf War. The kinds of things we're going to be engaged in will engage some countries on one aspect of it and still other countries on another aspect of it. And we will see revolving coalitions that will evolve and change over time depending on the activity and the circumstance of the country. The mission needs to define the coalition, and we ought not to think that a coalition should define the mission.

In this effort, victory means crippling the ability of terrorist organizations to coerce and terrorize and otherwise disrupt the way of life of the men and women in the United States and our friends and allies around the world. There's no question but that some steps will be visible, as in a traditional conflict, and in other cases they will be not visible. It will not be an antiseptic war, I regret to say. It will be difficult. It will be dangerous. And there is, as we are aware, the -- and have to regret to say -- the likelihood is that more people may be lost. …

Q: Mr. Secretary, aside from what you've said about there will not be a D-Day or defining beginning or ending moment in this, you have deployed forces abroad. Are there now adequate forces in the Gulf, Middle East, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean -- are there now adequate forces in place and ready, if President Bush orders an attack on Afghanistan?

Rumsfeld: Well, let me put it this way. If and when the president decides that there is a specific activity that he wants us to be engaged in, you can be certain we'll be prepared to be engaged in it. But I do not think of it as static. …

Q: Mr. Secretary, going back to your [defense] transformation, you've gotten a bigger pot of money from the Congress now than you had before September 11th. You still have some unfinished business: weapons systems such as Joint Strike Fight, Osprey, et cetera, DD-21. And yet it would seem, based on the current threat, these are not the weapons you need to fight this war on terrorism. Have you changed your approach at all as to the focus of your transformation? And have you made decisions on these weapons systems? Have you sped up the process?

Rumsfeld: No, we'll deal with those in the order that I have suggested in previous press briefings. The ones that are coming down a track and have to be dealt with, we'll deal with. But as we have said for many, many weeks and months now, the United States has to be -- has to recognize that at this point in history, we do need to transform this institution. And we need to move it from an institution that was capable of dealing with a host of conventional problems in the world, armies, navies and air forces, to an institution that is perfectly capable of dealing with those, because they are important from a deterrent standpoint and the threats that exist, for example, in North Korea on the DMZ are very real. …

But we simply must recognize that there are asymmetrical threats that are much more advantageous to most of those potential threat -- individuals or organizations or entities or states that would try to threaten the United States. And by that, I mean terrorism and cruise missiles and ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. …

And that means that the funds you're talking about, that are coming into the defense establishment, need to be focused in ways that enable this institution to improve our intelligence, to see that we have arranged it in a way that we can track people who previously had been of less interest because they seemed to be of less immediate threat -- although we have tracked these. I don't mean to suggest we've not been tracking the al Qaeda network, because indeed the intelligence community has and has done a good job. But we have to see that those funds go in in a way that we're able to live in this 20th -- 21st century and go about our lives in freedom. …

Q: Mr. Secretary, you have -- going back to your D-Day issue, is that a way of warning the American people, don't expect initially a massive military strike at first? And also, the name, Enduring Freedom, is that going to be an endurance test for their patience?

Rumsfeld: I don't know that I was trying to really be subtle or warn the American people about anything other than the truth, and the truth is that this is a broad, sustained, multifaceted effort that is notably, distinctively different from prior efforts. It is by its very nature something that cannot be dealt with by some sort of a massive attack or invasion. It is a much more subtle, nuanced, difficult, shadowy set of problems. …

It is not going to be over in five minutes or five months. It will take years, I suspect. And … in my view, you never bet against the American people. They've got -- I think that they will have the patience and they will recognize the importance of it ….

Q: Mr. Secretary, over the weekend, after the Taliban said that Osama bin Laden had turned up missing, you said publicly that you dismissed that and said the Taliban knows exactly where he is. How can you be so certain of that?
Rumsfeld: Deduction. If a country opens their arms to an organization, allows them to come in, creates a very hospitable environment for them, permits them to move among their people, bringing things in, bringing things out, forging passports, buying things, selling things, doing what they wish, holding press conferences, and if the Taliban knows their country as well as I know they know their country, you'd have to believe in the Tooth Fairy to think they don't know where he is.
Q: Sir, is it correct that yesterday, you terminated efforts by the administration to start an information operations campaign related to this? And can you assure that there is no information operations campaign targeted at the news media?

Rumsfeld: Well, you can be certain there is no campaign targeted at the news media. If that's --

Q: Mr. Secretary, if I could just follow up, will there be any circumstances, as you prosecute this campaign, in which anyone in the Department of Defense will be authorized to lie to the news media in order to increase the chances of success of a military operation or gain some other advantage over your adversaries?

Rumsfeld: Of course, this conjures up Winston Churchill's famous phrase when he said -- don't quote me on this, okay? I don't want to be quoted on this, so don't quote me. He said sometimes the truth is so precious it must be accompanied by a bodyguard of lies -- talking about the [1944 Normandy] invasion date and the invasion location. And indeed, they engaged not just in not talking about the date of the Normandy invasion or the location, whether it was to be Normandy Beach or just north off of Belgium, they actually engaged in a plan to confuse the Germans as to where it would happen. … That is a piece of history, and I bring it up just for the sake of background.

The answer to your question is, no, I cannot imagine a situation. I don't recall that I've ever lied to the press, I don't intend to, and it seems to me that there will not be reason for it. There are dozens of ways to avoid having to put yourself in a position where you're lying. And I don't do it. And {Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs] Torie [Clark] won't do it. And Admiral [Craig] Quigley won't do it. …

The policy is that we will not say a word about anything that will compromise sources or methods. We will not say a word that will in any way endanger anyone's life by discussing operations. And anyone that does talk to any of you about that is breaking federal criminal law and should be in jail. And we won't do it.

Q: But when they do talk --

Rumsfeld: Responsible people won't do it. People who know anything won't do it. But that's a very different thing from coming out and actively telling a lie. That is not going to happen by this individual or by people who are representing me at this podium.

Q: Even if it would help you in the psychological operations?

Rumsfeld: I have already said that there are plenty of ways of avoiding being in that position. And I -- all I can say is -- I suppose you never say never, but all I can say is I cannot imagine a situation where we would be so unskillful that we would be in a position that we would have to do that to protect lives. And my fervent hope is that we will be able to manage our affairs in a way that that will never happen. And I am 69 years old, and I don't believe it's ever happened that I've lied to the press, and I don't intend to start now.

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ARTICLE 06 - Medal of Honor Recipient - LEVITOW, JOHN L., Sgt. USAF

LEVITOW, John Lee

John Lee Levitow, 55, recipient of the Medal of Honor, died at his home at Rocky Hill, N.C, on Nov. 8, 2000, after a battle with cancer. He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery from President Richard Nixon.

LEVITOW, JOHN L., Sgt. USAF

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, 3d Special Operations Squadron. Place and date: Long Binh Army Post, Republic of Vietnam, 24 February 1969.
Entered service at: New Haven, Conn.
Born: 1 November 1945, Hartford, Conn.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Levitow (then A1C.), U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while assigned as a loadmaster aboard an AC-47 aircraft flying a night mission in support of Long Binh Army Post.

Sgt. Levitow's aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole 2 feet in diameter through the wing and fragments made over 3,500 holes in the fuselage. All occupants of the cargo compartment were wounded and helplessly slammed against the floor and fuselage. The explosion tore an activated flare from the grasp of a crewmember who had been launching flares to provide illumination for Army ground troops engaged in combat.

Sgt. Levitow, though stunned by the concussion of the blast and suffering from over 40 fragment wounds in the back and legs, staggered to his feet and turned to assist the man nearest to him who had been knocked down and was bleeding heavily. As he was moving his wounded comrade forward and away from the opened cargo compartment door, he saw the smoking flare ahead of him in the aisle.

Realizing the danger involved and completely disregarding his own wounds, Sgt. Levitow started toward the burning flare. The aircraft was partially out of control and the flare was rolling wildly from side to side. Sgt. Levitow struggled forward despite the loss of blood from his many wounds and the partial loss of feeling in his right leg.

Unable to grasp the rolling flare with his hands, he threw himself bodily upon the burning flare. Hugging the deadly device to his body, he dragged himself back to the rear of the aircraft and hurled the flare through the open cargo door. At that instant the flare separated and ignited in the air, but clear of the aircraft.

Sgt. Levitow, by his selfless and heroic actions, saved the aircraft and its entire crew from certain death and destruction. Sgt. Levitow's gallantry, his profound concern for his fellowmen, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Editor’s Note: If you know of any MOH recipient who is hospitalized or has passed away recently, please email MOH Correspondent James H. Also, if you would like more info on MOH recipients and their stories, please email James H at bulldogleader@mindspring.com.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: CHAMPS and CHUMPS

DefenseWatch will soon launch a standing feature in which we publicly salute those Champions in the public arena who have merited our praise and salutes for their dedication, bravery and service in the current crisis, as well as those Chumps who have demonstrated by their selfishness, callousness or other misdeeds.

Send your nomination for a Champ or a Chump, including supporting material, in an email to defensewatch@aol.com.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Article Submission Procedures/Subject Editors Sought

1. Try to keep articles to 750 words or less. SUBMIT IN WORD FORMAT, if
possible!

2. Submit your piece to one of the following editors:

Ed Offley, Editor
defensewatch@aol.com

J. David Galland, Deputy Editor
defensewatch02@hotmail.com

DefenseWatch is looking for volunteer subject editors willing to assist in screening and editing article submissions. We are looking for experts in the following areas: U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, Special Operations forces/counter-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction (NBC), Reserve and National Guard affairs, and veterans affairs. If interested in joining the DefenseWatch team, please contact Ed Offley at defensewatch@aol.com.

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GLOSSARY OF MILITARY ACRONYMS:

We've had numerous requests from troops in different branches of the
military to establish this link so that we will all know how "all you
others" talk that talk. The DoD site is not working but the nonprofit Federation of American Scientists has an excellent online acronym roster. Please see below:

http://www.fas.org/news/reference/lexicon/acronym.htm

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HACK BOOK SALES

Hack's books, About Face, Hazardous Duty, The Price of Honor and The
Vietnam Primer can be found at www.hackworth.com. They make a great addition
to any library. Hack is offering them at a special SFTT price.

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