Zinni of Arabia

IN THE NEWS
Earlier, I wrote how important it was for key leaders in the counterterrorism effort to demonstrate both an interest and a facility in local languages and cultures, particularly in the Middle East. I don't want to make it sound as though these people don't exist. The White House is phobic about experts, so you don't see the "country experts" as much as you should. But they're out there, and they're ready to do the job. Some, like Richard Clarke, have left government, but could be enticed back in again were the political situation in Washington to change. Others are still clinging to careers in government service, however hostile the current leaders of the executive branch might be to anyone who contradicts the Bushenschauung.

A good example is retired USMC general Anthony Zinni, who got a few days of press attention when he released his new book, Battle Ready, co-authored with Tom Clancy. In interviews on 60 Minutes and elsewhere, Zinni blasted the Bush Administration for its handling of counterterrorism and the Iraq invasion.

Since the press is overpopulated with ignoramuses, there were more mentions of Zinni's writing partnership with Tom Clancy than his own impressive biography. As commander in chief (CINC) of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Zinni worked hard to become the consummate "country expert." He advocated a sensible strategy of containment of the Taliban, arguing that the "stan" countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc.) were the equivalent of the "front line" countries surrounding South Africa during the apartheid era. He traveled extensively, got to know the countries, including the local country teams from all parts of the executive branch (the CIA, State, etc.), and developed good working relationships with leaders from Saudi Arabia to Uzbekistan. He was, by all accounts, an excellent American proconsul—the real job of the CINCs, as Dana Priest convincingly argues in The Mission—who is now, unfortunately, outside of government.

But as I said, take heart: there are other Zinnis. While they may have been ignored or penalized for their expertise, such as foreign service officer Greg Thielmann's career-ending statements about alleged Iraqi WMDs, they do exist.

Comments

[ali]

Very impressive chap Zinni. He's a credit to the USMC.

[Oscar]

Actually, Zinni's successor Franks also spent a lot of time getting up to speed on the various countries in CENTCOM's area. And the current general Abizaid speaks Arabic. Also, Schwarzkopf worked on understanding the countries involved.

My point is that we have had good leaders there for some time, although there have been genuine differences in opinion among them about how to deal with CENTCOM's different problems.

[meizitang]

Tactics are needed in execution of every step.