Andrew P. Hunter: “let me say this: I have always greatly respected the ability of our guys, this great resource that we have of flag…”

“let me say this: I have always greatly respected the ability of our guys, this great resource that we have of flag officers--and nonflag officers, incidentally, NCOs and company grade officers--to go over to a warfighting theater and come back and bring you the news, whether it's good or bad. In fact, I've hosted forums in the Armed Services Committee when I brought in dissenting officers who would come back and tell us what they thought was wrong with the war because you've got to listen to it. If you're going to shape good policy, you've got to hear both sides to these things. I would just say to my colleagues who say, well, these people were hosted; they came over and they were hosted. Listen, you have respected people like General Zinni and Barry McCaffrey and other respected leaders and generals, and they go over to a warfighting theater, you can bet that they are hosted by their colleagues that they grew up with in the military, fought alongside with, and that's absolutely appropriate. And you can bet that they were given transport and they got to look at the operations, they got to give their analysis. And you know something? That has value. I always want to see the guy that thinks that the operation isn't going well and listen to his remarks and his comments.…”