Gen. Schwarzkopf's Famed News Conference
2012 ж. 28 Жел.
3 861 420 Рет қаралды
When victory was obvious over Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf gave what quickly became known as the "Mother of All News Conferences" across the street from his HQ in Saudi Arabia.
Gen. Schwarzkopf passed away in December, 2012.
Watching this in 2021, such a strange thing to see reporters asking questions that they actually want real answers to.
I miss boring objective news, too bad it's not profitable. (aside from properly informing the public)
I have to relate much, much more than I'd like to
*Back when they had to actually TRY and manipulate the public opinion, now people support whatever their political party wants them to.*
Hey @@juliuszkocinski7478 wax as W BC
@@Dr.MantisTobogganMD It's a little more complicated than that, and the bold is obnoxious, but yeah that's fair enough. Main problem is all the news cares about is money, and the truth often doesn't bring money, because why else would you click unless it was juicy? Other problem is people have become lazy (which is what you're on about). It is much easier to form an opinion based on some bullshit twitter post or reddit meme than to actually read an article or two before making a conclusion. I see so much distrust in media nowadays, and yet I see an equal willingness to believe the first youtube conspiracy theorist that says a bunch of complete bullshit with confidence. People really need to take a step back and evaluate how they form their opinions. And if you're here watching this legendary press conference I hope you are willing to do the same. The bottom line is, the rise of social media has allowed an unprecedented amount of propaganda to assault our decision-making. And if you aren't continually questioning your beliefs then you are a prime target. Stay vigilant, comrades, things will get worse before they get better. Biden's "nothing will fundamentally change" has ensured that. And his actions speak louder than his words ever could at this point. He's better than Trump, sure, but we are still doomed as a nation if we continue to ignore what other 1st-world nations take for granted.
you know you're special forces when they forget you're on the board
Lol, underrated comment
Incredibly underrated. Most people just won’t get it.
Silent professionals
tillrisen we had SF up here. Lol.
Unsung warriors
Bro just casually turned a press conference into a masterclass lecture on Desert Warfare.
Rommel wrote the book and Gen Schwarzkopf studied it well
General Schwartzkoff was a neighbor of mine in Telluride, CO. He looked and sounded much like my Dad. As a matter of fact, he signed a copy of his book to my Dad , “ his twin brother”, years ago. My Dad cherished that book. Both have passed. Both will be missed but more importantly, they will be remembered.
This is so nice.
I'll never forget reading;" ... morale sucked in Vietnam, so I told the troops dump all the strawberry jelly into the water buffalo...."
he is in hell now.....
I still get a kick out of some of the questions the press comes up with. "Can you tell us where and what time our next sneak attack will occur" General "No"
CNN
I don't plan on sitting through all 57 minutes, but did someone really ask this in the video? 😂
@@TitanFlare Not a direct quote, but my expression of how unaware the press was while searching for a storyline. The battle is ongoing and several reporters kept asking about our next moves. Just silly.
Can't fix stupid
Most of the interaction between Schwarzkopf and the press was intelligent, congenial, and productive.
The bit where he talked about how nasty a minefield is has a personal significance for him that many people don't know about. In Vietnam he once walked into a minefield to rescue one of his men who had stepped on a mine and was bleeding to death. He described it as the most fear he ever felt, yet he did it anyway.
Damn right. "Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's action in spite of it."
@@TheKnuckleneck Moving toward danger, when there's a clear path away
@@springbloom5940 Nice. Stealing it. =)
I came here to remind myself what a real General is how sad we've become,
@@TheKnuckleneck Go for it. Its a paraphrase of something Stormin' Norman told us in Desert Storm.
I have meet this man personally in during the negotiations with Iraq. They built him a nice place inside of a tent that had a wooden frame inside of it, and his choice was to sleep outside with the troops. The greatest human being that I have ever met
He reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt's son who worked with his men and safely landed with him at Normandy. And sadly he died a few days after the successful landing,he became a hero of mine.
The professionalism of the reporters is astounding compared to today. Nowadays the reporters would be trying to embarrass and accuse the general over non-related political crap.
so what? move to north korea if you want state media to grovel
“What’s the blue triangles on the board?” “Oh that’s special forces, don’t worry about them”
He purposedly called them out and said what they were doing, "can't forget these fellas [special forces]" timestamp 8.50mins
He also was not a big fan of what he called “snake eaters”
@@chuckbrown2765 mgs 3
@@chuckbrown2765who are the snake eaters ? The S.F?
@@jeffersondeleon925 yeah. in some country the sf literally trained to eat snakes as emergency food. i think the us sf does the same
Just think what he could have done with PowerPoint
exactly the same except the guy behind him would be hitting spacebar lol
except this was in 1991 powerpoint was only a few years old, and the government is famous for taking ages to implement new computer technology (for example microsoft is subsidized by the govt to keep windows xp supported so they dont have to upgrade even today)
@@friday8283 Probably because not many people will try to hack a decade old windows system since the government knows every detail and exploit about it now vs a constant updating system like windows 10 that's constantly changing, making easier for hacking too
Friday woosh
You’re right, they could’ve slaughtered everyone on the battlefield! Such a good application of death by powerpoint. Wait...
One of the most underrated generals in history. That war was NOT easy and he achieved a decisive victory less than a year. Absolutely incredible.
Not easy? Shit was a cake walk. A masterpiece of military planning. A piece of art, especially the Airwar.
@@einehrenmann6156 History major here, i studied military history in particular as a choice, and i can guarantee you every other general would had a problem
@@einehrenmann6156 "Not easy? Shit was a cake walk." ...Have you ever considered *_why_* it was so much more successful than everyone thought? It was because men like Schwarzkopf were at the helm and planned out virtually every aspect of the war and did so with strategic, tactical and logistical acumen that the American military hasn't seen for decades.
@@ernestov1777 Could you elaborate? I've always wondered what made Schwarzkopf special?
@@Nonaggress Dude seriously cares about his troop's lives.
Every military college should play this as a model of handling the media in a war situation. Translucent (no General is ever perfectly transparent), brilliant, informative, and inspirational. I almost wanted to join the military at age 40 when I heard this presentation.
He’s natural, honest and transparent. Unlike today.
Too old buddie you'd only get people killed!
@@codeman9145 The questions being ask were also not loaded with bias and attempted set ups for a gotcha moment.
Could of , would of, should of
I like that he simply says "I don't know", if he doesn't know, instead of giving a hedged non-answer. It's so much more honest. Politicians should learn from the man.
you wouldnt elect someone who doesnt know
@@lostpockets2227 If you're not a fucking idiot you would. Everyone has topics or answers they're not familiar with or dont know. If someone's a blowhard and lies about knowing everything you should avoid trusting them.
@@lostpockets2227 That's why I'm saying they should learn from them: It would be much easier for us to know which ones not to vote for because they're incompetent. But then again, the Americans have votet for a guy who was and is so obviously useless, he could have been as honest as he'd liked without danger.
@@lostpockets2227 Actually you would if you'd vote responsibly. People don't vote for the doctor, they vote for the guy who gives them sweets. But just because 'they' wouldnt vote for such a person, that doesnt mean you should.
Nah politicians play to their audience. Their audience would rather be lied to and BSed.
I don't know why this popped up on my recommended videos. But, I am glad I clicked on it
weird question but have you been watching the revival of the t99 tank by mistermilo or whatever his name is. Sometimes the suggestions for people who see things around the same time are all based on the same video.
@@shaunsinclair9785 nope. I watched an F-16 getting shot down over serbia or someplace. I bet that it is, more than likely, the reason.
@@Kruelltin I think I got this because I searched Tony Soprano beret
Ive been watching chess games for last week , war and chess lol
@@somthingsimplefull do you ever turn the speed to .5x to increase the anticipation?
18:30 I love that soldier doesn’t listen to the press when they ask him to wait and he only responds when the General asks him to bring it back up.
Agreed - but also totally expected. He knew who he was there to assist and stayed totally focused on what the General wanted. He did his job - so he probably got a pat on the back after the presentation. Maybe not that day - but that is the kind of thing a good General makes sure he does when he can.
Schwarzkopf was right. Desert Storm is one of the most complex, best executed operations in military history. The ability of the command to coordinate all combat arms from multiple nations across a long, overseas supply chain is truly astounding. At the same time, they were able to integrate new technologies, such as the drone decoys that they used to fool Iraqi air defenses. The operation was a very fine balance of both patience and aggression. Coalition forces waited patiently while their air power gained supremacy, but then were able to advance rapidly behind that air power, exploiting the confusion and destruction created by airstrikes. No other military has managed to pull off such a complex operation with such stunning results. We can compare that to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Russian invasion had a much easier logistical challenge (invading a neighbor) and the Russians were, initially, a largely homogenous force. Despite this, we see many errors that the Coalition managed to avoid, such as the Russian attack on Hostomel which proceeded before an accurate BDA could be conducted to determine the strength of Ukrainian air defenses after initial air strikes. Russia also failed to exploit its technological advantages and instead adopted tactics that fit almost perfectly into the Ukrainian defense plan. This is where you see the difference between a professional officer and NCO corps and the nepotism/conscription system that Russia uses.
There is no comparison. Ukraine has basically the whole world behind it, where Iraq was sanctioned and land/sea locked from any supplies coming in or out. Russia/USSR was weak at the time of Gulf War. Had Putin been in power then, none of these Gulf Wars would have occured. Just like the US cannot touch Iran or Syria. Russia has taken Crimea, which Ukraine will never get back. Ukraine are slowly taking some land back, but eventually will reach the cities and towns where the locals are Pro Russian. Then it will another story.
Well said sir
Dont let the fog of war decieve you. Russia pulled back in order to concerve troops, even at the cost of hundreds of pieces of military hardware left behind. The blunder was assuming Ukraine would cave to pressure. They did not. This will remain one of Putin's greatest blunders. But no this war is not as it is being shown on msm.
history tells us that not only do the good guys always win, but they display genius doing it
@@jgunther3398 not necessarily. The most recognizable names in casual US military history dont really mention much "genius" but rather personal characteristics. MacArthur for instant is always described as rash but daring while Eisenhower is remembered as being more patient and measured. I would not say most Americans remember them as geniuses but as just efficient in doing their job: to lead.
Who believes that the Abrams tank's eventual successor should be the Scwharzkopf?
Nice idea, but kind of annoying for everyone to write over the 30-40 year life of the tank.
Or name them Norman's
Knowing Tankers they'd shorten that to "The Schwartz" And we all know, what with their twisted sense of humor, where that would go....:)
@@dang652 Ha! May the Schwartz be with you!
@@dang652 Appropriate, I think
I fought in the First Gulf War and can honestly say, we Brits had the utmost respect for this guy. What a leader. RIP Gen. Schwarzkopf.
Regardless of what side your on or your views you just HAVE to respect a REAL Warrior
My biological father fought in '91, staged with UK boys and spoke very highly of you guys. Glad you made it back man. Fought the good fight.
@@somethingmoredecent . Thanks pal. I was just a young lad back then and loved every second of it. I especially enjoyed interacting with the US troops. Great guys
@@scotthunter7140 Thank you for your service to your country
Thank you for your service! As 21 year old in Naval aviation, I received deployment orders for this war. However, it ended so quickly they were canceled. It's been a strange disappointment in my life. Although you never really want to go to war, to enlist, train, and have peers that fought/sacrificed go while you never did is a strange feeling.
I watched this live in 1991 and it didn't take long realize I was watching something uniquely special.
I miss the time where intelligence was a desired trait. An incredibly well-spoken, concise and thoughtful depiction of the assault.
I have heard that his IQ was in the 160s.
‘Sir, early reports were 200,000 on the front and you say there are 50,000 captured, where are the rest?’ ‘Well, there’re alot of dead’ Golden
Actual quote at 24:10
they ran. They didn't have any bullets.
Regrettably, a few years before the war the DoD had decided that about 26 less Military Police Battalion HQs would be needed from the Army Reserve & Army National Guard. They had been dismantled and assets reassigned. Then the Gulf War happened and huge amounts of Enemy Prisoners of War, displaced persons, etc. A major function of Military Police. Bad timing!
@@Skyrilla Usually i don't support America in relation to foreign conflicts but holy shit dude, you people are constantly killing each other anyway. America just threw gasoline on the fire.
@@Skyrilla wow you're an Idiot
Comparing military strategy to a "Hail Mary" football play. This is a true American.
People say hail mary about literally everything
@@cellocovers3982 General Schwarzkopf was referring the football play Hail Mary. Red blooded MURICAN
What does a true American really mean?
@@franciscouch8378 it means GENERAL SCHAWRZKOPF... ya fuckin commie
I mean technically we're German but we are proud to be American because God bless America
I watch this every few months to remind myself how to deliver important information. There are no wasted words, no fluff, no BS. He respected the press and they respected him. I wish media interactions were more like this today.
Now, please check out these FACTS that are on the Web: "In 250 years of existence as a nation, the US has fought against 29 sovereign countries. (In Fact, since 1785, we have been involved, for 231 years, in some kind of war. And this wars, against all varieties of nations. From going against the Sultan of Morocco, to invading the tiny island of Grenada, 1983. Well, this means that in our entire history, we have only had 17 years of peace, and even fewer, cuz here the almost 5 years of our Civil War (Union/Confed 1861‒1865), are Not counted, since this war was not with another country, but against us. And the wars against the Native Nations of America either are not counted, for the same reason). Anyway: We fought against 29 countries. We have "Grown" 711 the size of our territory from the original 13 colonies. Our Economic, Political and Military development was established thanks to the Piracy, the Slavery, the Massacres, the Opium Trade or Cocaine Traffic, and the Weakness of many abused sovereign nations. We have provoked with total impunity, 12 Genocides and 9 Massacres, ‒inside and outside our own borders‒, and Assassinations of Gov’t. Leaders, Coups d'État and Economic Blockades in 6 UN member nations. Between 1947 and 1989, the US tried to change other nations gov’ts 73 times. It includes 66 covert Ops. And 7 overt ones. In Civil Wars: The US has taken advantage of and intervened without justification in the following Civil Wars: In Marquesas Island. (Massacre. 1813). US Forces seize Nuku Hiva Island (French Polynesia 1813), and establish here «The First US Naval Base», in the Pacific. This historical fact is important, cuz in 1813, the US had NO Territorial Land nor Maritime Rights in the Pacific Ocean, until 1848, when the US seized California and other Mexican territories facing the Pacific. In Haiti. (1813 and 1901 and then 1915-1919-1934-1995-2001). In the Philippines. (1898-1902. Genocide. One Million people dead). In Hawaii. (1889 and 1890-1893 and 1901). In Cuba. (1898 and 1901-1902 and 1906 and 1913 and 1952 and again 1960). In Island Guam and Island Wake (1898-1899 and 1902-1905). In Island of Samoa. (1898-1899). In Puerto Rico. (1898-1902 to 2023 LOL). In Colombia. (1899-1902 and 1948). In Mexico. (1836 and 1847, and 1859-1861 “Cortina Wars”. And 1875 "Las Cuevas War”. And 1886 and 1904 and 1914 and again in 1916-1917 against “Pancho Villa”). In Russia. (1918-1920). In the "Republic Banana Wars" of Central America. (Massacre. 1912-1934-1943). In Dominican Republic. (1916-1924 and 1965-1966). In Honduras. (1903 and 1912 and 1919 and 1924-1925 and again 2009). In Venezuela. (1936 and 1945 and again in 1948). Military Coup in Peru. (1948 and 1967). In China. (1856-1859, and 1899-1901, and 1913 and 1933, and again in 1945-1946-1949). Military assistance to Chinese rebels in Taiwan. (1951-1952). In Korea. (1871 and 1950-1953). In Iran. (1953). Coup against Mohammad Mosaddegh. (Massacre). In Vietnam. (1959-1975. Massacre and Genocide.). In Laos. (Massacre. 1970-1974). The CIA “Bombing of Laos-Cambodia Ops” and the "Air America Op". (1971-1973). Attack on Cambodia. (Kampuchea. 1975). In Albania. (1949-1953 and 1955). In Panama. (1856, and 1903, and 1964-1968, and again 1989). In Brazil. (1950 and 1959 and 1964 and again in 2016). Coup and Intervention in Guatemala. (Massacre. 1944, and 1954, and 1966, and again 1982-1985). Coup against Patrice Lumumba and Intervention in Republic of the Congo. (Massacre. 1960- 1961). Coup and subsequent Fascist regime in Greece. (1967). The Hunting for Che Guevara, in Bolivia. (1968). US Military assistance in the Coup in Bolivia (Copper Mining Co. 1971). Terror in Uruguay. Support for the regime of Juan María Bordaberry. (Genocide. 1973). Support for the regime of Moboth, in Zaire (Genocide. 1974). Democratic Republic of the Congo “Simba Rebellion”. (Massacre. 1964-1967 and 1975). Entry of US Troops into Nicaragua. (1928-1932 against Augusto Sandino, and 1937 and 1972-1973, and 1984-1987 and again 1995). Coup in Chile against Salvador Allende. (Genocide. 1973-1976). Argentina (1976-1986). Armed conflict between the Saharawi Arab Republic and between Morocco. (1976-2002). Support for the cannibal Jean-Bédel Bokassa, in Central African Republic. (Genocide. 1979). Military assistance to the rebels of Yemen and Oman. (Massacre. 1978-1979). Military assistance in El Salvador, special operations. (Genocide. 1980-1992). Liberia. (Massacre. 1978-1980-1983). Coup in Honduras. Support General Polycarpo Paz Garcia. “Cocaine State”. (Genocide. 1979-1980-1982). Military assistance to Iraq. (1983-1990). We, the US, assistance Saddam Hussein against Iran. (More than half a million deaths in ten years. 1980-1990). Support and funding of the Khmer Rouge of Pol Pot. (Genocide 1980-1982). In Angola-Namibia. (Massacre. 1980-1981-1984). Intervention in Grenada. (1983). Here, in Grenada, the US Rangers attack lasted 6 hours, since the tiny Island has no Army, no Navy nor Air Force. The Ranges fought against 287 fearsome Police Officers. Actually, half of these Cops, cuz the other half had not yet come to work the afternoon shift. LOL. In Chad, support the Dictator and Genocide François “Ngarta” Tombalbaye. (1960-1972 and Intervention 1982-1986 and 2007). In Egypt, in the “Arab Spring”. (2010-2012). In Myanmar. (2015-2017). Coup in Equatorial Guinea. (1994-1997-2007 and 2021). In Bosnia. (Srebrenica and Markale. 1994-1995 and 2006). In Gambia. (CIA-CEDEAO. 2017). In Burkina Faso. (Massacre. 2014-2015 and 2021). Coup in Peru against Pedro Castillo. (2022-2023)… In Libya, Niger, Chad, Mozambique, Zambia, in Gabon (Gabon It is a small country at the western end of Central Africa. In just 4 years, 2019-2022, Gabon has suffered 9 Coups d'état. In 8 of these Coups, the US has intervened in one way or another). In Kenya, Oman, Palestine, Lebanon, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Jordan, in Kosovo, Kiribati, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, in Afghanistan, etc. And… Oh! Yeah: In Ukraine. In 70 years, that is, from 1950 to 2020, we, the US, have participated in 80% of all global armed conflicts. In 80%!!! What's so "Proud" about being a nation of Looters and Criminals? .
As kuwaity I cried when he died 😮 I love shuarzkhoff
HE WAS NOT GIVING A NEWS CONFERENCE HE WAS GIVING A CLASS IN DESERT WARFARE !
*master class
Yes.
The guy handling the charts is 1st LT Charles F. Powerpoint, who later retired from the Army and went to work for Microsoft.
🤣
I don't know how true this is but it's certainly funny!
Well, I looked it up, Ola Leier. It's fake. You owe me 3 mins of my life back for lying.
My dumb ass actually decided to google this to check it out 🤦🏼♂️
@@ExhaustedCISSP I hope you're joking.
Now that’s how you do a “Special Military Operation” that lasts less than a week.
18:31 No matter how much I learn about this war, I will always be astounded by the limited casualties the US took.
One very notable thing about Schwartzkopf's speaking style is that he constantly gives praise. In fact, he goes out of his way to be as specific as possible about what he's thanking them for. What an embodiment of leadership.
Exactly what we miss in todays military. Signed: Deplorable Vietnam vet.
@@tombutcher5776 - also exactly what is missing from the management style of many commercial companies.
I liked when he corrected the reporter who said the French division "stopped fighting" and clarified that they did their job establishing flank security 29:44
This quality of his reminds me a lot of Eisenhower. Managing a coalition of the French, British, Saudis, Egyptians, etc cannot be easy.
@@tombutcher5776 How do you know about military officers now?
This is a goldmine in military strategy. We don’t have a historian telling us of unfolding events, we have a man very much learned in the Art of War explaining the why of the reasons he took.
Exactly, historians oftentimes forget to mention why decisions were made, they just present events without the reasons behind them. That's why I love TIK here on KZhead
@@georgekosko5124 I have a friend who was going to college to be a historian and he was constantly taking about things he learned and how this and that was a horrible idea and the people who did it were stupid. Though completely anecdotally, I can agree, historians don’t seem to look at the perspective of the people too often.
@@Sunnywastakentoo unfortunately your friend was a bad historian. Decisions are always 'obvious' to us decades in the future
It's not that good though. He's doing it for the presses. This is a propaganda move. The Saddam barrier was shit and was undermanned and with unprepared defenses, weak and small minefields and few truly dug in tanks. He's beefing up Americas position because if he said that they d destroyed demoralized, unprepared, badly led army then nobody would be impressed. He's also basically lying about the force ratio, though he may be doing so inadvertedly. He admits (by not challenging an assertion the reporter makes) that there's 250 000 in total Iraqi troops. The US alone had 700 000 troops. The Iraqis didn't have the numerical advantage, the US did. Iraq had several hundred thousand more troops but they were not present in the area. Some of those US troops were logistical troops. Total force ratio was in favour of the US and its allies completely though. It's the same propaganda that the Soviets were somehow in a numerical advantage to the Germans. They weren't until early 1944 and at the start of the invasion had nearly a million men less than the Germans on the front line.
@@ActionableFreedom I still prefer this to hearing absolutely nothing. Even if it’s exaggerated, it’s not out of the ordinary for a country to embellish itself.
I met “Stormin Normon” in 1983 when he was a one star general in the 24th Inf Div (fort stewart) He’s a class act!! Plus a west pointer. A true hero in my book!!!! Smartest military man I’ve ever met, hands down!!!!
I too served at that time in the 24th. He demanded excellence, and that's what was delivered. At Ft. Irwin, without naming countries, he said the next war will be that one oil rich country will attempt to take over another oil rich country. Just a amazing leader. RIP Sir.
Watched the entire conference with my cat when I couldn’t fall asleep. My cat was very enthralled with the metal pointer Gen. Shwarzkopf used and moved around on the boards. While the for me talk of strategy was interesting to listen to, he’s an amazing speaker. Also fell asleep so worth.
That man is THE blueprint of a general. That man has competence, awareness and leadership quality flowing out his pores. Absolutely impressive.
I'd give a lot of $$$$$ to see Donald J. Trump try and give 'Stormin Norman' some lip..
I met him in our battalion tent in Saudi Arabi before we deployed to the border. I was part of the "right hook". This man is huge... truly larger than life
Wilson not too sure why he would. the military and our president are on the same page
Yeah, i totally agree with you on that. I would gladly follow that man in war.
@@wilson2455 I like Trump but Norman would have bitch slapped him across the country
Best quote ever, “have you ever been on a mine field?… it only takes one…”
At around 19 min the General talks about casualties, and the families briefly. You can see he starts to get choked up. This man really cares about everyone of his men. We need more leaders like him.
The Army teaches leaders to care for their men before they care for themselves!
I saw this live…what a tribute to my brothers in arms.
I love how he gives credit to his commanders and logistics generals and special forces who made the operation successful does not take credit! Gives the credit how a leader should always be.
i can't think of a single US general that ever tried to take the credit for an op. every time i watched or read a transcript of a general or admiral speak, they spend a lot of time giving out credit to soldiers, commanders, etc.
@@solomonshv If you can't think of one, I seriously advise you to look into one General MacArthur.
@@msdsecretary8702 good to read. as it was the first two times you wrote it.
@@dekardkain5469 - my thoughts exactly regarding MacArthur.
His 6'3" 240 frame was necessary to support the weight of his steel balls
Alan Dempsey He saw a lot combat in Vietnam
@Alan Dempsey That is the the single stupidest comment ever posted
@Ryan S They have seen combat.
Look up the Generals accomplishments in life . Nobody that has posted a single thread on this post could ever touch this man much less fill his shoes ! Thank you General and may you R.I.P. !
@@perryg799 I, though not a military man, agree wholeheartedly.
Served under him 1990-96. Best general ever!!!!! Smart, witty., great military mind, great sense of humor! Loved his troops!!!!
This man is not only an incredibly intelligent leader, he was very well respected by his troops, and was a great man! I had the pleasure of meeting him in 1993 at Walter Reed! He was a very humble man and an amazing role model!
31:40 Reporter: "What is your impression of Sadam Hussein as a military strategist?" Schwarzkopf: "Ha" His detailed answer was more devastating.......
SH was CIA used goods, low resell value.
He sucks! Next question 😁
I'm sorry, I don't do impressions.
He should have said: "I don't do impressions. I'm the general that commands the troops here in Iraq and Kuwait. "
Sadam Hussien is just a military man whatever the hell that is
This man projected compentency, confidence, honesty, reliability. A great GEN. R.I.P !
The opposite of the modern politician, I mean they project confidence but all that other shit, fuck no.
And that's the way you do it. Yes Sir, General Swartzkopf gave a landmark briefing to the public - I remember watching this broadcast
This is a hell of a presentation, mind blowing. He has everyone listening on the edge of their seats, and does not waist an opportunity for a well timed joke. God bless America 🇺🇸
He was the last of that Generation..... There are no Generals like him anymore. Mattis was pretty close.... but Schwartzkopff was In another league.
This is what was known as American exceptionalism. Everyone strived for it. I think a lot of people realize how in trouble we are now in 2024, and even they are overestimating our position.
He mentioned the importance of logistics multiple times and we're seeing- right now, in real time- how poor logistics is affecting Russia in such a negative way as they try to take Ukraine.
Yep...
Yup. I saw this briefing on TV back in 91 and seeing the Ukraine fight and Russia's poor logistics made me remember Schwarzkopf's accomplishment. It's such a stark contrast to what Russia is apparently not capable of. It would be so awesome if Ukraine was able to effect their own hail mary pass and retake the south with a surprise maneuver of their own.
Damn the Russians totally forgot logistics was a thing
This is one of the reasons I believe this invasion was a snap decision from Putin. I think the build up of forces was originally only meant as a show of force, but something happened that made Putin think he needed to invade immediately, at the worse possible time of year, with no prepared logistical train, with a officer corps and army with no pre-invasion training or a plan to actually prosecute the war. This war wasn't badly planned, it wasn't planned for at all. I'm curious why Putin needed to act now in early spring instead of late spring when the ground would have been dry. They're losses are mainly a direct result of being stuck using the roads and being prime targets for ambushes.
I think they were partying and in those uplifted spirits they decided it was a great idea to invade right now.
He's like a college graduate answering questions from middle schoolers
And to think in this era so many people “learn” from the media and reporters.
What's wrong with their questions? They're not generals.... I mean, should they suck his dick?
You insult him by grouping him with the average college graduate know nothing (myself included as said grad know nothing)
Well, he was a college graduate, since he was an officer. And very in-charge for a guy who didn’t do anything. The media asks questions in the service of the public.
I must say, I liked these press questions as they did reveal more info, we're based on reports and besides a joke about the role of the media in the diversion, they did not try to spin or politically alter these facts. I do not know about the articles it produced though, but modern media could indeed learn a lot from this video
what an amazing leader.. there is no one today in our ranks that can hold a candle to this great man
I just got married before this all started. I walked in the door and my wife (still is) said "we're at war.". My first thought was " what did I do already?"
😂😂😂
Now that's funny!!
@@maynardferguson9599, thank you and I love your music!
Lmao
😂
I had the privilege of meeting this Gentleman on a plane. We talked for 30 minutes. He’s was retired and was a contractor for GE Aerospace. Down to earth guy who was interested in my Navy experience. The flight from Syracuse to Washington seemed to last two minutes. A solid commander for sure.
He visited me in hospital after I got my hand wrecked by a booby trap. He gave me his card and told me if I needed anything I wasn't getting, to let him know ASAP.
They all become contractors when retired, it really should be illegal
@@Grassyknolldallas Why?
@@springbloom5940 what I believe richard is talking about is the so called "revolving door policy" when top brass of government watchdog agenices get jobs with the same companies they were supposed to be vigilant in policing and vice versa. Like for example a bank ceo becoming a member of some kind of insider trading prevention committee wose purpose is to keep all his old friends from breaking the law even though the hypothetical old ceo will more likely just use the position to make himself and their old banker friends illicit $ or save them from fines etc. But i dont think a military person going from that to working for or advising a private orgainization related to equipment like planes is an example of this. People need jobs just not ones where there is a huge conflict of intrest thats what i believe richard thinks should be illegal.
@@Grassyknolldallas Yes, why?(asks a Veteran that is now a contractor)
He gave credit, to all divisions involved in this attack. He was a Brilliant Military Leader. REST EASY GENERAL!!
What an amazing human being!I wish I could have shaken his hand and thanked him in person for his leadership and service!
Just listen to the man speak. To a lower rank: "Next PLEASE, I'm Sorry, Thank you" THAT is the mark of a truly great leader. RIP, Sir, from the U.K.
I think what really makes a bad leader are 2 things. A- many people think the higher up they go the easier it’ll be, but it’s the opposite and it’s those who accept their responsibilities that excel in a leadership role B-as you mentioned more authority should not diminish your respect for those under you, you can boss them around and exercise your authority but you should never disrespect them, recognize that you are all still a team even though you are a leader
Yes, I noticed that too. Very pragmatic but still funny as hell too!
Burn in hell.
He had a temper according to some documentaries. He was a good man though, he is missed.
@Jake Heke - A hopeful suggestion.
After this military operation General Schwarzkopf was encouraged by both the Democratic and Republican parties to head their presidential ticket. Polls showed he could have easily won. He declined to both parties' offer. A real class act by a true hero. May he RIP
I HIGHLY doubt that. Evidence please.
When he was asked to go into politics he said: "The higher up the flagpole an ape climbs the more people can see its bare a**!
@@godofhate4167 "Evidence please" Soy rage
@@DogeickBateman Cope, 🤷♂️.
@@godofhate4167 Cry about it
I pray people like him still exist in our US leadership.
"You ever been in a minefield?" Wow.
Prophetic words at 42:20. "Its not in the best interest of peace in this part of the world to destroy Iraq."
The entire war wasn't in the best interest of the US or peace in the middle east. It created ISIS! Republicans predicated the Iraq War on lies, incompetence and bigotry. Nothing they told us was true. No WMDs. No nuclear aspirations. No ties to terrorism or 9/11. No justification for war. Republicans invaded their country, murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent people then called them the terrorists.
@@fluxcapacitor1621 while you're right about the second iraq war, this video is about the first iraq war and certainly isis was not created in 1991
@@fluxcapacitor1621 false. Saddam created the lies as an effort to make himself seem more powerful in the region.
Well that would mean Iran would invade...but of course who cares about that either?
@@fluxcapacitor1621 You sir do not know what you are talking about. This war was in 1991 not 2003. Yes, there were chemical weapons in rockets, mortar and artillery shells and in 55 gallon drums in 2003. Almost all were trucked to Iran and Syria before Op Iraqi Freedom started and even them morts and arty shells were found containing chems. You guys read CBS, MSN, ABC, CNN etc. and believe everything the news says. Ask the Israelis if Iraq had nuclear aspirations. You have the freedom to believe what you want, so enjoy if it makes you sleep better at night.
One of the greatest Generals in the history of this nation. He was the most successful since Patton and as beloved as Washington or Grant. He said that in the military academy he looked up to Generals such as Grant, Sherman, and Abrams for their approach to warfare. He was aggressive and decisive yet he did not glorify war. As a Vietnam veteran one of his hopes in returning home from victory was for the US armed forces to not be demonized like they were in previous wars. I think he did a very good job reigniting patriotism and respect for American vets. Incredible General, incredible man. RIP.
Eisenhower
Wonderful points!
naa, he didnt glorify war, he just fanned it,
He was no Gen Patton
Son of general (ME expert snatch), thrower off of the Vietnam monkey on back, fail safe planner and executioner, Stormin' Norman the legend
It's a shame our history doesn't put men like the General in our books. He was an honorable man, a decorated hero, and a very tough and unpredictable military coalition.
One of the most fascinating videos I've seen in a while..thanks for sharing
I love how supremely confident this man was. Speaks with a loud and clear voice, dominant body language, precise and short answers, while being competent and extremely professional at the same time. A true general.
he is the archetypal real man, not like the mangina soyboys of today.
@@16rumpole including yourself
I met his speechwriter in a professional session. The Gen did not suffer fools!
These replies are like listening to the Senate floor- unbearable
@@vhufeosqap I'm so impressed that you recognized @ah mecorp as an archetypal real man in your comment. It's surprising that you think so highly of him after just one comment... Soyboy evan
36:18 - One of my favorite moments in the conference. "Ever been in a mine field?" (pause) "No."
Let me make it even better for you then. I've read the General's biography. He as a commander in Vietnam choppered into a minefield because some of his men were pinned down there. He calmed his men down and literally laid on top of an injured man so he wouldn't thrash around more and trigger more mines. He's a damn hero. And with all THAT, he didn't add to the reporter "WELL IVE BEEN IN A MINEFIELD." Greatness.
Fake WMD, as it turns out.
@Jerry bookkeeper Baghdad Bob, is that you?
@Jerry bookkeeper Baghdad Bob is the nickname of Muhammad Saeed Al-Sahhaf, spokesperson of the Ba'ath Party during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
That's a cop out answer, he actually answered it the second time. He even called himself facetious.
The clarity of his speaking and thinking make it abundantly clear why he was so successful as a military commander.
The perfect man at the right place and time in history. The General is most articulate, directing the conference as needed by the reporters, no show-boating or gloating. As true a professional as could be had.
The only time you see him really consider his answer is when he's asked to "rate" the enemy (37:40) and instead of making a joke, he shows compassion and a depth of understanding about men and war -- great!!!
Whata LEADER!!
Truly a class act. He didn't roasted the enemy, their equipment or manpower, he just explained the motivational and organizational reasons they performed poorly on the battllefield.
Damn right. The Iraqi fighters were not shit fighters. They didn't want to fight for Saddam - that's highly commendable and a better reflection on the quality of all of them.
Sounds kinda similar to the Russian/Ukraine War. I don’t think the Russians are very motivated in their cause.
Exactly what Russia is right now as well. He was spot on with this. Spot on.
Legend has it that if you leave a jar of Saudi sand at Norman Schwartzkopf's grave, a box of fresh pepperoni pizza MREs will appear in your cupboard
I got you at 200...give me a slice now.
The ability and willingness to convey information in a concise manner is a lost art
A man worthy of the rank. Thanks for what you did General Schwarzkopf. RIP.
20:42 The Pilot referred to is Bill Andrews, he was shot down by a SAM and despite his injuries was able to redirect the rest of his flight away from the SAM site, I flew with him once in 2009 or so in a Cessna 182, he passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
Wow
Imagine getting shot down, surviving, saving your fellow pilots, just to die to cancer
@@jaden7454 Remember that, live your life today, the future is promised to no one.
What happened to that 101st helicopter crew? I mean, it would suck to lose more pilots when saving a pilot was the goal in the first place.
F
I've watched this over and over again. U know why? This man was a master of funneling info into a sensible package for the layman to understand. While also showing how to delegate and run a complex operation with a vast array of allies. Politician, General, Soldier, Administrator, and Press Secretary all rolled into one. Very well done.
I was thinking the same. It’s mesmerizing. He’s a genius and exactly who you want as a military leader.
That's why I still love the Hail Mary reference he used. Maybe not the best reference, but a relatable one that the audience could understand.
I agree hundred percent. He never came across as an arrogant smug elitist, never conceded or presumptuous in his views. Tho he was analytical, seemed to have a gift to convey the proper information that was never too detailed but never vague either. He is a towering figure, but a gentle giant, very powerful man but so non threatening....thats why public loved him and they put their trust in his words.
He's not the expert in all those fields, but if you are a great leader, you seek out the experts to work as your advisers. Takes a special kind of social genius to make this network of experts work together. Why the coalition agreed to vanguard roles and supply runs (politics) Why the coalition decided to act before deciding what to do with Iraq afterwards (politics) Who prepared the "powerpoint slides", press conference, info dump on the media (office support)
@@petrolmonkey8339 well said
A true soldier's general. RIP sir, slow salute.
We are so fortunate to have had him in the right place at the right time. A wonderful person and a great leader. God bless you, General,
Man, there wasn’t any obfuscation or grand standing, they asked grown up questions and he gave honest answers.
"Would I be happy if there was a ceasefire...? Nobody else on earth would be happier than me." General Scwharzkopf understood the objective in every level and aspect of what he was faced with. The goal is always peace. RIP
What a man ... I only got to know about this legendary conference today in an KZhead comment. Couldn't wait to see it. It's sad that he's no longer among us ... May his soul rest in peace. He was a great warrior. 😔
This man is in rare company, only a handful of Generals are in. He is dead and gone, but his legend is still alive and well. He is a part of that long grey line, RIP General!
THis Man watches. excuse Me . This General watched Patton on the regular...Kinda like that Older smarter brother who grew up watching this Old House while u watched the Jetsons and scooby doo..!!
@@culbyj3665 you’re kinda of a C u Nexr Tuesday kinda guy.
I drove an m60 a1 tank thru those minefields, I was a 19 year old Marine, it seems like yesterday. Semper Fi Marines.
Marines always seem to get the old equipment
if it's old but it works, it ain't old yet.
Whoa! You were still using M60s?
Anne Isopod All true minus the girlfriend, we broke up
ptroinks We were one of the last classes to be trained on the M60A1 at Fort Knox..You’ll have to remember the Marine Corps had m48’s up until the early 1980s! I believe ( I may be wrong) but part of the tanks in Beirut were m48s. Many of the Marines I served with were in Beirut when the bombing occured including two of my tank instructors in tank school. We were trained on M1A1s, at Fort Knox and 29 palms California, as soon as we returned from the Gulf War. We still used prc77 radios during Gulf War, with encryption added, the army had singars...we trained to use singars in 1990 but didn’t see one again until 92.
I was seven years old at the time but I remember my parents watching this on tv in the evening. I also remember my dad watching a separate news conference that was held by General Schwarzkopf where he was showing grainy war footage taken by pilots undertaking bombing missions. One mission was targeting a bridge and an Iraqi vehicle barely made it across the bridge before it was destroyed. The General had made some comment about that being a lucky driver which my Dad found dryly humorous and chuckled slightly. Strange seeing this 31 years later after such an interlude and triggering those memories.
Sir....was an honor to serve under your command. You are sorely missed.
They offered him to be the Chief of staff and he flat out turned it down..He was a soldiers soldier and he was one of US! We miss him! RIP sir..And thank you...You did good!
I've never served, but I can get behind your statement 100%. The man, you could clearly tell, was very much about the business. He did his job, he did it well, and he wanted to complete it. No greater evidence than near the end of the press conference, a reporter asks if he may be "disappointed if politics stops him from completing his mission", and the General says he'd be the happiest person out there to see a cease fire. Just fantastic leadership.
The most admirable character of this man was his loyalty to the chain of command and to the supremacy of the civilian government over the military.
1pilot2000 now, we have Mattis which is twice as good
Besides God General Schwarzkopf is the reason why I made it home?
moonbeam that’s a blatant lie and you know it.
Thank God for the intellect and military leadership of General Schwarzkopf. He is an example of why America is a formidable advocacy on the battlefield.
Great Man. Had the honor of meeting him in Desert Storm.
@36.19 The General replies to the inquiring journalist: "Have you ever been in a mine field?" The journalist replies: "No, I have not." The change in tone General Schwarzkopf uses means a lot to me personally. I was a point man in Indochina for ten months 1970/71. 169 combat patrols, I was a human mine detecter. My only technology was my wits. The General knows what a mine field is. Few do. I know I do. I'm still not over it.
God bless you, sir.
I agree, and thanks.
the minefield journalist know is looking for gold
You did your job and survived...... Semper Fi......
Minefields must be absolutely terrifying, every step you take your mind races thinking you will suddenly see a bright flash, then darkness. Especially bad is seeing others injured, it has got to literally wrack your nerves to the point of panic. I have not been in one and dont claim to know, but id like to think I know how scared id be, and im not easily scared.
RIP Norman Schwarzkopf. You are an excellent soldier and general. You will never be forgotten.
Kunta Kinte seek medical help
Rest in peace to your mother too.
@@0.1.feb. the fuck?
@@0.1.feb. seriously the fuck??
Absolutely love this, I’ve watched it several times - what a professional. From, South Africa.
Can’t get over how polite and respectful the press corps is. My how things have changed.
I met him in '91 in DC. A REAL man's man. Absolutely a commander but also a great guy. Died WAY too young.
QRIH C SQN
What? He croaked??? Thought he was still around.
@@antoniastaats1939 If he were, he'd been in the news commenting on military strategy on all the networks. He might even have been a POTUS candidate.
@@leefury7 I would've liked him for POTUS but I don't think he wanted to hold political office. When he retired from the military there were calls for him to become a senator but he steered away from all that. Which is perfectly valid, and I hope his retirement was happy+fulfilling. George Washington didn't wanna be President either, we just desperately needed him.
@@lightwalker222 Oh yes. He was very clear that he didn't want to move into the political world. Who could blame him?
Brilliant man. Brilliant General. Brilliant American. May he rest in piece.
Wade Davis i
He is our icon when it come to military strategy and leadership
@@kanthanesankandiah760 You must be joking. The fucking Arabs surrendered. There was no war.
now he will meet his boss in the after life his boss is bush 41 12/1/18
He's dead? GOOD!
I was sleeping and at 0615 the radio broke in about the beginning on 17 Jan. I was at work by 0648 and I worked 15 hours a day for over 2 weeks straight while in Germany. My wife was 6 months preggo and we had discussions on whether our child would grow up without his Dad. Same thing ten years later on 9/11. Crazy times.
This battle plan will be studied at West Point for generations. Simply brilliant. The question and answer about Saddam at the 31:30 mark has had me laughing for thirty years.
An interesting guy, he's always got a thorough but simple explanation for any question.
like donald trump?
@@apank21 I believe you missed the word "thorough" when you read that.
@@RKNGL yes or misinterpreted and/or misunderstood, and/or misinformed, I wanted to communicate the similarity in their communication.? he said big time... similar to big league with trump?
The best way to answer anyone
Well, I guess he should have if he's the commander right?
The best line in the whole conference at 36:09: "Have you ever been in a mine field?". The perfect answer to the reporter, especially considering that Schwarzkopf had once been IN a minefield in Viet Nam, first leading troops out and then holding down a wounded man to keep him from setting off more mines while the medic got him ready to move. Combat Infantryman, Master Parachutist, Three Silver Stars, Three Bronze Stars with Valor, Two Purple Hearts, Legion of Merit...
This outstanding General served in Nam 🥇
My Dad really liked this man!my old man served in Rhodesia and then this leader stood out to him!
Gen. Schwarzkopf could be extremely hard on the officers, he had very little patience and his temper eruptions were legendary. He expected his officers to know their jobs and responsibilities inside out and he accepted no excuses. Above all, he cared deeply about the welfare the soldiers, woe to any officer that didn't look out for their troops, and that is how it should be. He is just the kind of general and leader you want when things get really tough.
He certainly didn’t give a shit about us! I had one fucking uniform, my buddy Slater’s boots were held together with 100mph tape. But… he hated the 82nd, because he was a fat ass.
19:13 He gets choked up talking about the casualties. That man was a great leader.
Do not comment bitch boy you weren't there I was
I was there too, in my dreams.
Yeah he's an experienced officer who has a job. He didn't get his job by being some dude. He has seen action first hand.
Ed Berger who Swartschoff
Disgrace
This man saved my life. His strategy played to our greatest strengths and minimized our weaknesses. Outnumbered, on enemy shores, with a 6k mile supply line, he did it in record time. This was his finest hour and the plan that saved my life. The life of a US Marine in Task Force Grizzly, who went on live a great life and I thank you Gen Schwartzkopf for your efforts.
As an ex-Muslim, fuck all of the Islamic nations and fuck Israel too. Fuck them all, authoritarian governments following fairy tales and committing human crimes, fuck them!
Outnumbered? I thought that the coalition forces outnumbered Iraq? No?
@@Toph.Beifong. On paper, the Iraqi military looked formidable. Its army was the fifth largest in the world, with some 950,000 personnel, 5,500 main battle tanks, 10,000 additional armoured vehicles, and nearly 4,000 artillery pieces. By January, the coalition forces prepared to face off against Iraq numbered some 750,000, including 540,000 U.S. personnel and smaller forces from Britain, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, among other nations.
the coalition forces being underdogs was pure propaganda.
@@soldat2501 The Soviet Union? The USSR was (as mentioned in the press conference) was supporting and offering resupplying Saddam's army.
Sometimes you do so well that people think you didn't do anything.
Godddamn, this man had one hell-of-A Command Presence! R.I.P, Sir!!!! 🫡
The world could use a man like him now. No B.S. straight honest answers without deflecting. God speed General.
I remember this when it was broadcast live. These reporters were tone deaf and clueless. To them this was a movie. You can see GEN Schwarzkopf being visibly offended at some stupider questions.
"Have you ever been in a minefield?"
Indeed they were clueless, CENTOM hadn't allowed much access to either frontline troops or briefings to the media prior to this. This briefing is for the Media's benefit, to allow them to be informed on the past four days of combat operations, and to ask questions. The best way to lose a war is to ignore the media entirely. They inform the public of what's happening overseas, and if left alone, you have no control over what's liable to be put out from an information black out.
You could see that the general was emotional talking about US casualties. He was a soldier's general. He deeply cared about his troops.
@@williamlydon2554 you are assuming the media always uses integrity. Most of the time, they are just trying to seem important while circle jerking each other off.