David Kronke / LA Daily News | March 26 2006

Eric Haney, a retired command sergeant major of the U.S. Army, was a founding member of Delta Force, the military's elite covert counter-terrorist unit. He culled his experiences for "Inside Delta Force" (Delta; $14), a memoir rich with harrowing stories, though in an interview, Haney declines with a shrug to estimate the number of times he was almost killed. (Perhaps the most high-profile incident that almost claimed his life was the 1980 failed rescue of the hostages in Iran.) Today, he's doing nothing nearly as dangerous: He serves as an executive producer and technical adviser for "The Unit," CBS' new hit drama based on his book, developed by playwright David Mamet. Even up against "American Idol," "The Unit" shows muscle, drawing 18 million viewers in its first two airings.

Since he has devoted his life to protecting his country in some of the world's most dangerous hot spots, you might assume Haney is sympathetic to the Bush administration's current plight in Iraq (the laudatory cover blurb on his book comes from none other than Fox's News' Bill O'Reilly). But he's also someone with close ties to the Pentagon, so he's privy to information denied the rest of us.

We recently spoke to Haney, an amiable, soft-spoken Southern gentleman, on the set of "The Unit."

Q: What's your assessment of the war in Iraq?

A: Utter debacle. But it had to be from the very first. The reasons were wrong. The reasons of this administration for taking this nation to war were not what they stated. (Army Gen.) Tommy Franks was brow-beaten and ... pursued warfare that he knew strategically was wrong in the long term. That's why he retired immediately afterward. His own staff could tell him what was going to happen afterward.

We have fomented civil war in Iraq. We have probably fomented internecine war in the Muslim world between the Shias and the Sunnis, and I think Bush may well have started the third world war, all for their own personal policies.

Q: What is the cost to our country?

A: For the first thing, our credibility is utterly zero. So we destroyed whatever credibility we had. ... And I say "we," because the American public went along with this. They voted for a second Bush administration out of fear, so fear is what they're going to have from now on.

Our military is completely consumed, so were there a real threat - thankfully, there is no real threat to the U.S. in the world, but were there one, we couldn't confront it. Right now, that may not be a bad thing, because that keeps Bush from trying something with Iran or with Venezuela.

The harm that has been done is irreparable. There are more than 2,000 American kids that have been killed. Tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis have been killed ñ which no one in the U.S. really cares about those people, do they? I never hear anybody lament that fact. It has been

a horror, and this administration has worked overtime to divert the American public's attention from it. Their lies are coming home to roost now, and it's gonna fall apart. But somebody's gonna have to clear up the aftermath and the harm that it's done just to what America stands for. It may be two or three generations in repairing.

Q: What do you make of the torture debate? Cheney ...

A: (Interrupting) That's Cheney's pursuit. The only reason anyone tortures is because they like to do it. It's about vengeance, it's about revenge, or it's about cover-up. You don't gain intelligence that way. Everyone in the world knows that. It's worse than small-minded, and look what it does.

I've argued this on Bill O'Reilly and other Fox News shows. I ask, who would you want to pay to be a torturer? Do you want someone that the American public pays to torture? He's an employee of yours. It's worse than ridiculous. It's criminal; it's utterly criminal. This administration has been masters of diverting attention away from real issues and debating the silly. Debating what constitutes torture: Mistreatment of helpless people in your power is torture, period. And (I'm saying this as) a man who has been involved in the most pointed of our activities. I know it, and all of my mates know it. You don't do it. It's an act of cowardice. I hear apologists for torture say, "Well, they do it to us." Which is a ludicrous argument. ... The Saddam Husseins of the world are not our teachers. Christ almighty, we wrote a Constitution saying what's legal and what we believed in. Now we're going to throw it away.

Q: As someone who repeatedly put your life on the line, did some of the most hair-raising things to protect your country, and to see your country behave this way, that must be ...

A: It's pretty galling. But ultimately I believe in the good and the decency of the American people, and they're starting to see what's happening and the lies that have been told. We're seeing this current house of cards start to flutter away. The American people come around. They always do.

There is a HUGE threat that nobody talks about:


The US media.  They are the single biggest destructive force facing America today

Maybe he needs to be pushed off a building to see what we're doing is a GOOD thing.

Command Sergeant Majors are NOT the people one looks to for advice on strategy or politics.

The US is the US's greatest threat. The country is falling apart from within. The US's enemies just have to sit back, point and laugh.

NTM

I guess we can expect to see alot more of this guy in the media with elections
coming. A Green Beret that will bad-mouth the President, the war, and the American
people. Hell, the democraps will be foaming at the mouth to get this guy in front of
a camera every chance they can.

Quoted: Maybe he needs to be pushed off a building to see what we're doing is a GOOD thing.

Don't think we have a building tall enough for him to realize that before he hits the ground.

The only current true threat to America exists right here within our borders.

Haney clearly has an axe to grind it appears to me and obviously opposes Bush, but he raises some excellent points as well.

IMO the intial invasion of Iraq was extremely well done and obviously well planned(they had over a decade to do so) but it fell apart after that.  Not enough men on the ground to crush the initial insurgency and instill confidence within the Iraqi people that we could maintain the peace.

As for no one giving a shit about the Iraqis that is really not true. In that I believe conservatives give more of a shit than the socialists.  Socialists don't give a shit about the Iraqi people and, in fact, don't give a shit about anything much at all except themselves and how to twist and pervert this country to their whims.

Torture: Guy is spot on about that. Those assholes at Abu Gahraib should have been put in front of a firing squad. Lower form of life exists almost nowhere and they did substantial damage to this nation and our cause in the ME. I wonder how many extra Americans are dead as a result.

What a load of shit.
His insane, ridiculous assertions about Tommy Franks are laughable.  Tommy Franks would hardly have endorsed President Bush's reelection if he were so angry about being "bullied into war" that he resigned over it.
Shame that someone with a record like Haney's has shit all over his reputation this way.

Quoted: Command Sergeant Majors are NOT the people one looks to for advice on strategy or politics.

I couldn't disagree more.
Often the enlisted men have a much better idea of what is going on than senior officers who make a career of blowing smoke up each others asses.

Quoted: Quoted: Command Sergeant Majors are NOT the people one looks to for advice on strategy or politics. I couldn't disagree more. Often the enlisted men have a much better idea of what is going on than senior officers who make a career of blowing smoke up each others asses.

No, enlisted have a better idea of what is going on around them, on the ground, than officers.  Haney is not on the ground and has no more idea what's happening in Iraq than you or I.

I’d say if anything Haney knows what he’s talking about, over and over again the government tells us how Terrorists Are All Around Us. The Solution They Say: turn over your firearms, your civil liberties and submit to a Highly Dictatorial Police State which most of us have already began to do. The only threat to the US is the corrupt globalist politicians in Washington DC

Quoted: I’d say if anything Haney knows what he’s talking about, over and over again the government tells us how Terrorists Are All Around Us. The Solution They Say: turn over your firearms, your civil liberties and submit to a Highly Dictatorial Police State which most of us have already began to do. The only threat to the US is the corrupt globalist politicians in Washington DC

I think you foil hat has cut off blood flow to your brain.

Quoted: From what I understand, Haney is not all that popular at Ft. Bragg.

true - I met the man. also, remember the DC sniper case and his grandstanding - "its a white guy"

I wonder what his agenda really is

How about the DNC, ACLU and the media

Quoted: The only current true threat to America exists right here within our borders. Haney clearly has an axe to grind it appears to me and obviously opposes Bush, but he raises some excellent points as well. IMO the intial invasion of Iraq was extremely well done and obviously well planned(they had over a decade to do so) but it fell apart after that.  Not enough men on the ground to crush the initial insurgency and instill confidence within the Iraqi people that we could maintain the peace. As for no one giving a shit about the Iraqis that is really not true. In that I believe conservatives give more of a shit than the socialists.  Socialists don't give a shit about the Iraqi people and, in fact, don't give a shit about anything much at all except themselves and how to twist and pervert this country to their whims. Torture: Guy is spot on about that. Those assholes at Abu Gahraib should have been put in front of a firing squad. Lower form of life exists almost nowhere and they did substantial damage to this nation and our cause in the ME. I wonder how many extra Americans are dead as a result.

I concur, well said.

That fucker wasn't in Delta Force. They'd never let his dumbass write a book about it if he had been. He's full of shit.

Quoted: Command Sergeant Majors are NOT the people one looks to for advice on strategy or politics.

+1

Let's think about this.  Where do you think all of the insurgents/terrorist are at?  Iraq and Afganistan.  It costs money to be a terrorist.  It costs money to get here to the US.  If the Jihadis want to kill Americans then they don't have to go farther than Iraq or Afganistan.

What are we supposed to do?  Negotiate with terrorist?  The Command SgtMaj seems to be slighted against our Commander and Chief.  Good thing he is retired.

The Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airman out there are doing good things.  I have been there and I see it.  

I do not agree with that man.  Terrorist need to know that if you come looking for a fight, you'll get one.

God Bless the USA.

Max

You should read his book before you pass judgement on a man that made it through "selection" into Delta and then performed well in the service of our country for many years.
Especially read the part near the end in which he kills a "former" SF acquaintance of his that may or may not have been in the employ of OUR governent when Haney was pursuing him.

Second, Haney isn't a "Green Beret". he was a member of SFOD-Delta, a quasi-special forces unit at best.

Third, he has earned the right to speak his mind about whatever pleases him---first because he spent a career defending OUR right to do so and second--because it is the inhernet right of ALL citizens of this country to speak out about whatever they feel like.

Just FYI, before any of you go off and accuse me of being a DU plant or a Bush hater--I voted for the guy twice and I still support him to an extent. But, it has become increasingly obvious that this "war" is becoming a quagmire that is killing people in larger numbers and doesn't seem to be getting anywhere in terms of setting up a stable government.

In the meantime, we have North Korea, Iran, etc that actually HAVE the known capability to cause harm and we sit because we have overextended forces in the region and at home--not to mention the continued downsizing in bases and personnel that is going on.

Haney has my respect--regardless of his views---and I doubt that he is "unpopular" at Bragg. My guess is he can't buy himself a beer in any bar on post.

pato

Quoted: You should read his book before you pass judgement on a man that made it through "selection" into Delta and then performed well in the service of our country for many years. Especially read the part near the end in which he kills a "former" SF acquaintance of his that may or may not have been in the employ of OUR governent when Haney was pursuing him. Second, Haney isn't a "Green Beret". he was a member of SFOD-Delta, a quasi-special forces unit at best.

So he tells us.

Its amazing to me how a vet like him can have it so completly wrong.  We are doing exactly what we need to be doing in Iraq and Afgan.  Build up a friendly gov and military and make them do more and more of the work with us by and large in support roles only.  Every month 5000 more Iraq soldiers graduate and hit the streets.  In another yr the country will be swamped with Iraq military doing the vast majority of the fighting and dying.  

It's screamingly obvious he's campaigning for the dumbocrats,

No enemies?? Give me a break, that's spitting in the face of 3000 dead American civilians.

Our biggest threat is from within.  

ETA: and Haney is a douchebag for doing this article : archives.cnn.com/2002/US/South/10/24/sniper.bushmaster.rifle/index.html

I thought his name sounded familiar...

Oh I see, one of the founding members of Delta Force, who is a real commando has it "so completely wrong" while you armchair commandos, the REAL heros of unit 87 have it completely right. You must know so much more about the politics of war than him, and seek to discredit the man.

Funny. Wasn't it just yesterday someone started a thread on the "chickenhawk paradox" in which liberals only like military people who support their cause?

Why does this seem AWFULLY FAMILIAR.

"Oh he's against our political view points? Well, then he is not really a hero, and his medals are bullshit. He is a liar, he never fought for us, he never risked his life, and he has a lowly rank and hasn't done anything I haven't. Pfft, start delta force, big deal, i made 87 posts in one day on ARFcom one time"

Quoted: Oh I see, one of the founding members of Delta Force, who has is a real commando has it "so completely wrong" while you armchair commandos, the REAL heros of unit 87 have it completely right. You must know so much more about the politics of war than him, and seek to discredit the man. Funny. Wasn't it just yesterday someone started a thread on the "chickenhawk paradox" in which liberals only like military people who support their cause? Why does this seem AWFULLY FAMILIAR. "Oh he's against our political view points? Well, then he is not really a hero, and his medals are bullshit. He is a liar, he never fought for us, he never risked his life, and he has a lowly rank and hasn't done anything I haven't. Pfft, start delta force, big deal, i made 87 posts in one day on ARFcom one time"

Well, opinions are like assholes, everbody has one. He is entitled to his.

Now it sounds to me like he is an asshole. I read his shit about the Bushmaster rifle, seems to me like a EM version of that cocksucker Wesley Clark.

I love the military, and those who serve. BUT that doesn't mean that someone who is or was in isn't an asshole liberal leaning scumbag.

Plus, what exactly are your credentials?

GF,

The idiot said we have no enemies. Look again at the photo above. Why have you forgotten the reasons we went to war against these criminal clerics? Iraq is an excellent battleground to fight them. Never fear, we'll get to Iran and NK if idiots like this will let us.

He didn't say we don't have enemies, he says we don't have REAL enemies capable of fighting us on the same scale the third reich and friends did. Also, the link between 9/11 and Iraq is extremely frail at best... Some here will say the fact that the alleged hijackers came from muslim countries is enough for us to invade, . That's like bombing Germany and Poland because some frenchies attacked us. The color of one's skin and religious affiliation is not "slam dunk" evidence.

I don't claim to have any credentials at all.

I just find how the chickenhawk paradox which I learned yesterday from this website, is alive and well on both sides of the political spectrum. Everyone loves veterans until they don't support your cause... In which case, slander slander slander, libel libel libel!

I also looked the CNN article in which he is quoted, and is presented as evidence of his lack of character or something. Hmmm, he says the Bushmaster is a semi-auto clone of the military M-16, and is sufficient for shooting at the distances we've seen in the DC sniper shootings. Umm... is anything there untrue? I bought a M4gery specifically to fullfil my armchair commando fantasies, and just because Mr. Haney didn't spew out a ultra gun friendly script for CNN doesn't make him a enemy to the RKBA by ANY means.

At least I know I'm a armchair commando and know my place. Ya'll need to get off your high horses. You're arfcommers and you know more about guns than most people, so what. Sure everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but if you want to slam someone elses you better have better evidence and credentials.

The 's are sure coming out of the woodwork in this thread.

I shockingly must admit I agree to some extent with the Trolls.  The guy has sure served his country and has a right to speak his mind. Sure more legit than a bunch of asshole college students who weren't spanked enough screeching about how evil America is.

Let's not kid ourselves, the Bush Administration has been lackluster at best.  He will go down as a mediocre President, hopefully the events going down now will not harm us too badly long term but it ain't looking good.

Quoted: Oh I see, one of the founding members of Delta Force, who is a real commando has it "so completely wrong" while you armchair commandos, the REAL heros of unit 87 have it completely right. You must know so much more about the politics of war than him, and seek to discredit the man.

WAS a real commando.  Tell me something, how the fuck does his experience 26 years ago make him an expert on the current political situation?  Do the Joint Chiefs brief him monthly?  Does he go on tours of Ramadi?  Or is he, as he has so frequently on CNN, talking out his ass?
You know, being a brave man has never been a guarantor of intelligence or wisdom.

Quoted: Quoted: Oh I see, one of the founding members of Delta Force, who is a real commando has it "so completely wrong" while you armchair commandos, the REAL heros of unit 87 have it completely right. You must know so much more about the politics of war than him, and seek to discredit the man. WAS a real commando.  Tell me something, how the fuck does his experience 26 years ago make him an expert on the current political situation?  Do the Joint Chiefs brief him monthly?  Does he go on tours of Ramadi?  Or is he, as he has so frequently on CNN, talking out his ass? You know, being a brave man has never been a guarantor of intelligence or wisdom.

Neither is being an armchair commando. What did he say on CNN that makes him an ass? I was only given the link to the bushmaster article, in which he was blunt, to the point, and correct. Yes the bushmaster is a armchair commando's dream and easy to use. Just because he didn't sugar coat it the way the NRA and you would have liked doesn't mean he was talking out of his ass.

You don't need to be one of the lucky (very lucky) few behind closed doors to see that the link to hit Iraq was weak sauce. I'm sorry if his opinion offends you Bush apologists, but that doesn't give anyone the right to slander/libel him. It's funny to watch arfcom ninjas try though. Supporting the party line 100% is uber-tactical!

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Oh I see, one of the founding members of Delta Force, who is a real commando has it "so completely wrong" while you armchair commandos, the REAL heros of unit 87 have it completely right. You must know so much more about the politics of war than him, and seek to discredit the man. WAS a real commando.  Tell me something, how the fuck does his experience 26 years ago make him an expert on the current political situation?  Do the Joint Chiefs brief him monthly?  Does he go on tours of Ramadi?  Or is he, as he has so frequently on CNN, talking out his ass? You know, being a brave man has never been a guarantor of intelligence or wisdom. Neither is being an armchair commando.

So, is Cincinnatus an armchair commando?  He was over there, and he seems to have a different opinion than Haney.  How about my best friend, who was over in Ramadi for a year, patrolling the streets with his platoon?  Is he an armchair commando?  He would strongly disagree with Haney's opinions.  How about Tommy Franks?  The man served in Vietnam, and not only did he support the war, he declared himself in support of President Bush's reelection.

What did he say on CNN that makes him an ass?

Apparently you weren't watching during the Beltway Sniper debacle.
"It's two white guys."

Technology and the entertainment industry are the threat to the US.

tag

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Oh I see, one of the founding members of Delta Force, who is a real commando has it "so completely wrong" while you armchair commandos, the REAL heros of unit 87 have it completely right. You must know so much more about the politics of war than him, and seek to discredit the man. WAS a real commando.  Tell me something, how the fuck does his experience 26 years ago make him an expert on the current political situation?  Do the Joint Chiefs brief him monthly?  Does he go on tours of Ramadi?  Or is he, as he has so frequently on CNN, talking out his ass? You know, being a brave man has never been a guarantor of intelligence or wisdom. Neither is being an armchair commando. So, is Cincinnatus an armchair commando?  He was over there, and he seems to have a different opinion than Haney.  How about my best friend, who was over in Ramadi for a year, patrolling the streets with his platoon?  Is he an armchair commando?  He would strongly disagree with Haney's opinions.  How about Tommy Franks?  The man served in Vietnam, and not only did he support the war, he declared himself in support of President Bush's reelection. What did he say on CNN that makes him an ass? Apparently you weren't watching during the Beltway Sniper debacle. "It's two white guys."

Chickenhawk paradox. People in the military are respected and valued for their opinion until it's different from yours. Then they are "asses" and nobody likes them. . I have friends in the military, who have strong political opinions opposed to mine. That doesn't mean I don't support them, buy them beers, sing along to Toby Keith with them (I think the "boot in your ass" line is great), and wipe vomit off their clothing outside of bars before throwing them into my car and sending them home. It's just funny, how much shit people can spew off on the internet, denouncing a hero, thinking that they are free to do so and without shame just because they are semi-anonymous.

And why is his take on the DC sniper case such a big issue? Serial killers have almost always been white in our country, so he took a educated guess and guessed wrong. What's the big deal with that? Is it because he singled out white people, OMG, not only is he a "chicken" because of his opinion of the current political administration, but also because he is a reverse racist against white people! Of course, if he backed Bush 100% and said that the DC snipers were black/hispanic/french then he'd be a huge Hero at ARFcom!

Someone should send him a invitation... Sell out your beliefs and become a celebrated hero at ARFcom!

I had heard he had been pandering to the left for a possible political run, this just confirms it.  What a loser.

Quoted: Chickenhawk paradox. People in the military are respected and valued for their opinion until it's different from yours. Then they are "asses" and nobody likes them.

That paradox only exists in your imagination.  There are asses that no one likes on both sides of the political argument.  It in no way affects whether their beliefs are accurate.  I never said Haney wasn't a real commando or that his service didn't count.  I said that his service doesn't make him an expert on the current political situation and that by pretending it does and making pretty outrageous statements, he's shitting all over his reputation.

And why is his take on the DC sniper case such a big issue?

Because it's just another example of him talking out his ass about things of which he has no knowledge or familiarity.  Being a founding member of Delta Force doesn't make him an expert on spree killers.

Quoted: People in the military are respected and valued for their opinion until it's different from yours.

No, I just value the opinions of the guys that have been in the current fight over the opinions of retired guys that have no idea what's happening on the ground over there (maybe if our media would show the whole story over there some people would have a different opinion - both for and against).

Quoted: That fucker wasn't in Delta Force. They'd never let his dumbass write a book about it if he had been. He's full of shit.

I hope you are kidding