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Subscribe to RSSOne of the most celebrated generals of the 20th century, Norman Schwarzkopf, is being lauded by presidents and military leaders as a true patriot. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, the blunt, bulldog-like commander of U.S.-led coalition forces in the first Persian Gulf War, died Thursday in Florida. He was 78.
Schwarzkopf died from complications of pneumonia after a long illness at his home in Tampa, where he lived in retirement.
Schwarzkopf, a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran who rose quickly through the Army's ranks during the 1970s and '80s, drew up the initial plans for the successful U.S.-led ejection of Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait, which Iraq invaded in 1990.
He then became famous for his pointed and inventive language during the almost-daily televised briefings he gave reporters as commander of Operation Desert Storm in 1991, invariably clad in desert camouflage, which he is credited with introducing.
Schwarzkopf described the key maneuver that led to the end of the ground war, a redeployment of forces into Iraq behind Iraqi lines, with a boxing metaphor: He called it a "left hook." And he memorably dismissed one report he disagreed with as "bovine scatology."
In his 1992 autobiography, "It Doesn't Take a Hero," Schwarzkopf related that he meant to send a message in those briefings.
"With those cameras grinding away, I knew I wasn't talking just to friendly audiences, but that Saddam and his bully boys were watching me on CNN in their headquarters," he wrote.
Schwarzkopf said he agreed with President George H.W. Bush's decision not to pursue Hussein all the way to Baghdad. At the February 1991 briefing during which he described the coalition's victorious operations, he made it clear that he could have done so, however, had he been given the order:
"If it had been our intention to take Iraq, if it had been our intention to destroy the country, if it had been our intention to overrun the country, we could have done it unopposed for all intents and purposes from this position at that time."
Consolidated News Pictures / Getty Images file
Click to view scenes from the life of the retired Army general.
Schwarzkopf emerged from the war with the nickname "Stormin' Norman" and a career in television, much of it as a military analyst for NBC News.
The decision to go to war to oust Hussein was the defining moment of Bush's presidency. In a statement from Houston, where he is being treated at Methodist Hospital for complications related to bronchitis, Bush called Schwarzkopf "one of the great military leaders of his generation."
"More than that, he was a good and decent man," Bush said.
In January 2003, Schwarzkopf said on NBC's TODAY that he thought Bush's son, the 43rd president, had made a "very compelling" case for removing Hussein from power.
But by December 2004, he was criticizing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for his handling of the second war, telling MSNBC that war policy was being controlled by civilians in the Defense Department who "showed a total lack of understanding of the culture that we were dealing with" in Iraq.
As a result, he said, "things have gone awry," especially in terms of adequate armored protection for troops on the ground.
Dec. 13, 2004: Norman Schwarzkopf tells MSNBC's Chris Matthews that civilians in the Defense Department were mishandling the war in Iraq.
Obama, Powell hail general
In a statement Thursday night, President Barack Obama called Schwarzkopf "an American original."
"From his decorated service in Vietnam to the historic liberation of Kuwait and his leadership of United States Central Command, General Schwarzkopf stood tall for the country and Army he loved."
Colin Powell, who was Schwarzkopf's boss as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Desert Storm, remembered him Thursday as "a great patriot and a great soldier."
"He was a good friend of mine, a close buddy," Powell said in a statement. "I will miss him."
Schwarzkopf, who had been based in Tampa for many years on the way to leading U.S. Central Command in 1988, was a prominent spokesman for campaigns to promote awareness of prostate cancer, with which he was diagnosed in 1993. He is survived by his wife, Brenda, and their three adult children.
Andrea Mitchell and Courtney Kube of NBC News contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
RIP, General.
How did he die on Friday,when it is still Thursday,even in Florida,where he died???
A true American Hero. Rest In Peace Sir
It truly doesn't take a hero....as Gen. Schwarzkoft knew....RIP General....along with my friend Capt. Tom Bratton...pg. 169, 170.
A great general, a great leader, and a great man.
R.I.P. General. Those you served with continue the watch. I met him on the decks of the USS Wisconsin during the Gulf War as a Second Class Gunners Mate. He told us that there was nothing like hearing those "volkswagons" fly over head from the 16" guns and he knew that the path ahead was clear. Great General and an example that the current military should be following.
Yea great example. How many sick with Gulf War Illness. How many vets denied justice from it? VA says about 250k but they dont count the non deployed, or deployed in support of combat operations launching weapons that do just as much damage as 16 inch gun. Doesn't stand up to Congress during the hearings about it stays away from it like the rest of good government while saying how sucessful he was. Example of leader is they care about their troops and what happens to them not discard them to the side while justice is denied.
There is no one that I have greater respect for than Norman Schwarzkopf. Rest in Peace my friend. You are truly an American Hero.
As a former Jar Head, Storm-in Norman, was like Chesty Puller, Patton, balls of steel, kind of man you want to follow, I was taken back by his death, Wonderful General.. Thank you General for you service.
R.I.P true American hero. Unfortunately, my memory of the general is tainted by the fact that during the first Gulf war Rush Limbaugh continuously compared himself (favorably) to General Schwarzcopf.
Stormin Norman a great, brave, and true american in my book. He would have made a great president. His convictions, integrity and courage will always be remembered. Rest in peace....Till we meet again sir!
He would have made a great president and a great example for all Americans...honesty, trustworthy, he had integrity and followed his convictions. DC could learn from his example. The lying, the coverups, the secrecy, the racism is unacceptable behavior for elected officials.
It seems that cancer took what Viet Nam and other places could not,
He was a true PATRIOT and will be remember by many who served with and for him and for those of us past military time when Desert Storm came.
He left some very big shoes to fill!!!
God, please take good care of his family!
It really doesn't take a hero ... Rest in Peace Gen. Schwarzkopf ... along with my friend Capt. Tom Bratton ... pg. 169, 170.
a great american has left the field of engagement..god bless this man!
I had the honor and privilege to hear General Schwarzkopf speak on a couple of occasions. Here was a man. A true American hero. He was someone who loved this country and obviously loved the people under his command. I was never in the Service, but I would have marched to hell with this man. It pains me greatly to hear of his passing. We lost a great military leader!
A great American!! He served his country long and extremely well. A greatful nation salutes him and offers condolences to his family!
Attention on Deck....Stormin' Norman has left the Bldg....Present
Arms....Hand Salute .....you will be greatly missed General....
Rest in Peace.
What a great man - several years after the war he wrote a book (sorry, I don't remember the title right now) that was just pure inspiration even to a female like me who never worried about serving in the military. He has received faint praise in the years since the war but I suppose a man like him wouldn't want it or need it anyway.
To the posters here - I think this is the first blog I have ever read that didn't have something nasty to say about a famous person who is ill or has died. Way to go in showing your respect for a great general and man, keep it up.
RIP Stormin' Norman - you "just faded away" but you will be remembered always. Thank you for your service.
RIP General! I missed by 1yr.layed up in va hosp and wouldnt take me back.Appologize to all sincerly.The general proved that it isnt the 4.0 that get it done but the 3.4 and above.I will also miss him if by afar.
If not for the war in Iraq, he could probably be remember as a great General.
But it wasn't "mission accomplished" in Iraq and we didn't win. All that was left behind was death, destruction, and no oil (the main reason we attacked Iraq).
But He did manage a win (sorta) in the gulf war. But he was just fighting brown people with weapons equivalent to muskets. That's not impressive.
Larry, you did not serve or at least this posting of yours indicates so.
T-72s, RPGs and so forth are not simply muskets in any way Larry. Yes, the Coalition's tech was higher than the Iraqis', but one can still be killed by a musket, if you do not do the job right, let alone by a T-72 or an RPG.
Larry, the military did the job we were allowed to do in '91. Could we have done more? Yes, but we were and are not in control of this nation or its path. The civilians are. The military simply serves the People as set forth by the government established through the Constitution.
Larry, your comments here are the signs of a small minded man. The General was a great man for himself. His accomplishments, while in service of this country, simply magnify his greatness.
Larry..Did you serve? Didn't think so....What have you ever done for the United States? Your comment "he was just fighting brown people with weapons equivalent to muskets" is the most ignorant comment I have read so far. You obviously have no clue about the disposition of the Iraqi Army at that time, and to even call Iraqi soldiers brown people shows just how stupid you are.
...... and neither are you!
RIP NS.....
General Schwarzkoff--a great general just when we needed 'im. Kickin' ass and takin' names. THANKS, GENERAL!
A pig in hog's clothing . What was tougher, General S, liberating Grenada, or Kuwait?
A pig in hog's clothing. Look in the mirror, tool. You aren't even worthy of posting on this story.
OK. A hog in pig's clothing. What was the tougher war, General S: Grenada or the liberation of our pals in Kuwait? Tough opponents, both, we all realize. ROFL
Ernie, liberating Kuwait was done so "easily" because the General was good at his job, and willing to listen and pay attention to other people that were good at theirs so that his job was easier still. This made for a team that could not be beaten.
Not sure Ernie what your problem is, but you evidently did not serve or were dishonorably discharged. Badmouthing a man that had the skills to make a job worth doing look easy is the sign of not only a small mind, but of a small man also.
I live in Clearwater Fla ,My dad lived near the general in safety harbor Fla. I talk to him just two time's. I believe one person I will remember forever.
I had the priviledge of meeting him, when I was in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Storm. He was gracious always willing to talk to the troops and was genuine about his concern for their welfare. He made the statement "if I have to bomb and shell them for another six months, to save one of my men, I will do it. I will not be bullied into doing something just because a politician says I should, I saw that happen during Vietnam". At that moment, if we had held a election, he would have become President!
He was a great man, a good and decent person, and a exceptional combat commander. They don't make them like that anymore.