Maj. Gen. Larry Tibbetts '56 Rebuts Prof. Ken Bode's Take on Iraq War

April 3, 2007

April 3, 2007, Greencastle, Ind. - "I am writing in reference to the March 23 column written by Professor Ken Bode," begins a column by Larry Tibbetts published in today's Indianapolis Star. A retired major general who served 34 years in the U.S. Air Force, the author is a 1956 graduate of DePauw University. "I'm the 'Tibbetts' he scolds. I was in the bottom third of my class at DePauw (alas, baseball, acting and women) and certainly not the intellectual equal of the eminent Professor Bode. However, portions of his essay are factually incorrect." (pictured at left: Maj. Gen. Tibbetts; below right: Ken Bode, Eugene S. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor of Journalism at DePauw)

The alumnus goes to "enumerate" several points, including Dr. Bode's citation of a claim by Paul Wolfowitz, former deputy secretary of defense, who told Congress the war would be "short." Tibbetts, the highest-ranking living military officer among DePauw alumni, responds, "It was. It took less time to topple Saddam than it took to count the votes in Florida in 2000. Less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the billing records of the Rose law firm. There were mistakes in planning for the post-war situation in Iraq. Rosy predictions by exiled Iraqis proved wrong. We didn't put enough boots on the ground in the early stages of the insurgency. War is not simple and a lot of stuff happens. If you aren't familiar with the 'fog of war,' read von Clausewitz. The real question is: Where to now? Just quit, Professor?"

The major general provides a point-by-point rebuttal to Bode's column, in which he wrote of the "indifference to those wounded and maimed who were warehoused in Building 18 at Walter Reed." Tibbetts asks, "When was your last visit to Walter Reed, Professor? Are you aware that it's been on the base closure list for three years? Do you know what civilian employees do when they're in a unit facing closure? They look for jobs elsewhere. Funding goes south. As for the dedication of the military doctors, nurses, and technicians at Walter Reed -- who are working 12- to 14-hour days, to take world-class care of those troops -- I won't dignify Bode's comment with a response."

The dialogue between Bode and Tibbetts began when the alumnus asked if a war protestor in Greencastle who shares Bode's last name is in fact the professor's wife. Yes, Bode wrote in the Star, adding, "you may consider it a deplorable omission, but there is nothing in my university contract that says my wife has to forfeit her rights to free speech."

"Naw, I don't consider that deplorable," Tibbetts responds. "My quarrel is with deplorable conduct. There is a housewife who shares my breakfast table also, Professor. Her outrage doesn't rattle my conscience. It goes to the ruthless murderers who slaughtered 3,000 innocent people on 9/11. Who slice off the heads of their prisoners and videotape the proceedings for Arab television. Who send their children wrapped with explosives into markets to blow up innocent people. Who dress their women like chattel and refuse to allow their little girls to go to school. Who hijack a peaceful religion and vow to kill all infidels, including university professors and retired generals."

Maj. Gen. Tibbetts served in numerous operational and staff positions in several Air Force commands, including three separate tours totaling 10 years in Air Force headquarters in the Pentagon. During 33 years on active duty, he accumulated 4,000 hours of flight time in jet fighters and trainer aircraft, including 210 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom in Southeast Asia. His final assignment was commander of the Air Force Military Training Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where he directed all Air Force enlisted basic training and the Officer Training School. He received an M.S. in public administration from George Washington University in 1968 and now lives in San Antonio, Texas.

In conclusion, Tibbetts writes, "I have a hunch there may be pervasive intellectual corruption going on at my alma mater. I'm searching for an individual there who counters Bode's left-wing ranting, be it a faculty member, student, secretary, cook, janitor, bus driver, whatever. I'll keep searching, and if I pass the Greencastle courthouse, I'll honk."

Read the complete column at College News.org. Access the March 23 op-ed by Ken Bode via this previous article.

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