AHC/PC/WI: Swap Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf's later careers...

[Osakadave]

Powell and Schwarzkopf were roughly at similar spots in 1986 - both were Lt. Generals commanding V Corps and I Corps respectively. So, with a POD no earlier than that, and preferably at least mid-1987 or later...

1) Is it plausable to have Powell go on to be the commander of CentCom and be in charge of a large operation against either Iraq or Iran while Schwarzkopf becomes Chair of the Joint Cheifs?

2) What's the best/most plausable/most interesting way to the above?

3) What happens?

 

[Carl Schwamberger]

No. Schwartzkopf was at the end of his career. Cent Com being his twilight post. Powell, who was far more politically astute was on the short list for the inner circle. Some folks say it was a fluke Stormin Norman made it to Cent Com. I don't know enough about Army politics to judge that.

To get Schwartzkof upwards he needs to acquire a instinct for politics far earlier, as a field grade officer at the latest. Like most military officers he was a great operator & like most generals he was a skilled planner and able to wring the maximum from his staff, but like most people he lacked that rare talent for seeing the long view and grasping the deeper political skills.