Joint Chiefs Send Rare Protest Letter to 'Wash Post' Over 'Reprehensible' Toles Cartoon

Editor & Publisher ^ | February 1, 2006 | Joe Strupp, Dave Astor and Greg Mitchell

[RWR8189]

NEW YORK A Tom Toles editorial cartoon published in The Washington Post on Monday and on its Web site has drawn a very rare and very strong protest letter to the editors from all six members of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, E&P has learned.

The letter, not yet published by the Post, charges that the six military leaders "believe you and Mr. Toles have done a disservice to your readers and your paper's reputation by using such a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation, and as a result, have suffered traumatic and life-altering wounds. ... As the Joint Chiefs, it is rare that we all put our hand to one letter, but we cannot let this reprehensible cartoon go unanswered."

A Pentagon spokeswoman confirmed the contents of the letter to E&P late this afternoon. That the newspaper had received such a letter was first reported on the popular AmericaBlog site, which is run by John Aravosis, this afternoon.

Download a copy of the letter (PDF)

The spokeswoman said a letter from all six joint chiefs to anyone, let alone a newspaper, is rare, but the cartoon so offended them, they wanted to let their feelings be known. "It was expressing their disappointment with the paper and outrage at using that image to make a political point," said Lt. Col. Diane Battaglia. "That is a rare occurrence, but the level of inappropriateness prompted a response of unanimous support."

Battaglia said Post editors told her office that the letter would be published in Thursday's paper. Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt declined to comment on the letter. "My policy is I can't talk about letters until we publish them," he told E&P. "If and when a letter runs, I'd be happy to talk about it."

Reached by E&P, Tom Toles said, "no comment."

The Toles cartoon shows a soldier, a quadriplegic, in a hospital, being visited by a Dr. Rumsfeld who is scribbling on a form. Rumsfeld says, "I am listing your condition as battle hardened." At the bottom a smaller figure of the doctor adds, "I'm prescribing that you be stretched thin. We don't define that as torture."

The letter, signed by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Edmund P. Giambastini, Jr., the vice-chairman, and the four other military branch leaders -- and addressed to the Post's managing editor, Philip Bennett -- reveals that they were "extremely disappointed" in the Toles cartoon. "Using the likeness of a service member who has lost his arms and legs in war as the central theme of a cartoon is beyond tasteless," they wrote.

They observed that the paper is "obviously free to address any topic," even use exaggeration. But they added: "While you or some of your readers may not agree with the war or its conduct, we believe you owe the men and women and their families who so selflessly serve our country the decency to not make light of their tremendous physical sacrifices."

Aravosis from AmericaBlog told E&P: "Now that the Joint Chiefs have addressed the insidious threat cartoons pose to our troops, perhaps they can move on to less pressing issues like getting them their damn body armor."

 

[skr]

Of course they want us to leave. I'm surprised it wasn't 100%. I watched an ABC interview with several Iraqis of various opinions and occupations, including a Sunni higher-up, but even he didn't want the U.S. to walk out immediately. Only the university student wanted us gone that day, and she was the typical protester type. The rest was from within the year to several years.

[Albion Wilde]

If President Bush had a highly developed sense of honor, he would pull the White House press credentials of the WashCompost until an apology from the publisher, the editor and the vile cartoonist was published on the front page.

President Bush has a very highly developed sense of honor. He is one of the most forgiving public figures you are likely to meet. His likely strategy is to draw no further attention to the matter by ignoring it.

[AnAmericanMother]

. . . a cartoon trying to make that point should make a mockery of the brass . . .

. . . as long as we mentioned Bill Mauldin, he was the Past Master of making fun of the brass hats . . .

"Beautiful view. Is there one for the enlisted men?"

"Tell th' old man we'll be late on account of a thousand-mile detour."

"... I'll never splash mud on a dogface again (999) ... I'll never splash mud on a dogface again (1000) ... Now will ya help us push?"

This vile cartoonist Toles is lower than whale excrement in the bottom of the Marianas Trench. He's not fit to shovel Bill Mauldin's privy -- from the INside.

[spunkets]

" I'm shocked at the unanimity with which you all don't get this cartoon. The troops are being done wrong by their civilian leaders--as the cartoon suggests"

You're wrong Perlstein. The cartoon and your claim is false. It is in fact a lie to claim that the Rumsfeld and the DOD does not take care of those wounded in service to their country. Your shock is bogus. It's no more than a display of contempt for those engaged in actually ridding the world of tyrants and their cutthroat supporters.

"doesn't the idea of the JCS sending a letter, threatening in tone, to the Post before the piece even ran strike you as more like government intimidation?

No threat was made. The letter called them on the fundamental lie the cartoon represented. Intimidation? BS!

" You can argue that the government intimidation is appropriate, but I don't think you can argue that it is the same as mere "free speech." Indeed, under color of uniform, military speech is quite restricted."

Anyone in the military is entitled to cry BS! when they see it, and this is a clear unequivocal case of it.

"If the JCS can distract the public from trenchant criticism by claiming it's disrespectful to the troops--and remember, the cartoon is about RUMSFELD, not the soldier--doesn't that give them a free pass to cover their butts and deflect ANY criticism? "

It's not about Rumsfeld. The slur was an attack on the entire US military. You can't cover that up, because as the Joint Chiefs did, you'll be called on it. You'll be called on it from every decent human being with half a brain to care and note what is.

"Why is the drawing of the soldier offensive?"

It says that the US abandons their warriors. In particular, that the US military does so, and that's their policy. It is a flat out lie!

"...a dozen vets back from Iraq are running for Congress as Democrats. They would agree more with Toles than with you, I think."

Congress already has plenty of surrender monkeys. If recruiting new one's with a military background fit's their purpose, that's what they'll do. Same with Kerry and Sheehan's gay porn star sidekick.

"they are being done wrong by their civilian leaders in our common fight against terrorism. It is not being handled well."

Empty claims. Just repeat them and waive your hands. The only audience that believes them are the jihadi sympathizers.

"Who sympathizes with terrorists?"

Folks that spread lies about those putting them out of business.

"I find that the best source on progress in Iraq is here: http://www.brookings.edu/iraqindex "

It's a rotten source. They ignore the fact that Iraq's terrorist supporting dictator is gone, the terrorists have lost both a safe haven and base of operations.

" Number of newspapers down since March,

You mean the jihadi incitement sheets! Good.

"for example, crude oil production is about where it was in September of 2003 ...oil revenue about where it was in September of '04"

The Iraquis control oil output. The market determines and the Iraquis determine production. Also... "most frighteningly, on 39, the poll by our allies at the British defense ministry indicating that 82 percent want the coalition to leave and 45 percent who think attacks against the coalition are approrpriate."

Did your pollster ask them what they think of nuking the US and Israel? Why does the experts at your leftist think tank fail to differentiate, between those that are happy they've been liberated and those that are not, amongst the 82%. I'll tell you why! They all expect the allies to leave. That would be done until we are asked to.

"Media portraits of discouraged Iraqi citizens and discouraged American citizens would seem appropriate, as much as we would all wish things were different. "

You mean media propaganda. Little pieces from here and there that portray a false image. If what you say is true, they would simply tell us to leave and we would. That's not the case though. Your intent is simply to paint a bad image of the folks mounting successful opposition to the jihadis.

"Did you miss the part where 82 percent want us to leave? Speaking of understanding democracy?"

Did you miss the part where they said after the job is done?

"I'm a professional historian"

You're a professional propagandist. Historian requires the use of truthful facts and presentation.

"I'm just not sure ousting the Baathists, only to have them replaced by Shi'ite Islamacists allied with Iran will be a strategic gain."

It's a coalition govm't. They are not allied with Iran. Focusing on any commonality means nothing. Jihadi operations and there support structures are being shut down. That's the reality of the situation. The phantoms of your fears contained in the propaganda are not.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

My husband is a Marine Reservist who came off of 21 months of active duty just yesterday. His has been a life of giving to the United States as a military child, an Academy grad, Marine Officer. And he's not finished yet; he'll most likely be activated again in the fall. His father and his grandfather have served as well...one to retirement and the other to death in Pearl Harbor.

The thought processes that run through liberal minds are at best, useless and idiotic. At worst, they are hurtful, callous and traitorously despicable. I have just about reached the ends of my patience and tolerance for this kum-ba-yah mindset, the left's disdain for our nation, and their lack of education and knowledge about world history and wars.

You know what...I'm finished posting to anyone here who's flown under the radar, and who sounds like mother moonbat Sheehan.

[VeniVidiVici]

I actually think Toles is one of the best in the business

Since I don't read the rags anymore I'll take your word for it.

But, to me, he looks like an Oliphant knock-off.

[Sybeck1]

Yours?

[wardaddy]

BTTT and thanks!

[wardaddy]

So are you Rick Perlstein of the Voice...or is that urban legend?

[Purrcival]

Ping to myself so I can come back to the thank you messages.

[Dan Lacey]

Here's a great one-

"... forever, Amen. Hit the dirt."

Remember, a lot of the soldiers represented in these WWII cartoons were drafted. It's remarkable how little 'class warfare' you hear about in today's armed services, but I imagine that's the result of an all volunteer army.
Mauldin, with the L before the D. I apologize for the mispelling.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Jamaica mon? ;)

[FastCoyote]

"Gotta say, I'm a liberal who sometimes posts at Free Republic, and I'm shocked at the unanimity with which you all don't get this cartoon. The troops are being done wrong by their civilian leaders--as the cartoon suggests--just like in Vietnam. If you're not holding those civilian leaders to account, how can you respect the troops?"

And as a former liberal who used to hang with the friends of Joan Baez and go to Blank Panther meetings, I gotta say if you haven't grown up yet and rejected the liberal talking points (treason du jour) you must be a bit slow of wit.

What all the burnt out hippies from Sheehan to Kerry to you want to do is rekindle the defeat of the Vietnam war with your cut and run yellow bellied whining. Been there, done that, not going to do it again. You glory in defeat, because only in defeat do you prosper politically. So you must drag down the president and the troops at every juncture, no cartoon or cynical barb too small, because you have a vested interest in failure. Pretty sad commentary on your ideology, no?

And you know, I've heard all the liberal and socialist bunk for 35 years now, I've even studied it in detail. All talk, no action, theory without substance. In Kerry's mold, you issue calls for diplomacy, or "better" policy, or a grander scheme, but you guys never actually want to get your fingers dirty by doing something useful in the real world (like going to war). In your view, the world is run by diplomats having champagne rather than through the blood and sweat of decisive action executed by men of honor.

Sure, let's cut from Iraq. The result will be a civil war, the butchering of 1,000,000 people, a return of the Middle East to the dark ages, the demise of Israel. You liberals are as stupid as bricks, ludicrous, ridiculous creatures of the past. Go worship Fidel or Stalin or Mao, or Jane Fonda like you used too and remind me just how utterly useless you are. (and remember, I was there during the protests of Vietnam and I know your crap by heart, you ain't fooling nobody no more).

[OrioleFan]

The Pentagon better publish the letter before the Wash Post does, because their editors have been to the same letter altering classes...

[OrioleFan]

The Pentagon better publish the letter before the Wash Post does, because their editors have been to the same letter altering classes as the New York Slimes editors.

[FastCoyote]

"Did you miss the part where 82 percent want us to leave? Speaking of understanding democracy?"

That is the type of crap polling statement that liberals love. I suspect 100% of our soldiers want to leave Iraq, as does President Bush. But sometimes adults have to do unpleasant things because it is right and necessary. If you asked Iraqis the poll question: "Do you want the Americans to leave immediately and plunge the country into civil war, risking another Baathist or Al Queda purge of a million people?" I suspect you know what their answer would be.

As far as the infrastucture goes, are you saying nothing at all good has come from the last two years of effort? That Iraqis are incapable of rebuilding their society? Are you saying that the infrastructure would be better off is Zarqawi came to power? Oh come now, such weak arguments.

Liberals have to lie and spin to make their arguments even marginally plausible.

[OKIEDOC]

The Washington Compost needs to be taken to the woodshed.

The liberals have lost sight of what real decency is supposed to be about.

Most who work for the Compost are secular believers.

It is therefore reasonable for anyone to conclude that the Compost and many of their readers have no real moral fiber in which they can receive guidance on what is or is not decent to other human beings.

[wardaddy]

I need to change that.....Nashville

[OKIEDOC]

Perlstein wrote:
just like in Vietnam.

REPLY:

Just like when we came home from overseas in the 60's and 70's there were jerks spitting and yelling the same cowardice crap.

Have the liberals forgotten that we live in a democracy.

I do not understand the hurried rush by liberals trying to paint the Dimrat party as sewer dwellers of the lowest kind.

Just my opinion from someone who has been the target of smug liberal compassion. (NOT)

[Moorings]

I'm shocked at the unanimity with which you all don't get this cartoon.

That simple statement shows the false feeling of superiority that liberals like you have for others who do not subscribe to you liberal views, that somehow they are not smart enough to understand things the way you do. Maybe if you take your nose out of the clouds, your brain may actually get some oxygen, and a dose of reality.

...in our common fight against terrorism.

Our common fight against terrorism?? You liberals and your media are aiding and abetting the enemy.

Liberals wouldn't know how to fight terrorism, even if the terrorists came and pooped down your collective liberal throats.

Remember the embassy bombings in Africa? What did your hero do about it? But then again it was mainly a bunch of Africans who got killed, and what do liberals care about that other than make fine speeches. What a bunch of hypocrites you are!!