Top US Generals Outraged, Blast the Washington Post

The Post Chronicle ^ | 2/2/06 | Jim Kouri

[RepublicNewbie]

In an unprecedented move, the nation's top military officers blasted the editors of the Washington Post and editorial cartoonist Tom Toles for an editorial cartoon published in the newspaper on Monday and on its website.

The letter to the Post editors 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."

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."

According to Editor & Publisher, a spokeswoman from the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 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. Continue reading this article below

"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...

[YOUGOTIT]

The Washington Post is a anti-American piece of scum who lie cheat and steal to help the terrorist. They should be in jail along with their terrorist friends or I only hope that they will taken captive by the terrorist. And we can see them beg on TV. That is why I would not provide water to any of the main stream media if one was on fire.

[mcshot]

The liberal POS's never fail to distress me. They need to take their disgust of America and quest for power and leadership somewhere else and I think we should provide free transportation.

mc

[cbkaty]

[bentover]

It just gos to show, the printed word isn,t worth the paper it's printed on.

[Miss Marple]

I do not think this is a political stand. It is a stand for common decency.

[RedEyeJack]

I agree that the cartoon is a disgrace. It must be noted, however, that esprit, that quality that separates warriors remains very high... There are amputees who have been through rehabilitation, been returned to active duty and have gone back into combat... Same as in earlier generations (CSA Generals Richard Ewell and John Bell Hood jump readily to mind). In that respect there are some who really are "battle hardened" in the way that this cartoonist and paper are trying so cynically to exploit.

[Preachin']

"I do not think this is a political stand. It is a stand for common decency."

I agree with that, but am sure that some will say it was politics.

Their actions do more for morale than people can really know.

[Tannerone]

It is not called the WAHINGTON "COMPOST" for nothing. It is hard to choose between the best butt wipers in the city, free at that! aka The NYT.

TOLES needs to be dropped into North Korea without a parachute and hope that little twit is stupid enough to keep him if he lives.

[Toby06]

This does nothing to support any political party, it does support those who serve under them. That is their job to make sure their men are protected, even from stupid classless cartoons. That is not to say I want them to write a letter to the editor over every Ted Rall screed or silly cartoon, however.

[vietvet67]

I think the cartoonist should take his work down to some of the local veterans clubs, have a few beers with the troops to obtain opinions and then an extended stay at home to heal up.

[JohnLongIsland]

and the RATS will wonder why in the upcoming midterm elections they lost a couple of more senate and house seats.

[HawaiianGecko]

 

I get a kick out of the leftists that believe we can go to war and NOT be stretched. Just how does one flex any muscle without "stretching" it?

[Wasanother]

Boycott all advertisers in the WP.

[gathersnomoss]

"disservice to your readers and your paper's reputation "

What reputation? I wouldn't let my bird, if I had one, take a dump on this paper.

[gathersnomoss]

I disagree. The Compost should be called onto the carpet.

[monday]

"I happen to be quite surprised at this. It never crossed my mind that the Generals/Admiral would take a stand that would seem to be "political".

I am not surprised. If you understand the cartoon, it is a direct attack against them and Rumsfeld, not the troops as they are pretending. They aren't defending the injured troops, they are defending themselves.

I would take offense too if someone insulted me and the way I did my job. It's quite understandable if put in proper context.

[colonialhk]

Vets out there...how many of the JCS started as enlisted grunts et al

[SwatTeam]

Anyone who still pays a subscription to a newspaper is subsidizing this kind of crap. I stopped my subscription 3 years ago and started sending the money to FR. Have not regretted it for one minute. If more people just stop paying them money they will eventually dry up and blow away.

[Preachin']

"I would take offense too if someone insulted me and the way I did my job. It's quite understandable if put in proper context."

I'm pretty sure I have said that over and over again.

The point is that the media will not.

[Preachin']

"This does nothing to support any political party, it does support those who serve under them."

Now that you and I know that, how long do you think it'll be before the media gets it?

Psst... Don't hold your breath.