Top US Generals Outraged, Blast the Washington Post

Sierra Times ^ | 2/2/2006 | Jim Kouri, CPP

[FerdieMurphy]

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.

"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."

The letter is 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 it's addressed to the Post's managing editor, Philip Bennett.

The generals said 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."

"This is where the news media has sunk to -- in their hatred for Bush and for the military, they publish a horrid cartoon and don't believe they crossed the line," said a former Marine intelligence officer and NYPD detective.

"Anyone who thinks they're getting the truth reading the Washington Post is sadly mistaken -- I expect to see cartoons like [the Toles cartoon] on terrorists' pamphlets!"

[Landry Fan]

My letter to the esteemed Washington Post will be in the mail first thing tomorrow morning.

Jerks!

[CHICAGOFARMER]

want to toast the post butts here it is. 250 just went out.

abramowitz@washpost.com
achenbachj@washpost.com
ahrensf@washpost.com
aizenmann@washpost.com
alexanderr@washpost.com
allenh@washpost.com
allenm@washpost.com
andersonn@washpost.com
aranam@washpost.com
argetsinger@washpost.com
armaoj@washpost.com
asherm@washpost.com
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chod@washpost.com
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ottawayb@washpost.com
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reevest@washpost.com
religion@washpost.com
robertgkaiser@yahoo.com
whitehouse@washpost.com,
wtnoguchi@washpost.com

[ShowMeMom]

Allen Combes just said pretty much the same thing on FNC. Here is the email I sent to him:

Just when we thought you could not possibly sink any lower into your left wing slime, you did. You are not worthy to even utter the words "wounded soldier." You are pathetic.

Feel free to take it personally.

[Casloy]

Sometimes I wish I read the Post, just so I could boycott it.

[petitfour]

Well, thank God that no one has to purchase the Washington Post. Or read it. It would be nice to see a few days where the WP is not mentioned on FR.

[TChad]

Here's a link to the offending cartoon.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_main.html?name=Toles&date=01292006

[Coop]

It would be nice to see a few days where the WP is not mentioned on FR.

It would be nicer to see FR get as upset about this disgraceful media conduct as it does about "important" things like Lincoln Chafee being a liberal twit.

[rlmorel]

I could not agree with you more, Coop. The principle of this is what makes it, to me, nearly insufferable.

[GOPJ]

Memo to the generals -- remember these 2 words: FIRST AMENDMENT

Would you say the same thing if the "cartoon" had make fun of blacks being lynched or gays dying of AIDS? Or if a cartoon had used the "N" word in a degrading way?

Yes, they have the right to print cartoon that are offensive and we have the right to object - and canceel our subscriptions.

[Landry Fan]

bump

[chambley1]

[Coop]

I could not agree with you more, Coop. The principle of this is what makes it, to me, nearly insufferable.

Unfortunately we're a minority around here.

[rlmorel]

Hmmm. Well, I guess.

[MurryMom]

Not only are they quite familiar with the First Amendment, they just exercised it. Bothers the heck out of you, doesn't it?

While I don't agree with the generals illegally entering into the political arena as part of their jobs, I will fight for their right to vote and otherwise exercise First Amendment rights after they retire from military service.

[Coop]

While I don't agree with the generals illegally entering into the political arena as part of their jobs,

They didn't, Coward. They were and are well within their rights as citizens of the United States and members of the military - an establishment you haven't a clue about.

[dakine]

Are they allowed to sign letters to editor with their ranks?

[Coop]

Are they allowed to sign letters to editor with their ranks?

What do you think?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

They do. It just burns you up that they exercised theirs doesn't it?

Let us review shall we?

-------------------------------------------------

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

------------------------------------------------

Somehow there is nothing in there about having to shut up when some cowardly twit insults you. In fact the right NOT to shut up is specifically included.

[dakine]

Different rules for Chiefs vs. Indians... Remember being told to through P.A. when any controversy was around...

[Coop]

Different rules for Chiefs vs. Indians..

So you're on MurryMom's side. Congratulations.