Careful here... when you say "rules" you are implying (however subtly) that Abazaid has violated a "rule".
Look, you are one of the few people on FreeRepublic who demands a close adherence to fact over speculation. In my experience reading your posts, you are clearly someone who avoids throwing out bold statements that are not well supported by factual evidence. But on this thread alone, you have made the following statements regarding Abizaid's statements...
"It wasn't an accident. And it wasn't spontaneous.
It was ordered and cleared from the top."
"Are you assuming a CentCom chief -- Gen. John Abizaid -- is going to make such a controversial statement without clearance from his CiC?"
"We do know Abizaid's timely comments were not a coincidence, nor was he reprimanded because he was obviously given a green light."
"I concur with you that he should have known better than to step into this political fray -- especially as a military commander -- but the WH was THAT desperate to put him in that awkward position, which I deemed patheticly exploitive of Abizaid, AND the American people.
"I'm sure the CiC gave Abizaid the courtesy of first asking how he felt about giving his opinion in public.
The ploy worked to absolute imperfection.
Abizaid distorted reality, and the President used his commanding General at the expense of compromising on BOTH their respective integrity."
"As an Arab-American and CentCom General, Abizaid was perfect for what I saw as a voluntary "mission" straight from the top."
Could you explain what your factual evidence is to support your repeated insistence that Abizaid was doing Whitehouse directed PR work here. Or is this just speculation made despite your admitted lack of familiarity with the military? Did the Whitehouse also prompt the mainstream media reporters to ask Abizaid what his opinion was regarded the Dubai Port deal? If so, since when has the Whitehouse gained such control over the MSM? Also, you may be interested to note that Gen Pace made very similar comments today in Baltimore.
"Could you explain what your factual evidence is to support your repeated insistence that Abizaid was doing Whitehouse directed PR work here. Or is this just speculation made despite your admitted lack of familiarity with the military?"
"Evidence"??
Do you need "evidence" the sky is blue? Since when is adding 2 + 2 "speculation"?
And are your implying Abizaid comments and timing were NOT out of the ordinary? Puleeese. And it doesn't take a expert in military protocol to figure this was calculated BS PR at its worse.
" Did the Whitehouse also prompt the mainstream media reporters to ask Abizaid what his opinion was regarded the Dubai Port deal? If so, since when has the Whitehouse gained such control over the MSM? Also, you may be interested to note that Gen Pace made very similar comments today in Baltimore."
No "prompting" required. The fix was in -- Especially from Abizaid -- despite what you wish wasn't true.
A very public race-baiting comment by Abizaid amidst a rabid political fight Dubya swore he'd ram down our throats was indeed sanctioned by the CiC -- AND quite newsworthy in it's clumsy cheesiness.
Dubya simply miscalculated in his using the press, exploitation of Abizaid, and insulting the intelligence of the American people (most of which were conservatives.) MY OPINION.
Here's a question: Was the Port Deal a strategic military ploy, OR purely just globalist business as usual?
And YOUR opinion on the entire matter?