[F16Fighter]

"I am sure Abizaid's comments were 'approved' by Rumsfeld and above...the point is, as a military man, he should have known better than to step into a political fight, regardless of which side he favored."

My guess is Abizaid (as an Arab-American) was asked indirectly by the CiC to give his "opinion" on the matter of Arab/Muslim "bashing" (which are two different things.)

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.

[JRios1968]

Agreed. But, let's face it, it isn't like GWB has that many Arab fans nowadays...

[Rokke]

"but the WH was THAT desperate to put him in that awkward position,"

If you assume what Gen Abazaid said was unlawful...and if you assume the Whitehouse told him to say it...then the Whitehouse gave him an unlawful order which he is obligated not to follow. Fortunately, I think both your assumptions are wrong.