Posted on 04/12/2006 4:18:07 PM PDT by ejdrapes
WASHINGTON - A recently retired two-star general who just a year ago commanded a U.S. Army division in Iraq on Wednesday joined a small but growing list of former senior officers to call on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign. "I believe we need a fresh start in the Pentagon. We need a leader who understands teamwork, a leader who knows how to build teams, a leader that does it without intimidation," Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the Germany-based 1st Infantry Division in Iraq, said in an interview on CNN. In recent weeks, retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton and Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni all spoke out against Rumsfeld. This comes as opinion polls show eroding public support for the 3-year-old war in which about 2,360 U.S. troops have died. "You know, it speaks volumes that guys like me are speaking out from retirement about the leadership climate in the Department of Defense," Batiste said. "But when decisions are made without taking into account sound military recommendations, sound military decision making, sound planning, then we're bound to make mistakes." Batiste, a West Point graduate who also served during the previous Gulf War, retired from the Army on November 1, 2005. While in Iraq, his division, nicknamed the Big Red One, was based in Tikrit, and it wrapped up a yearlong deployment in May 2005. Critics have accused Rumsfeld of bullying senior military officers and disregarding their views. They often cite how Rumsfeld dismissed then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki's opinion a month before the 2003 invasion that occupying Iraq could require "several hundred thousand troops," not the smaller force Rumsfeld would send. Many experts believe that the chaos that ensued and the insurgency that emerged just months later vindicated Shinseki's view. Batiste told CNN "we've got the best military in the world, hands down, period." He did not say whether he felt the war was winnable. 'LACK OF SACRIFICE' "Whether we agree or not with the war in Iraq, we are where we are, and we must succeed in this endeavor. Failure is frankly not an option," Batiste said. Batiste said he was struck by the "lack of sacrifice and commitment on the part of the American people" to the war, with the exception of families with soldiers fighting in Iraq. "I think that our executive and legislative branches of government have a responsibility to mobilize this country for war. They frankly have not done so. We're mortgaging our future, our children, $8 to $9 billion a month," he said, referring to the cost of the war. He defined success in the war as "setting the Iraqi people up for self-reliance with their form of representative government that takes into account tribal, ethnic and religious differences that have always defined Iraqi society." "Iraqis, frankly, in my experience, do not understand democracy. Nor do they understand their responsibilities for a free society," Batiste said. Newbold, the military's top operations officer before the Iraq war, said in a Time magazine opinion piece on Sunday that he regretted having not more openly challenged U.S. leaders who took the United States into "an unnecessary war" in Iraq. Newbold encouraged officers still in the military to voice any doubts they have about the war. On Tuesday, Marine Corps Gen. Pete Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, defended Rumsfeld from the criticism. Rumsfeld said that "there's nothing wrong with people having opinions," and that criticism should be expected during a war as controversial as this one.Retired US Iraq general demands Rumsfeld resign
"lack of sacrifice and commitment on the part of the American people" to the war, with the exception of families with soldiers fighting in Iraq.
This is the most true statement that has been made about this war since its start. The politicians know it and so does the rest of the world. America is known as a nation of laws and rules and we are getting our behinds kicked because of those in this country that sell out for the almighty dollar and the average American has about as much get staying power and patience as a 110 year old. I am truly ashamed of the liberals in this country and of any politician who turns their back on our troops.
...or protest the Moussaoui death penalty...
You are HALF right General. CONGRESS has DONE NOTHING to mobilize this nation as a matter of fact they have done just the OPPOSITE!!!
This President and his SOS & SecDef have done an awful lot to get this nation behind the effort and IT WORKED for a few years UNTIL the constant drumb beat of negativism by the MSM and Dims in Congress finally took root.
Should the POTUS have told us to NOT live our lives as normal? To hunker down, burn a few mosques, stock up on ammo, food and cipro? What could the Executive Branch have done without just SOME backing from the MSM and the "LOYAL" [my as.] opposition........that would have made a difference?
i doubt the general has the breadth or depth in general management, knowledge, assessment and political savy that Rumsfeld has.nor does he have access to the toolboxes of knowledge, resources etcetc. they are of two different leagues. i doubt that america has a finer man to fill the post.
the general, too, has his skills and knowledge base. let him and the one trick ponies have their opinions
It didn't work for Weasel Clark either.
Seems to me that too many generals are willing to say anything to earn their "news analyst" pay.
OB
"standing by them", as you say.....at least provides for our presence in the Gulf region, which is necessary for the Counteroffensive th Jihad (WOT). Since 2003 we have somewhat rejuvinated our previously pathetic HUMINT, not only in Iraq but in the whole area.....we have also established a widespread "beaxhead" in the gulf region which is likely to become more of an asset for our national security that most dare to imagine.
I don't give a ratzazz about the iraqi's, because they are turning out to be equal in every way to the S Vietnamese/ARVN's. And like with Vn, the American left is endeavoring to serve them up the reward thet served upom the S Vietnamese. Hopefully the left will fail this time, but the pathetic performance thus far from the Iraqi's is deja vu to me. But whatever they do, we are in position now to better deal with the wider problems that exist for the US in the region. The Iraqi's can be or choose their own master....I really don't care.....
There are some in the Pentagon who don't accept civilian control over the military. They are so used to having civilian bosses who are just figureheads and go along to get along. Rumsfeld is on his second tour of being SecDef and is both the youngest and oldest in history. He knows how the building works and is not snowed or cowered by the bureaucratic politics. I hope Bush keeps Rumsfeld on through his administration.
Two star generals who are given a division usually aren't candy asses and usually on their way to three or four stars. Do you base you comment on personal knowledge?
If he missed getting his third star, it'a probably because he locked horns with Rummy or others over the war.
He's right about the country not being mobilized to fight the WOT, btw.
What you said...
BS. There have been plenty of Two star and higher candyas$es throughout our Mil -
Do you base you comment on personal knowledge?
Yes.
If he missed getting his third star, it'a probably because he locked horns with Rummy or others over the war.
Neither here nor there - The matter is the guy is flat out wrong on how to fight the WOT and he doesn't like be told so by others....and when he is he reverts to calling it "intimidation". We don't have the time to pacify such concerns today.
He's right about the country not being mobilized to fight the WOT, btw.
No he's not. Our military continues to fight the most successful unconventional war in the history of man. And here in the States for the most part the citizens of this Country are doing exactly what they should be doing....being Americans every single day and rolling along.
Do I wish the public was a little more informed. Of course (but that is always the case). Do I wish the public understood the negative level that those weak-kneed types at State and Pentagon are having on our efforts. Of course.
But on the whole we are just fine.
Well, what's the personal knowledge you have that would tell us that he is a candy ass?
The country being informed is one thing. Involved is quite another. If the WOT is worth fighting (and it certainly is), a universal service law could have been passed before the end of Sept 01. Of course it wasn't, and the opportunity to do so passed quickly. If it were proposed now, we'd be at war with ourselves.
BTW, from what I'm hearing from a number of my sources, this general going off the reservation will not be the last.
ooofa.
:-)
A completely silly and ineffective idea that is the last thing we would have wanted to do - Our military does not need those that don't want to voluntarily put their as$ on the line. Nor is there the dire need for more soldiers (at a quicker pace) then what we are growing now as.
BTW, from what I'm hearing from a number of my sources, this general going off the reservation will not be the last.
Again, that is neither here nor there to me. Who gives a bleeping bleep what a few ex-Gen's say. There are plenty in the old dinosaur Big Green that needed to be put out to pasture (and have been or in the process of being put there). If their last spineless act is to criticize our current efforts. It reflects on them, not our warriors and not our leadership.
Good Grief, there are probably about 3,000 retired flag officers in this country. A dozen are screaming for Rumsfeld's hide. Big deal. It's comforting to me to know that of the other 2,988 Generals and Admirals they either agree with the Secretary of Defense or have the class to remain quiet, knowing that animosity towards this level of the chain of command simply causes more troop casualties and higher costs overall. |
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