Posted on 04/13/2006 3:15:15 PM PDT by jmc1969
The White House gave a new vote of confidence to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday as yet another retired general demanded Rumsfeld resign.
"Yes, the president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very fine job during a challenging period in our nation's history," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.
A fifth retired general, Major Gen. John Riggs, added his voice to those opposing Rumsfeld. In an interview with National Public Radio, Riggs cited an atmosphere of "arrogance" among top civilian leaders at the Pentagon.
Rumsfeld "should step aside and let someone step in who can be more realistic," he said.
Of the Pentagon's civilian leadership, Riggs said: "They only need the military advice when it satisfies their agenda. I think that's a mistake, and that's why I think he should resign."
Retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni kept up the pressure for Rumsfeld's scalp by telling CNN Rumsfeld should be held accountable for a series of blunders, starting with "throwing away 10 years worth of planning, plans that had taken into account what we would face in an occupation of Iraq."
"I think he should (resign). This is not personal, believe me. We grew up in a culture where accountability, learning to accept responsibility, admitting your mistakes and learning from them was critical to us," Zinni said.
A recently retired two-star general, Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the Germany-based 1st Infantry Division in Iraq, called on Wednesday for Rumsfeld to resign.
(Excerpt) Read more at in.today.reuters.com ...
Peter Pace
I believe General Joulwan is teaching at West Point,not defending Saddam Insane.
”Iraqis, frankly, in my experience, do not understand democracy. Nor do they understand their responsibilities for a free society.”
--Retired Major General John Batiste, CNN, today
My later post is about the men whon become generals....heroes, heroic, whatever. They remind me of former presidents.
#27: I don't know if a general ever "retires."
The ego that is involved in being "general" probably precludes ever thinking in the box of "civilian who is(slight change, as I re-read and correct) to privvy to squat and therefore knows diddly."
The same applies to former presidents (Carter and Clinton come to mind.) who aren't privvy to current intel but "armchair" quarterback with the rest of us civilians.
All the "formers" can only, ad infinitum, say is "Well, when I was in charge......"
Not worth a whole lot.
To "demand" resignation is beyond arrogant. But, then, that's PART of what got those men to general and president in the first place: supreme self-confidence (REAL close to arrogance).
They may be 100% wrong, but they have earned the right once they're out to speak their mind. They have credibility that none of us have earned, since none of us are retired generals. They were in a better position than we to know if Rumsfeld bungled the Iraq occupation and reconstruction.
Just a thought.
That'll do it.
from what I've heard, the Pentagon procurement to consulting job gravy train has been derailed and the pot of gold at the end of the Flag officers rainbow has lost a little luster. Even before Clinton, there had developed quite the little ticket punching all the way to a double dipping retirement for the Golden Years of Pentagon and flag officers.
The new Sec Def has put the kibosh on that. Look at Paladin, and several other "systems" and "platforms" that have been cut or modified.
The one that will never die is the Osprey. But maybe some real curious FReeper in the DC area or within the 5-sided building in DC can inform us of the little soap opera that is being played out to anger so many flag officers....
Before the Osprey-philes start flaming me, I've personally spoke with several Marine aviators including two squadron commanders that just smile and shake their heads when asked about Osprey. Like the little accident last week that we haven't heard about. Doggone software problems, black box problems, flight avionics glitches....
Follow the money and usually you'll find the answer....
' Retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni kept up the pressure for Rumsfeld's scalp by telling CNN Rumsfeld should be held accountable for a series of blunders, starting with "throwing away 10 years worth of planning, plans that had taken into account what we would face in an occupation of Iraq."
'
Zinni !? Zinni of the " it`s DA Jooz fault" Zinni !?
" Zinni during his interview with "60 Minutes," in which he said it "was the worst-kept secret in Washington" that neoconservatives( NEO-CONS AKA DA JOOZ) had sold Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on a plan to democratize the Middle East. Those remarks drew criticisms from officials at both the National Jewish Democratic Council and the Republican Jewish Coalition...Zinni sounded a similar note in his "60 Minutes" interview, complaining that he was "called antisemitic" for writing an article in which he mentioned Bush's neoconservative advisers."
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?ref=eden200405271245
" ..Zinni is not comfortable just with criticism of how the war or post war effort was run. He needs to blame people, and he wants heads to fall. And he names names -- in particular the group he calls the “neocons”, naming five men: Doug Feith, Paul Wolfowitz, Lewis Libby, Richard Perle, and Ellot Abrams, as the key ideologues ..."
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=13549
ZINNI SAYS IT`S DA JOOZ, DA JOOZ !!!
Five retired generals...out of how many?
I hate to break it to some folks here, but the retired generals are almost certainly acting as mouthpieces for the active duty ones. An active duty general cannot speak out. A retired one can, but wouldn't take that step (I believe) unless they first talked to those on active duty.
And NO, that doesn't make these generals 'perfumed princes'. There are a lot of people, including myself, who don't think much of Rumsfeld. I can't speak to Iraq, but his policies in acquisition suck. He's been a good friend to the contractors, but the reality is the big defense contractors will screw the American taxpayer every chance they get.
Why would you even include "they may be 100% wrong" if they have any modicum of credibility? They've earned much respect for what they DID -- past tense.
They demean themselves when they don't preface ALL their comments with "I'm a civilian now, privvy to no intel and know, basically squat, but when I was in charge..."
Anything beyond that is pure speculation and should be treated as such. Every war is different, as THEY will tell you. The middle east is an complicated as any war has ever been. NOTHING simple about it.
I CRINGE when I listen to them. I say, "Please, just go away and shut up, sir." Wesley was PARTICULARLY embarrassing. It's like hearing Muhammad Ali or George Foreman talking about fighting again. PLEASE, just be quiet and go away. Write a friggin' book and spout away, but get off the air with your airs of past glory. They sound just like GAS BAGS. Clinton and Carter come to mind.....just write a book and close mouth. GeezLaWeez.
November 14, 2004
“We've got great Iraqis who are patriots, committed to a free and democratic Iraq.”
--Major General John Batiste, then-commander of the First Infantry Division,
”Iraqis, frankly, in my experience, do not understand democracy. Nor do they understand their responsibilities for a free society.”
--Retired Major General John Batiste, CNN, today
Sad to say that the later comment does not surprise me much.
Because neither you nor I know enough to prove or disprove their allegations. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
"I'm a civilian now, privvy to no intel and know, basically squat, but when I was in charge..."
They were in during the initial stages of the war. They'd be in a position to know if Rumsfeld screwed up.
They've earned the right to tell us their opinion - and they deserve more than "shut up." They know what they are talking about.
The second comment appears to be sadly true.
No, they are not mouthpieces for active duty. They are mouthpieces for the DNC.
The DNC had this battleplan leaked about 6 weeks ago. Their Clinton generals would be orchestrated to speak out incrementally all the way to October.
EVERYTHING happening this year is the MSM cooperating with a grand DNC strategy to take Congress. The one mistake they are making is they are fighting the battle with last decade's tools. The web forms opinion now, not the MSM.
They will not take Congress if YOU volunteer your time and money to GOP candidates in vulnerable districts.
I DID say "Please" and "sir" because I do have respect for them. But, demanding Rumsfield's resignation? I dunno.
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