Another general joins ranks opposing Rumsfeld (number 6)

CNN ^ | April 13 2006

[jmc1969]

The commander who led the elite 82nd Airborne Division during its mission in Iraq has joined the chorus of retired generals calling on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to leave the Pentagon.

"I really believe that we need a new secretary of defense because Secretary Rumsfeld carries way too much baggage with him," retired Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack told CNN's Barbara Starr on Thursday.

He also suggested other changes among the top brass at the Pentagon.

"I think we need senior military leaders who understand the principles of war and apply them ruthlessly, and when the time comes, they need to call it like it is,".

"Specifically, I feel he has micromanaged the generals who are leading our forces there," Swannack said in the telephone interview.

[ex-snook]

"Can any one here imagine the outcry if Bush and Rumsfeld that sent that many off to die.

There was no outcry in WW II about all the deaths. The draft was accepted.

The nation was committed, the cause believed and the hurt shared. An outcry today would be contained in the absence of these.

[NAVY84]

"He promoted a Marine to head the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

God Bless Rummy "When you Absolutely, Positively need something BROKEN get a Marine!"

[TomasUSMC]

WW II there were enough troops to completely conquer, occupy and control [thank you draftees].

---

Not on Dec 7 1941 there weren't. We had to MOBILIZE the country ..... and once we Mobilized we had all the manpower we wanted.

Maj. Gen. 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.

Rummy has his good points, but the buck stops only at one place.

[mcshot]

Definitely an "organization" with Oomph. Otherwise they would have been told where to go and not pleasantly. It will be interesting to see if someone(brass) comes forward to talk about a contact and from whence it came.

[FreeReign]

Going to Iraq with far too few troops, for one. And his stupid idea that we don't need a large force anymore.

General Franks has said he had enough troops going in and that he was in on the decision.

[USMA '71]

MIchaelTArchangel

Swannack was a classmate of mine at West Point as was Jack Reed - Senator from Rhode Island. I just have a sneaking suspicion that "Chuck" may be looking to join Reed as a Senator as his next career.

I always thought that dis-allegiance to the commander was something that should be discussed behind closed doors if necessary. I guess all that military training goes right out the door when retirement happens.

Very disturbing how Reed and possibly Swannack could consider going over to the dark side.

[usmcobra]

I blame the democrats for totally undermining any attempts at victory sometimes even before we have started to fight.

[OkiMusashi]

Thanks. I'm serious about the Guest Press Secretary thing, though. I'm thinkin':... Prime Time .... Pay Per View... sell commercial time ... Advertize it as something special, like, you know, .. "for the good of the country".

The Government could rake in a fortune. :)

[Sam Cree]

One thing about Rummy, he looks like Richard Widmark. That is a big plus for him.

[NAVY84]

NOPE!

[NAVY84]

I hope you are wrong. We need Rumsfeld. These guys are being run by someone, and that traitor needs to be smoked out.

[NordP]

It would be a spectacular idea!

[NAVY84]

Hold that thought Cindy (just kidding). We will get there incrementally. Not enough American blood has been spilled for us to get 'Medieval' on them yet. Look how tough it is just to get our borders cleaned up.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Why is that "unprecedented"?

retired generals bashed the Commander In Chief as well, should he resign, too? Is that your thoughts?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Invaded?

Is that what we did?

Haven't seen too many Republicans who understand whats going on using that term around here...

[TADSLOS]

The operative prefix here is EX, as in EX Generals...

[NAVY84]

Sorry. Civilians have run all of our wars. I like it that way, so did those old guys that wrote that thing called the Constitution!

[jmc1969]

Politician Generals like Clark of course are one thing.

Even you sometimes have older generals from the previous wars is one then. But, generals from the war they fought in speaking out while the war is still being fought is something quite new.

And, no I am not saying Rummy should resign.

[GreenCell]

This is a no-balls General who should never have been promoted. Let me get this straight...he complains now? I have absolutely no respect for him. He was an executor...not a decision maker...Personally, everything I've read that slams the Secretary of Defense is from people/generals who didn't know what they were there for in the first place. Talk to the Sec Of Def in an intelligent and plausible manner and he'll give you an audience...if not, pack your pags and wait for the "black helicopter" to exfil your arse out of the AO.
If you believe his premise...who was his boss when he was there? figure it out!

[BobS]

Rummy likely forced these lard-ass generals to resign. He has been ordered to clean house by Bush.