Posted on 04/13/2006 3:55:30 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
What makes you so sure we need a large force?
We aren't even using 15% of the Armed Forces in Iraq.
I don't have a clue? More inane bluster from you.
This latest development will be embedded in the mainstream of America by the weekend. When you consider the number of ex servicemen who were in the 1st ID and the 82nd AB, they will be listening. These are not REMF generals who are coming out - - they are combat generals.
A war has been going on in the Pentagon for some time. Now, senior officers and civilians will start to feel the pressure to openly support Rummy or not. Many will perceive it as a witch hunt.
In the end (probably withing weeks) Rummy will go.
Think it through, pal.
BINGO
Good summary.
I'd love to see the political voting and donation records of these 6 generals. I smell a RAT.
McClellan and McArthur pop to mind immediately.
Generals running for president are a different matter.
If we had those troops, the same people complaining about the shortage would be complaining about the American ooccupation and brutality.
ditto!
ditto!
Yes, why bash the SoD when you can bash the president.
Try something new - Those anti-Rumsfeld fools have been using this line since pre-election 2004 -
As I said, and those within the Mil know this very well (as does the WH) SecDef Rumsfeld has overwhelming support within the military (on the whole) especially among the warriors.
As for the the 82nd ...those guys are still mad they didn't get their guarantee of having bowling alleys waiting for them before they went in to Stan in late 2001 (which is why Rumsfeld gave them the boot and instead went with the Marines).
As I said, SecDef Rumsfeld has made a number of needed changes....and during this process has ruffled some feathers and hurt some feelings. Any true leader who is pushing hard is going to do such.
And again, that these grown men have to run to the MSM to air their concerns reflects on them.....and why we should all be glad they are "ex" this or that. Going the spineless route again speaks volumes.
I trust Rummy more than I turst Pentagone Brass. Weren't most of these guys Clintonista's?
And after UCMJ get's done with them, that is 50 less on pension.
I've been saying this since we reached Baghdad, and you'd think I was Cindy Sheehan by the level of crap I've taken on this forum for "not supporting the president".
We will not win until everybody that wants to fight us over there is dead, plain and simple. Until then President Pollyanna is merely sending our boys out into the streets to act as targets in a shooting gallery. Fallujah was the single exception.
Yes, and let's remember who filled the Secretary of Defense role in the ever-so-weasely Clinton administration: Les Aspin, Bill Perry, Bill Cohen. All were weak to disastrous from any rational standpoint, coddling enemies and retreating from tough decisions - leaving many many problems to be faced by the Bush administration. I have criticisms to make of Rumsfeld, I'm not an unqualified supporter, but he's definitely one of the best ever to hold that position, warts and all. Definitely consider that there's no one the Demagogues would ever nominate for that position who could be better, so let's take this MSM/DNC campaign against Rumsfeld with many grains of salt.
Recall the Brass-terd to active duty then court-martial them for violation of Article 88:
ART. 88. CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS
Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ucmj2.htm#888.%20ART.%2088.%20CONTEMPT%20TOWARD%20OFFICIALS
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.