Can Rumsfeld withstand backtalk of former commanders? - Rumsfeld flunking, ex-generals charge

ap on San Diego Union Tribune ^ | 4/13/06 | Tom Raum - ap

[caisson71]

I'm sure those retired Generals have twice as many of their subordinates criticizing their performances.

[NormsRevenge]

Most if not all the generals included in this article, 4
Army, 2 Marines, look to have entered service in the mid to late 60s and early 70s.

Every one of them looks to have been involved with both Middle East operations in Kuwait from invasion and then Iraq.

In some of the comments I just saw after doing a little net searching, they appear to see Rumsfeld as not willing to listen to their advice, having an arrogant or discountive attitude towards their advice and or planning, some plans that one general said were 10 years or more in the works.

They forget that Rummy also served as a Navy pilot in the 50s in his early days and is well aware of what it takes to make a military work. Maybe it's just a branch rivalry or authority thing, ya never know.

In Rummy's defense , while serving under President Ford as the youngest Sec'y of Defense in our history, a period when the Mayaguez incident was handled quickly and efficiently.

Perhaps as you remarked, some of them became so accustomed to having their way during the clinton years that they lost sight of needing to respect superiors, no matter how stars they themselves wore. They now see Rummy as a civilian when he has been there so to speak form the other side as well.

Re; present days goings on,,Perhaps they think they could have done a better job, saved more lives if their advice was heeded, etc. Perhaps they are just old farts that need to just step aside as you say after failing to rise to the very top.

In saying now what they say, they are just making the job tougher for all who are still doing what they can to get the job done and working together to do so.

Perhaps, they should just do a MacArthur and just fade away.

Sadly that is not likely in the current media and political climate we live in today.

[NormsRevenge]

Considering you are new here and hopefully a new donor to FR as well., let me just say you are certainly entitled to your opinion as is the Bloviator re; a former Naval Aviator.

[NormsRevenge]

You have to also take into account that these generals are likely not thrilled with changes that have been and continue to be made in our military, changes that Rummy is committed to.

[Laverne]

I concur; the military transformation plan that Rummy is leading is making a lot of old generals and senior military angry.

[NormsRevenge]

correction to previous post #22.

should read

in Kuwait and then Iraq.

[fr_freak]

Retired Army Major Gen. John Riggs told National Public Radio that Rumsfeld fostered an “atmosphere of arrogance.”

Geez, this guy is crying because Rumsfeld fostered an "atmosphere of arrogance"? First, assigning arrogance to someone is a highly subjective act. Second, quite often accusations of arrogance are thrown at the achievers by the mediocre; it's the last resort of a loser. Last, if this sniveler is crying just because of his superior's "atmosphere", he should try spending some time as a regular troop, where one wrong look at a superior NCO is likely to get you rewarded with a size 12 boot up what's left of your chewed-up rear end.

Whiny, touchy-feely generals like this are the primary reason that the service has been so wussified by PC over the years.

[NormsRevenge]

Let me guess,, you drew the short straw, huh?

Gen. (in his own mind) O'Really got ya,, again. ;-)

[sarasmom]

"Military experts say the parade of recently retired military brass calling for Rumsfeld's resignation is troubling and threatens to undermine strong support Bush has enjoyed among the officer corps and troops."

Name the "military experts" who say so.
Nobody asked me.
Some people actually think I am a military expert.
(I do not consider myself one, BTW.)
Who did they ask?

What is their criteria in defining "a military expert"?

[Freee-dame]

Perhaps, they should just do a MacArthur and just fade away.

I will respect the opinion of a General who resigns in protest of a policy. When they stay until retirement and then go on CNN, they have no credibility with me. Fifteen minutes of famers.

[monkeywrench]

You've got all the rat talking points down.

[Imperialist]

Hang in there Mr. Rumsfeld, you're doing just fine, quite a few notches on that belt of yours!

[marron]

A wartime army is different from a peacetime army, and the kind of guy who rises to the top during peacetime isn't the same kind of guy who rises during war.

The Wesley Clarke political types will find themselves pushed out over time, because a warfighting army has no need of them, and they just get in the way. The ones who will stay, and thrive, are the ones who can quickly adjust to the particular challenges of the new war, and quicly fashion a force to meet them.

They say that an army always prepares to fight the last war, and that is probably true until the new war starts; then comes the pain of building the new force to meet the new enemy. Some guys have the right talents for the new war, and some guys have the right talents for the previous war, and need to go home and enjoy their well-earned retirement.

[Chode]

What's-a BEHIND me... she's-a NOT a-important...

[NormsRevenge]

In time, you'll catch the jist of what I offered. If ya last that long. lol

have one for me and Lent ;-)

[Pukin Dog]

No, its very simple. Every flag officer believes his poop smells like lime Jello. (only mine did) When you don't move up, because there is a new SecDef in town, you are bitter about it, because you spent your life getting there, making less money and moving all over the world, for the chance to be a leader of men someday. The problem is that during the Clinton era, their criteria for Generals was quiet obedience, instead of overwhelming competence and experience. Look at that crazy bitch Karpinsky (Abu Gharab) as an example of the kind of person that the Clinton crew thought was leadership material. They are just a group of losers who don't like that they are being outclassed by today's leadership. When the Iraq war is over, all these armchair Generals are going to look really bad, and not get paid to be on CNN displaying their brilliance.

[wizardoz]

Sounds like one of those deals where they'd blame him no matter what. If he'd put more troops in they'd have claimed that it looked too much like an occupation and that's why the resistance was so vigorous.