Yeah, right.
Posted on 04/14/2006 8:50:47 AM PDT by yoe
WASHINGTON (AP) - Retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste, one of several high-ranking military men urging the ouster of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, said Friday there is no coordinated effort to get him fired, calling a recent series of critical statements "absolutely coincidental."
"I have not talked to the other generals," Batiste, interviewed from Rochester, N.Y., said on NBC"s "Today" show. Nevertheless, he said he thinks the clamor for Rumsfeld to step down is "happening for a reason."
Batiste, who commanded the 1st Infantry Division forces in Iraq, said he declined an opportunity to get a promotion to the rank of lieutenant general and return to the wartorn country as the No. 2 U.S. military officer because he could not accept Rumsfeld's tough management style.
He said he does not believe Rumsfeld has been sufficiently accountable for the plan that led to the invasion of Iraq and the ouster of Saddam Hussein, although he also said that "we have no option but to succeed in Iraq."
"I support civilian control (of the military) completely," Batiste told interviewers on CBS's "The Early Show."
But, he added, "we went to war with a flawed plan that didn't account for the hard work to build the peace after we took down the regime. We also served under a secretary of defense who didn't understand leadership, who was abusive, who was arrogant, and who didn't build a strong team."
Asked why he was focusing his criticism on Rumsfeld and not President Bush, Batiste replied, "My focus is on the Department of Defense. It's what I know."
The White House insisted that Rumsfeld continues to have President Bush's confidence. New White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten settles into his job starting next week, but few expect any moves regarding Rumsfeld.
"The president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very fine job during a challenging period in our nation's history," Bush spokesman Scott McClellan said as two more retired generals called for the secretary's resignation Thursday, bringing the number this month to six.
"I have not talked to the other generals," Batiste told NBC Friday. "I think it is absolutely coincidental. ... I think it's healthy for democracy. I have nothing to gain in doing this. There is no political agenda at all."
Retired Army Major Gen. John Riggs told National Public Radio that Rumsfeld fostered an "atmosphere of arrogance." And retired Army Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack told CNN that Rumsfeld micromanaged the war. "We need a new secretary of defense," he said.
Military experts say the parade of recently retired military brass calling for Rumsfeld's resignation is troubling and threatens to undermine strong support that Bush has enjoyed among the officer corps and troops.
With public anti-war sentiment increasing, "the president and his team cannot afford to lose that support," said Kurt Campbell, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense.
Earlier calls for Rumsfeld's replacement came from retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold and retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton.
Rumsfeld has been a lightning rod for criticism since the war began in March 2003.
He was blamed for committing too few U.S. troops and for underestimating the strength of the insurgency. He took heat in 2004 over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at the U.S. Army-run Abu Ghraib prison, and for a brusque response he gave to an Army National Guard soldier in Kuwait who questioned him on inadequate armor.
Republicans in Congress have offered Rumsfeld little in the way of public support.
Pentagon spokesman Eric Ruff said Thursday that Rumsfeld has not talked to the White House about resigning - and is not considering it.
Imagine if he had resigned earlier in the war...
SecDef should compile a list of the dates and times and the minutes of the meetings in which these General officers met with Rumsfeld and voiced their objections.
So let's see, these retired generals suddenly show up in the media, all at the same time, all spouting the same Dim focus-grouped talking points, right after Seymour Hersh masturbates in print about an officer revolt in the Pentagon, and we're supposed to believe there is "no coordinated effort" here?
That's it, leftists, just keep insulting our intelligence.
And if anyone seriously believes this (regardless of what you think about SecDef Rumsfeld) I have a bridge to sell you.
That Ex-Gen. John Batiste can't even be honest about this, again speaks volumes about him.
As defined by who(m)?
34 - four star generals/admirals
124 - three star generals/admirals
278 - two star generals/admirals
439 - one star generals/admirals
Throw in the U.S. Coast Guard and you have 900 generals and admirals on active duty today. Each year roughly 15-20% of those flag officers retire, many not by choice.
Out of the thousands of living retired generals and admirals there are how many calling for Secretary Rumsfeld to resign? Five? Six?
The Constitution Party has a better showing for their Presidential candidate each election.
Rummy is doing a great job - fighting two wars, remaking the military... and giving priceless press conferences!!
Yeah, right.
I was gonna say that maybe the general has a bit of ocean front property in Oklahoma he wants to sell me...
Uh, maybe I missed it, but when was Patton Secretary of Defense?
Implying that he wasn't asked to join the team.
Its odd that generals who have theoretically spent their whole lives training and preparing for the opportunity to lead men in combat, waiting their entire career for a war to occur on their watch, would leave the military in the middle of one.
Were they waiting for the perfect war? And this one isn't up to their standards, so they pull the plug? After 25 or 30 years of preparation, at the moment their leadership skills are, in theory of course, most needed?
I have to imagine that there are men who rise up the ranks during peacetime who are not the kind of men you need during wartime; that the kind of men who understand combat and who know how to lead soldiers really only emerge during war, so your challenge is to recognize them, and get the peacetime officers out of their way so the warriors can take over.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Yea right
They have been trying to get Rummy fired since the day he was appointed by the President
These guys represent less the one percent of living retired generals and admirals.
By publicly underming the SecDef and war effort? Please. Find someone else to listen to your story.
With all due respect to the generals, I think they are guilty of nit-picking and focusing too narrowly on only one aspect of our strategic situation (important as it is).
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