Posted on 04/16/2006 10:11:39 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld did not intimidate members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during planning of the Iraq war as some retired generals have charged, a former chairman said Sunday.
With Rumsfeld described by his critics as a micromanager who did not listen to military leaders, the Pentagon circulated a one-page memo late last week detailing the defense secretary's frequent contacts with numerous military and civilian advisers.
Richard B. Myers, the Air Force general who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 2001 until last fall, dismissed criticism that military leaders failed to stand up to Rumsfeld and President Bush when they disagreed with those civilian officials.
"We gave him our best military advice and I think that's what we're obligated to do," Myers said on "This Week" on ABC. "If we don't do that, we should be shot."
A half-dozen retired generals have called for Rumsfeld's ouster, citing mistakes in the conduct of the war in Iraq. Some have suggested that intimidation by Rumsfeld kept military leaders quiet even when they thought policies were flawed.
"You'd have to believe that everybody in the chain of command is intimidated, and I don't believe that," Myers said. He added that Rumsfeld allowed "tremendous access" for presenting arguments.
"In our system, when it's all said and done ... the civilians make the decisions," he said. "And we live by those decisions."
The Pentagon memo, which was not dated or signed, put onto paper information that had been provided orally to reporters on Friday. It is not unusual for the Defense Department to distribute such information to analysts, military officials and others who might be reporting or commenting on a Pentagon policy.
Senior military leaders "are involved to an unprecedented degree in every decision-making process" in the Defense Department, according to the memo. Rumsfeld, it said, had met 139 times with members of the joint chiefs and 208 times with combat commanders from 2005 to the present.
Bush on Friday said that Rumsfeld "has my full support" and praised the defense secretary "for his leadership during this historic and challenging time for our nation."
On Sunday's news shows, Republican lawmakers either backed Rumsfeld or declined to take issue with Bush's support for him. Democrats continued to call for a change in Pentagon leadership.
Sen. George Allen (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., suggested that people are looking for a "scapegoat," yet he called the retired generals who have criticized Rumsfeld "people of credibility."
Allen, on CBS' "Face the Nation," questioned whether replacing Rumsfeld would have any impact on the insurgents in Iraq, the training of security forces there or on how Iraqi leaders form their government.
Sen. Richard Lugar (news, bio, voting record), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that Bush is making "a good call" in retaining Rumsfeld. Facing a large agenda of foreign-policy issues, the president should not be distracted by operational disputes, said Lugar, R-Ind.
Sen. Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record), D-Ind., who called for Rumsfeld to resign two years ago, said the issue now is about "the president's decision-making and judgment."
Bush's inability to put more important concerns ahead of keeping Rumsfeld as defense secretary "is not healthy for our country," Bayh said in a joint appearance with Lugar on ABC's "This Week."
Sen. Christopher Dodd (news, bio, voting record), D-Conn., told "Fox News Sunday" that criticism from retired generals "is a very, very important event."
"We ought to pay a lot of attention," Dodd said. "And the president would be very wise, in my view, asking him to step aside."
In this photo provided by ABC News, Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers, appears for an interview with George Stephanopolous on ABC's This Week,Sunday, April 16, 2006 in Washington. Myers, the Air Force general who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 2001 until last fall, also dismissed criticism that military leaders failed to stand up to Rumsfeld and President Bush when they disagreed with those civilian officials. (AP Photo/ABC News, Linda Spillers)
Sen. Christopher Dodd (news, bio, voting record), D-Conn., told "Fox News Sunday" that criticism from retired generals "is a very, very important event."
"We ought to pay a lot of attention," Dodd said. "And the president would be very wise, in my view, asking him to step aside."
==
Hey, Dodd! and the rest of you maroons.. STFU!!!
I really hope Allen doesn't run for President. He never seems to be prepared for the Talk Shows, even though he makes a point of getting on them. His responses are always weak and I just can't see supporting someone who can't manage to plan for a talk show let alone the things a President has to handle.
Secretary Rumsfeld was confirmed by the US Senate and now serves at the pleasure of the President. These retired Generals and political panderers should butt out.
The only platform the Dems have is to criticize anything and everything they can about the Bush Administration and the war in Iraq. And now they have six retired Generals and the MSM supporting that platform. It's pathetic.
The most efficient war ever fought that included taking over a country and some back seat drivers think they could have done better.
Read their Bios.of the 'ex'Generals.Some read like a Klintoon script!
Let's see, six retired clintoon appointees complain about SecDef.
There are 9,000 (more or less) retired generals. So, six divided by 9000 times 100 (to get percent) is 0.06777..., call it 0.07 percent.
So who in the United States panders to 0.07 percent of the population? Why the Bush bashing liberal press of course.
Buh Bye macrodoodle, we hardly new ya
and for that , we are all the better, imo.
Folks, the #8 post was deleted after it appears the poster slipped thru the troll net and has been hanging out here for a week or so.
Enjoy the traditional Easter charbroiled troll.
The annual Easter Egg Troll!!
I have been waiting for an excuse to post this one...:) Here's to you, Poster Number Eight! Thank you, Admin!
Enjoy the traditional Easter charbroiled troll.
--
UMM, YuMMY! Chocolate glazed too, Thanks!
I'll save it for dessert, we're headed to Outback and then a movie. Sorry ya got Mod duty. I'll have a Foster's for ya. ;-)
In the Department of Defense there are:
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. This is roughly the same number of generals/admirals who were on active duty in WWII when our military was 12,000,000 strong.
Given that on any given year 15-20% of those generals/admirals will retire each year it doesn't take much figuring to realize that the number of generals calling for Secretary Rumsfeld to resign is laughable.
General Abizaid said he's optimistic about Iraq, noting, "If we stay the course, things will turn out well."
General George Casey Jr In the end, Iraq will succeed. Its success will help transform the wider Middle East and give even greater meaning to Iraqi Freedom Day.
Lieutenant General Martin Dempsey we've had some great successes with Iraqi Ministry of Defense
Lieutenant General John Vines The solution to the situation in Iraq is not more U.S. troops, but more highly developed capability of Iraqi security forces
Major General Thomas Turner II The high voter turnout is a clear indicator that the citizens of Iraq not only have a strong desire for democracy, but they also have an increased sense of security, security that during the latest election was provided entirely by Iraqi security forces.
Major General Stephen T. Johnson USMC In the coming year in Al Anbar province, I think you're going to see continued progress in four key areas.
Brigadier General Rebecca Halstead we are seeing huge success
"Some have suggested that intimidation by Rumsfeld kept military leaders quiet..."
Can ANYONE believe this?! Generals being INTIMIDATED!
They don't deserve to be Generals if they are INTIMIDATED!
What a bunch of BS!
And the LEFTIES are buying it without checking the price tag!
I went to the DefenseLink site and sent email via A Question in support of Secretary Rumsfeld.
He deserves better. It is said you can tell something about a person by his enemies. Rumsfeld bares his chest and they look to his back!
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.