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Almost 90 Retired Flag Officers Demand Mark Milley, Lloyd Austin Resign After Afghanistan Debacle
The Federalist ^ | AUGUST 30, 2021 | Jordan Davidson

Posted on 08/30/2021 3:28:19 PM PDT by george76

Nearly 90 retired U.S. generals and admirals penned an open letter asking Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley to resign from their positions following their “negligence in performing their duties primarily involving events surrounding the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.”

“As principal military advisors to the CINC [Commander-in-Chief]/President, the SECDEF and CJCS should have recommended against this dangerous withdrawal in the strongest possible terms,” the letter states. “If they did not do everything within their authority to stop the hasty withdrawal, they should resign. Conversely, if they did do everything within their ability to persuade the CINC/President to not hastily exit the country without ensuring the safety of our citizens and Afghans loyal to America, then they should have resigned in protest as a matter of conscience and public statement.”

This “hasty retreat,” the letter continues, not only left thousands of vulnerable Americans and Afghan allies stranded at the hands of the Taliban but also contributed to the “catastrophic” loss of “billions of dollars in advanced military equipment and supplies falling into the hands of our enemies.”

“The consequences of this disaster are enormous and will reverberate for decades beginning with the safety of Americans and Afghans who are unable to move safely to evacuation points; therefore, being de facto hostages of the Taliban at this time. The death and torture of Afghans has already begun and will result in a human tragedy of major proportions,” the letter says. “The damage to the reputation of the United States is indescribable. We are now seen, and will be seen for many years, as an unreliable partner in any multinational agreement or operation. Trust in the United States is irreparably damaged.”

This damaged trust, the retired generals and admirals argue, gives confidence to U.S. enemies who “are emboldened to move against America due to the weakness displayed in Afghanistan.”

“China benefits the most followed by Russia, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea and others. Terrorists around the world are emboldened and able to pass freely into our country through our open border with Mexico,” the letter states.

The letter also points out how military leadership’s focus on “wokeness” is hurting the viability of U.S. troops and the military as an institution.

“In interviews, congressional testimony, and public statements it has become clear that top leaders in our military are placing mandatory emphasis on PC ‘wokeness’ related training which is extremely divisive and harmful to unit cohesion, readiness, and war fighting capability,” the letter says. “Our military exists to fight and win our Nation’s wars and that must be the sole focus of our top military leaders.”

“For these reasons we call on the SECDEF Austin and the CJCS General Milley to resign,” it concludes. “A fundamental principle in the military is holding those in charge responsible and accountable for their actions or inactions. There must be accountability at all levels for this tragic and avoidable debacle.”

Over the last week, multiple GOP lawmakers called on President Joe Biden to resign for “dereliction of duty that has left Americans dead at the hands of terrorists.”


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; california; cjcs; failures; hastyretreat; ignominious; lloydaustin; markmilley; milley; nancypelosi; perfumed; perfumedprinces; princes; secdef; waronterror
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To: george76

Guess they said “the h3ll with it, we’re speaking out”.

There’s a limitation on naval intelligence personnel:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3989963/posts

But I’m not sure if it applies to all retirees.


61 posted on 08/30/2021 5:16:32 PM PDT by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57 returning after lurking since 2000) )
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To: Gritty

No they can’t - and neither can I. Biden is a corrupt, brain-dead, illegitimate President. Come and get me.


62 posted on 08/30/2021 5:17:12 PM PDT by GreyHoundSailor
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To: jjotto

Interesting box on the downloaded letter. To add you name

If you are not a Retired Flag Officer your name will be added to the Committee to Support and Defend’s efforts.


63 posted on 08/30/2021 5:28:43 PM PDT by Irish Eyes
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To: humblegunner
Nearly 90 retired U.S. generals and admirals penned an open letter

Really? Which ones? Where are the names?

Here they are from the pdf.:

Signed by: Alpha list of signers 2021 letter
MG Anders B. Aadland, USA, ret.
RADM Ernest B. Acklin, USCG, ret.
MG Richard D. Anderegg, USAF, ret
MG Joseph T. Anderson, USMC, ret.
RADM Philip Anselmo, USN, ret.
MG Joseph Arbuckle, USA, ret.
BG John Arick, USMC, ret.
BG Ernest Audino, USA ret
RADM James w. Austin, USN, ret
MG Marvin G. Back, USA, ret.
BG Jim Balserak, USAF, ret.
MG Gary M. Batinich, USAF, ret.
RADM Jon W. Bayless, Jr. USN, ret.
RADM Timothy Robert Beard, USN, ret.
RDML James Best, USN, ret.
BG Charles Bishop, USAF, ret.
BG William A. Bloomer, USMC, ret.
BG Donald Bolduc, USA, ret.
LTG William G. Boykin, USA, ret.
MG Edward R. Bracken, USAF, ret.
MG Patrick H. Brady, MOH, USA, ret.
RADM Bruce b. Bremner, USN. ret.
VADM Edward S. Briggs, USN, ret.
LTG Richard “Tex’ Brown III USAF, ret.
BG Frank Bruno, USAF, ret.
VADM Toney M. Bucchi, USN, ret.
MG H. hale Burr, Jr., USAF (ret.)
MG Bobby Gene Butcher, USMC, ret
RADM John T. Byrd, USN, ret.
MG Clifton C. Capp, USA, ret.
BG Jimmy Cash, USAF, ret.
LTG Dennis D. Cavin, USA, ret.
LTG James E. Chambers, USAF, ret.
MG Carroll D. Childers, USA, ret.
RDML Ronald L. Christenson, USN, ret.
BG Clifton C. “Tip” Clark, USAF, ret.
VADM Ed Clexton, USN, ret.
MG Jay Closner, USAF, ret.
BG Michael J. Cole, USAF, ret.
VADM John G. Cotton, USN (ret)
MG Tommy F. Crawford, USAF, ret.
RDML David Cronk, USN, ret.
MG Robert E. Dempsey, USAF, ret.
MG John Deyermond, USA, ret.
RADM James C. Doebler, USN, ret.
BG James H. Doty, USA (ret)
BG Peter Drahn, USAFR, ret.
BG Philip Drew, USAF, ret.
MG Neil L. Eddins, USAF, ret.
RADM Ernest Elliot, USN, ret.
BG Bob Floyd, USA, ret.
BG Steven Feldmann, USA, ret.
BG Jerome V. Foust, USA, ret.
BG Jimmy E. Fowler, USA, ret.
RADM J. Cameron Fraser, USN, ret.
MG John T. Furlow, USA, ret.
RADM Albert A. Gallotta, Jr., USN, ret.
MG David C. Garza, USMC, ret.
MG Timothy F. Ghormley, USMC, ret.
MG Francis C. Gideon, USAF, ret.
MG William A. Gorton, USAF, ret.
RADMU Andrew A. Granuzzo, USN, ret.
MG Lee V. Greer, USAF, ret.
RDML Michael R. Groothousen, Sr., USN, ret.
BG John Grueser, USAF, ret.
MG James A. Guest, USA, ret.
MG Ken Hagemann, USAF, ret.
RDML Dale N. Hagen, USN, ret.
MG H. Robert hall, USAF, ret.
BG Norman Ham, USAF, ret.
VADM William Hancock, USN, ret.
BG Murray Hansen, USAF, ret.
MG Gary L. Harrell, USA, (ret) LTG Henry J. Hatch, USA, ret.
ADM. Tom Hayward, USN. (ret)
VADM Peter Maynard Hekman, Jr., USN. ret.
MG Clyde A. Hennies, USA, ret.
RADM Larry L. Hereth, USCG, ret.
MG Harald G. Hermes, USAF, ret.
BG James M. Hesson, USA, ret.
MG Kent H. Hillhouse, USA ret.
BG Robert Hipwell, USA, ret.
MG Bill Hobgood, USA, ret.
BG Stanislaus J. Hoey, USA, ret.
MG Bob Hollingsworth, USMC, ret.
MG Jerry D. Holmes, USAF, ret.
MG Clinton V. Horn, USAF, ret.
RDML Gregory C. Horn, USN, ret.
MG James P. Hunt, USAF, (ret)
LTG Joseph E. Hurd, USAF, ret.
BG Percy G. Hurtado II, USA, ret.
VADM Paul Ilg, USN, ret.
MG T. Irby, USA, ret.
LTG Ronald Iverson, USAF, ret.
RADM (L) Grady L. Jackson
RADM Ronny Jackson, USN, ret.
MG William K. James, USAF, ret.
LTG James H. Johnson, Jr. USA, ret.
ADM. Jerome L. Johnson, USN, ret.
BG James M. Johnston, USAF, ret.
BG Charles Jones, USAF, ret.
BG Gary Lee Jones, USA, ret.
BG Robert R. Jordan, USA, ret.
RADML Herbert C. Kaler, USN, ret.
BG Jack H. Kotter, USA, ret.
MG Anthony R. Kropp, USA, ret.
BG Charles Kruse, ARNG, ret.
RADM Chuck Kubic, USN, ret.
BG Leonard f. Kwiatkowski, USAF, ret.
BG Enrique J. Lanz, USAF, ret.
BG Jerry L. Laws, USA, ret.
BG Douglas E. Lee, USA, ret.
VADM W.D. Lee,) USCG, (ret)
MG Kenneth Lewis, USAF, ret.
MG Vernon B. Lewis, USA, ret.
MG Thomas G. Lightner, USA, ret.
LTG James M. Link, USA, ret.
MG James E. Livingston, USMC, ret. MOH
MG John D. Logeman, USAF, ret.
BG Robert W. Lovell, USAF, ret.
MG Jarvis Lynch, USMC, ret.
RDML John Thomas Lyons III, USN, ret.
LTG Fred McCorkle, USMC, ret.
MG Don McGregor, USAF, ret.
LTG Thomas McInerney, USAF, ret.
RADM John H. McKinley, USN, ret.
BG Michael P. McRaney, USAF, ret.
BG James E. Mace, USA, ret.
MG Fred Maiocco, USA, ret.
BG Ronald S. Mangum, USA, ret.
BG James M. Mead, USMC, ret.
BG Willard L. Meader, USAF, ret.
BG Joe Mensching, USAF, ret.
RADM W. F. Merlin, USCG, ret.
RADM (L) Mark Milliken, USN, ret.
MG John F. Miller, USAF, ret.
BG Michael Miller, USAF, ret.
RADM Ralph M. Mitchell, Jr. USN, ret.
MG Paul Mock, USA. ret.
BG Daniel I. Montgomery, USA, ret.
RADM John A. Moriarty, USN, ret.
RADM David R. Morris, USN, ret.
MG James H. Mukoyama, Jr. USA, ret.
MG Terrence Mulcahy, USA. ret.
BG Benton d. Murdock, USA, ret.
RADM Bill Newman, USN, ret.
MG George W. “Nordie” Norwood, USAF, ret.
BG Joe Oder, USA, ret.
MG Raymund O’Mara, USAF, ret.
MG Joe S. Owens, USA, ret.
VADM Jimmy Pappas, USN, ret.
MG Robert W. Paret, USAF, ret.
LTG Garry L. Parks, USMC, ret.
BG John A. Paterson, USAF, ret.
RADM Russ Penniman, USN, ret.
BG Scott Perry, USA, ret.
RADM Rudy K. Peschel, USCG, ret.
RADM William W. “Bear” Pickavance, Jr , USN, ret.
RADM Leonard F. Picotte, ret.
VADM John Poindexter, USN, ret.
RADM Ronald Polant, USCG, ret.
MG Greg Power, USAF, ret.
RADM Brian Prindle, USN, ret.
RADM J.J. Quinn, USN, ret.
MG John Capenter Raaen, USA, ret.
LTG Clifford H. Rees, Jr. USAF, ret.
RADM Edward T. Reidy, USN, ret.
MG Lee P. Rodgers, USAF, ret.
RADM William J. Ryan, USN ret.
RADM Norman T. Saunders, USCG, ret.
RADM William R. Schmidt, USN, ret.
MG John P. Schoeppner, Jr., USAF, ret.
RADM (MC) Hugh P. Scott, USN, ret.
MG Richard V. Secord, USAF, ret.
RADM Paul Scott Semko, USN. ret.
BG Richard Severson, USAF, ret.
BG Stanley A. Sieg, USAF, ret.
BG Donald Curtis Smith, USAF, ret.
LTG Hubert Smith, USA, ret.
MG Perry Graham Smith, Sr., USA, ret.
BG Andrew w. Smoak, USAF, ret.
MG James N. Stewart, USAF, ret.
RADM John Stewart, USN, ret.
RADM Thomas Stone, USN., ret.
MG William Streeter, USA, ret.
BG Joseph S. Stringham, USA, ret.
RADM Barton D. Strong, USN. Ret.
MG Michael Sullivan, USMC, ret.
RADM (U) Jeremy Taylor, USN, ret.
LTG David Teal, USAF, ret.
MG Roberrt D. Tenhet, USA (ret)
BG Trent Thomas, USA, ret.
VADM Howard B. Thorsen, USCG, ret.
VADM N.R, Thunman, USN, ret.
LTG William Thurman, USAF, ret.
RADM Robert P. Tiernan, USN, ret.
BG Robert F. Titus, USAF, ret.
LTG Garry Trexler, USAF, ret.
BG James T. Turlington, M.D., USAF, ret.
BG Richard J. Valente, USA ret.
MG Paul Vallely, USA, ret.
MG Paul M. Van Sickle, USAF, ret.
MG Russell L. Violett, USAF, ret.
RADM Larry G. Vogt, USN. ret.
RADM George F. A. Wagner, USN, ret.
BG George H. Walker, Jr. USAR Corp of Engineers, ret.
MG Gary Wattnem, USA, ret.
MG Kenneth Weir, USMCR, ret.
BG William O. Welch, USAF, ret.
BG William L. Welsh, USAF, ret.
LTG Robert L. “Sam” Wetzel, USA, ret.
MG John M. White, USAF, ret.
MG Geoffrey P. Wiedeman, JR. USAF, ret.
MG Richard O. Wightman, Jr., USA, ret.
BG George E. Wilson III, USAF, ret.
RADM Denny Wisely, USN, ret.
RADM Ray Cowden Witter, USN, ret.
LTG John Woodward, USAF, ret.
MG Albert C. Zapanta, USA, ret.

64 posted on 08/30/2021 5:31:53 PM PDT by higgmeister ( In the Shadow of The Big Chicken )
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To: higgmeister

Sorry, this is the list of a previous open letter.


65 posted on 08/30/2021 5:34:25 PM PDT by higgmeister ( In the Shadow of The Big Chicken )
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To: higgmeister

The DoD left the dogs at the airport

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/08/us-contract-working-dogs-abandoned-kabul-airport-last-plane-left/


66 posted on 08/30/2021 5:34:31 PM PDT by combat_boots (Hi God bless Israel and all who protect and defend her. Merry Christmas! In God We Trust! )
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To: combat_boots

https://twitter.com/anna_d2/status/1432500611161931776?s=20


67 posted on 08/30/2021 5:40:21 PM PDT by combat_boots (Hi God bless Israel and all who protect and defend her. Merry Christmas! In God We Trust! )
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To: McGavin999

Even Gen. Gamblin had enough integrity to resign after the panzer crossed the Meuse.


68 posted on 08/30/2021 5:49:14 PM PDT by henkster ("We can always fool the foreigner" - Chinese Proverb)
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To: Renfrew

This was not a defeat, it was an act of surrender. We “defeated” ourselves.

The winners were the cheaters who stole the POTUS election and the cowardly judges who turned a blind eye.


69 posted on 08/30/2021 5:50:13 PM PDT by BarbM (FU Pence. You refuse to be alone with a woman, but have no compunction in screwing the USA))
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To: george76

Oh, my no. Biden has already announced there will be no firings and none of the aforementioned has the decency to resign. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if they did.


70 posted on 08/30/2021 5:56:24 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: nuconvert

Yes, He is an unctuous creep.


71 posted on 08/30/2021 6:02:55 PM PDT by miserare ( Respect for life--life of all kinds-- is the first principle of civilization.~~A. Schweitzer.)
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To: Dr. Pritchett

Thank you!

These are good men.


72 posted on 08/30/2021 6:05:24 PM PDT by miserare ( Respect for life--life of all kinds-- is the first principle of civilization.~~A. Schweitzer.)
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To: Gritty
They will not be Courts Martialed. They are all on the Retired List and no longer covered under the UCMJ. You cannot court martial someone not under the UCMJ.

Hell, I believe Mead signed a Letter of Commendation I received when I was a Sgt in the Corps. I still have it. I was part of a big dog and pony show out in California. I was in the Color Guard. I did not care about the Letter, after the show, some cops took us in full Dress Blues to a cop bar. Unlike the rest of hippie control Cali, the women in the cop bar loved our uniforms. Fun night I will never share with my children.

73 posted on 08/30/2021 6:28:14 PM PDT by OldGoatCPO (No Caitiff Choir of Angels will sing for me.)
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To: george76

Resign? Hardly fitting for the POS.


74 posted on 08/30/2021 6:46:10 PM PDT by healy61
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To: george76

Gee, I remember when anti-Trump “retired Flag Officers” were quoted everyday, all-day long by our elite media.


75 posted on 08/30/2021 6:49:37 PM PDT by oldplayer
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To: gloryblaze

Oh, fer crying out loud. HG won’t do it.


76 posted on 08/30/2021 6:51:41 PM PDT by healy61
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To: Leep
How about 90 retired special forces take them out?
I’d pay to see that.

There you go - edited for brevity.

77 posted on 08/30/2021 6:54:12 PM PDT by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: george76

This clip from “Blackadder Goes Forth” showing the brains of General Melchett’s planning and leadership is close to summing up our senior leadership. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblfKREj50o


78 posted on 08/30/2021 7:22:01 PM PDT by damper99
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To: Does so

#16. Remember the old Islamic/Arab adage, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” even if only for a temporary common cause (as happened in both Afghanistan and Syria.


79 posted on 08/30/2021 10:03:49 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: 4Runner

Many of those officers served Kenyan usurper, not saying a word about eligibility lawsuits.
Where were they when military prosecuted Army doctor, Lt. Col Teri Lakin
for challenging the validity of Obama’s order to deploy troops to a war (Afghanistan).


80 posted on 08/30/2021 10:08:36 PM PDT by nosf40
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