This is making me uneasy. These guys can't all be dismissed as "Clinton Komissars" or in league with the MSM liberals or writing books, etc. If a career officer chooses to resign rather than accept a promotion to 3star general because of serious misgivings about the mission, the admin. should be taking notice.
There is a "circle the wagon" mentality that is kicking in when things get rough at the very time when this admin. should be getting fresh input. When the public begins to have doubts about a war, is the time to be more forthcoming. Otherwise, people's worst fears start being considered.
"These guys" are in the distinct minority. Rumsfeld is the youngest and oldest SecDef in our history. He knows and understands the workings and culture of the Pentagon and the world's largest bureaucracy. Unlike many others who have held this job, Rumsfeld wants to be more than just a civilian figurehead and defer to the military and career bureaucrats. Moreover, he can't be snowed like his predecessors, some of whom take months just to learn how to navigate their way around the building.
Rumsfeld has wanted to institute certain reforms in DOD, which have not doubt riled some in the military. He has also had to make some hard decisions on the conduct of the war in Iraq. Even Tommy Franks was criticized by some of the generals for his war plan.
Rumsfeld has also had to battle Colin Powell as part of the bureaucratic infighting. There is no doubt that some of Powell's old fellow generals have been crying on his shoulder about what Rumsfeld is doing to the Pentagon. Powell had been planting stories about Rumsfeld while Powell was still SecState. They were archenemies, each vying for influence within the administration.
Rumsfeld is probably one of the best and most effective SecDefs in history. I consider him to be Bush's best Cabinet appointment.
These few naysayers are being given more credence and importance than they deserve. Also, there has been a politization of the military. Remember Kerry parading at the Dem convention the ex-generals/admirals who supported him. Admiral Crowe received an ambassadorship to London in return for his support of Clinton. Wesley Clark has tried to turn his criticism of Bush into a run for the Presidency. Zinni is trying to sell books (No one seems to mention that he was CENTCOM when the USS Cole was bombed or was appointed by Powell to be a special middle east envoy after Zinni retired from the USMC.) Others are becoming paid military consultants for the MSM.
There may be other reasons why Baptiste turned down his third star and opted for retirement.