Posted on 09/26/2006 2:00:37 AM PDT by John Carey
Recently retired military officers who served in Iraq blamed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Monday for the morass there, said he should resign and urged senators to subpoena active generals to testify about their own similar concerns. In testimony from former senior military men during wartime, retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton said Rumsfeld "continues to fight this war on the cheap" and denounced him as "incompetent."
Retired Army Major Gen. John Batiste called the United States "arguably less safe now than it was on Sept. 11, 2001."
And retired Marine Col. Thomas Hammes compared the shifting of insufficient U.S. troops from one Iraq hot spot to the next to a game of "Whac-A-Mole."
The three, shunned by the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, a rump group with little legislative clout.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
If you don't see their democrat agenda, there is nothing I can say to convince you.
Think Weasley Clark, the leaked one sentence from a nine page document and the timing of these three retirees coming forward with the election a mere 7 weeks away.
The democrats have an agenda. These officers have an agenda with America in mind.
We disagree. They are no different from Weasley Clark.
They are not the Wesley Clark type, and they've been speaking out longer than seven weeks.
We disagree."
Yup.
"The democrats have an agenda. These officers have an agenda with America in mind."
Yea, they're trying to make wine out of their sour grapes.
Disgusting and dishonorable.
Anyone who disagrees with the conduct of the war in Iraq is dishonorable?
One wonders why they don't listen to someone with a different opinion. Are there no generals active/retired that feel differently? Do we want the whole picture or not?
Retired Army Major Gen. John Batiste called the United States "arguably less safe now than it was on Sept. 11, 2001."
I know of him...I will give no opinion which everyone knows what that means. hint, I am on active duty and do not discuss negatives about my superiors retired or otherwise.
The three, shunned by the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.
Nuff said...New fighting Democrats.
You cannot have a bipartisan effort unless you start somewhere....
The democrats invited these guys, maybe thinking they might get a "pull out now message." What they got was an "all ahead full" message. Fund the war. Mobilize the nation.
I did resonate with the words of all three officers. On September 4, 2006, in a Washington Times commentary titled “Redfining War,” I wrote, “To get what we want [in Iraq] we may need more bipartisan thinking; and some bipartisan agreement and leadership on our nation’s strategy to win.”
I think that holds pretty well....
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20060903-095539-6276r.htm
I also wrote the lead commentary for The Washington Times on 9/11:
"By carrying the battle to the enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan, with our professional military forces and not our women and children and other innocents, we, as a nation, have already achieved a significant advantage over the enemy."
"We, the United States, redefined war. The war on terror we are engaged in, what the Pentagon calls the Global War on Terror (GWOT), and the underlying wars like the war between Israel and Hezbollah, may best carry this new definition: We will do what we have to do, on all levels throughout the world, to keep the enemy on the run, off-balance and living in fear."
"We should not be complacent. As the president has said: This will be a long war. So what is our weakness? Our Achilles heel is our own resolve. Our weakness is our own lack of unity, now exacerbated by an election cycle."
"So, like the Roman Emperors, we face the Huns on many fronts. And like our forefathers in Rome and in other great civilizations, we have to guard against our own disagreements and divisions from becoming crippling. We have to watch our Achilles heel. Because our enemies are real. And they want to win."
See: http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20060910-102742-6703r_page2.htm
Yup. I have to agree with the three gentlement who want to do this war right. And I'm not afraid to say it!
"Anyone who disagrees with the conduct of the war in Iraq is dishonorable?"
Like a President who back-stabs his successor, a General who retires and seeks the spotlight to promote their own opinion, is in fact dishonorable.
It is easy to say something when there is no clear way to tell if how one votes can be proven. I have voted in primary elections of both parties. So there is no clear way to really tell.
Bump and thank you.
In other news - I don't like Jello and according to a new survey 9 out of 10 prison inmates would rather be free.
Sorry but as a great President once said, "Trust...but VERIFY."
Have you listened to what the three had to say from yesterday?
They are entitled to their opinions, however; the democrats are only interested in these three opinions.
Where are the opposing opinions? do they not exist? These soldiers weren't brought to testify so the democrats could learn the pros and cons of Iraq, they were brought because they have in the past and will in the future bash Secretary Rumsfield and President Bush.
Just like the "coincidental" leak of a selected line from a NIE which the democrats just happened to have talking points prepared for and Democratic policy meetings scheduled where it can be editorialized. These men are being used as political props regardless of their intentions.
This is political theater its not about anything but political posturing. These soldiers have their opinions there are many, many more who would dispute their conclusions and have. Its all about whom you chose to believe.
Personally I don't believe these men are "whistle-blowers". They have sought a political stage for their version of the Iraq war, you will have to forgive me if I give them a politicians credibility.
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