Posted on 08/21/2012 4:32:35 PM PDT by kristinn
ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT — US military chief General Martin Dempsey denounced ex-officers Tuesday for waging a campaign against President Barack Obama, arguing that soldiers had a duty to stay above the political fray.
Wading into a potential minefield during a hotly contested White House race, Dempsey voiced his disapproval of a group of retired military members and CIA officers who have accused Obama of spilling sensitive national security details to help secure his re-election.
Asked if the group's criticism was valid or useful, Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he would not comment on the substance of their allegations.
But he added: "As to the latter, is it useful? No, it's not useful. It's not useful to me."
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Just off the top of my head, I’d say you’ve missed the most important one...
When you hang up your uniform for the last time you will have to live with the fact that you are no better than the homeless panhandler on the street scamming for a few bucks.
Sir, you are nothing more than a political whore just like your mentor, Wesley Clark.
General, speaking as an ex-officer, and with all due respect, sir, sod off. I don't give a rat's butt what is or isn't useful to you personally. Do your duty, shut your mouth, and when you resign your commission or retire, talk to me or to anyone else you like. I get to do the same. There was no breach of OPSEC here, no release of classified information, unlike the behavior of the Commander in Chief and the people he has empowered to speak for him. You are way out of line, General.
Pretty good for quick of the cuff recall.
List of Presidents that served, active duty in a regular military unit.
Washington - Commanding general in Revolutionary War, British officer in French & Indian War
Monroe - officer in Revolutionary War
Jackson - general in War of 1812 , various Indian wars
W. H. Harrison - officer in War of 1812, Indian wars
Taylor - officer in War of 1812, general in Mexican War
Pierce - general in Mexican War
Grant- officer in Mexican War, supreme union general in Civil War
Hayes - general in Civil War
Garfield- major general in Civil War
Ben. Harrison general in Civil War
McKinley - officer in Civil War
Teddy Roosevelt - officer in Spanish American War
Truman - officer in WW I
Eisenhower- officer in WW I, general in WW II
Kennedy - naval officer in WW II
Lyndon Johnson - naval officer in WW II
Nixon -naval officer in WW II
Ford- naval officer in WW I
Ronald Reagan- army officer in WW II
George H. W. Bush — officer ( navy pilot) in WW II
Carter— navy officer in peace time
When I was on active duty and when I retired from the USAF in 1985, I did not give up my rights embodied in the Bill of Rights. General Dempsey is a fool of the same stripe as General Robert Huyser who told me in 1976 that I should not have been concerned that I had not received my absentee ballot for the 1976 Presidential Election. His comment was, “Major, I do not believe that any officer or enlisted man should expect to vote for his commander in chief.” I was not surprised when I found that Huyser was one of the last USAF general officers who had only a high school diploma.
I thought of that after I posted.
Some of these names have been mentioned, but here is a fairly complete list of ex-officers (and one ex-private who ranked as the worst occupant of our White House until these past four terrible years) who failed to stay “above the political fray”. These officers are in good company, particularly given the existential danger to America as a free country.
First Lieutenant George W. Bush,
Lieutenant George H. W. Bush,
Captain (Army Reserve) Ronald Reagan,
Lieutenant Jimmy Carter,
Lieutenant Commander Gerald Ford,
Commander Richard Nixon,
Commander Lyndon Johnson,
Lieutenant John F. Kennedy,
General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower,
Colonel Harry S Truman,
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt,
Major William McKinley,
Brigadier General Benjamin Harrison,
Brigadier General Chester A. Arthur,
Major General James Garfield,
Major General Rutherford B. Hayes,
General of the Army Ulysses S. Grant,
Brigadier General Andrew Johnson,
Captain Abraham Lincoln,
Private James Buchanan,
Brigadier General Franklin Pierce,
Major Millard Fillmore,
Major General Zachary Taylor,
Colonel James K. Polk,
Captain John Tyler,
Major General William Henry Harrison,
General Andrew Jackson,
Colonel James Madison,
Colonel Thomas Jefferson, and
General of the Armies George Washington.
Might I say......pinhead?
At least 30, in fact the list of those who were not officers is FAR smaller.
“Another Perfumed Prince, like Wesley Clark.”
I miss Hack.
Is Dempsey gay too?
Ronald Reagan was a Captain in the Army reserve in the Cavalry (of course) branch.
General Dempsey must be a little rattled. The Taliban put a few holes in his C-17 the other day. Maybe he’ll regain his composure in a few days.
Seriously, General?
The day after Gen Allen in Afghanistan commands all NATO military to lock and load at all times, Demsey flies in to discuss the situation. GRRRRRRR. I want to know if the policy still stands so our guys and ladies can defend themselves at all times.
Since his plane was attacked in Afghanistan I have seen a lot of this man on TV.
My gaydar went off and I’m betting he enjoys Johnny Walker way too much
Hey General!
As a soldier, you have a duty to stay above the political fray. So sit down and STFU!
Ummm... I’d like to partially retract my flip remark. There were a couple of soldiers/airman wounded on that General Dempsey’s flight. As much as I want to take a shot at this stupid remark by the General it’s no excuse spouting one of my own.
Apologies.
How DARE anyone who loves their country criticize a foreigner who occupies the WH illegally and actively works to overthrow our Constitutional Republic!
When a soldier (officer otherwise) becomes a civilian again they have complete citizenship and right to criticize whoever they want. FUBO!
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