Posted on 04/29/2006 12:35:18 PM PDT by No Longer Free State
ARLINGTON, Va. — Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker on Wednesday criticized retired generals who have come out against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other defense leaders, calling their comments “unfortunate” and “inappropriate.”
“I was retired, and you didn’t see me doing it,” Schoomaker told reporters during a Washington press breakfast. “If I thought what these officers were saying was true, I would not be here.”
Schoomaker suggested that if the generals were so unhappy with their civilian masters, they should have left their jobs in protest.
“I think we have a responsibility, while we’re in uniform, if we can’t put up with what’s going on, to pick up our saddle up and move on,” Schoomaker said.
Such criticism could break the trust between military officers and their civilian counterparts in the future.
“I think we’ve got to be very careful here,” Schoomaker said. “We do not want civil authority to distrust people who are giving them advice.”
Schoomaker is the latest senior officer to weigh in on the unusually public debate among current and former military officials over Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the Bush administration’s handling of the war in Iraq.
In the past month, eight retired generals — including recently retired commanders with experience in Iraq — have called for Rumsfeld’s resignation, saying that he has mishandled the war on terror and lost the confidence of the military.
Many of the retired generals have made a point of noting Rumsfeld’s allegedly abrasive management style. But any officer who has made war his chosen profession, Schoomaker said, should be more than able to handle aggressive bosses.
“I’ve been in the Army 37 years, and I have worked for some tough people,” Schoomaker said. “We’re soldiers. We’re warriors. I’ve never been intimidated in my life, by anybody.”
Schoomaker said that he “offers a lot of military advice, and I have never not been heard.”
He noted, however, “that I can’t say I’ve always been agreed with.”
But no military professional should fool himself into thinking that “offering advice” and “having it taken all the time” are one and the same thing, Schoomaker said.
As top military leaders, “We are responsible to provide independent advice” to civilian leaders, who in turn have the Constitutional authority to make strategic decisions, he said.
“That doesn’t mean they agree with our advice all the time.”
And if a military officer’s advice is not taken, Schoomaker said, “You can’t run around here with your nerves on your sleeve, [protesting] every time someone does something you don’t agree with.”
Military professionals who respect the chain of command must learn when the time has come to accept that, having had their say, they must step back and allow higher-ups to make the final call, he said.
Instead, “I think you end up at a point [saying to yourself] look, is it legal, is it moral, is it ethical, can I live with the consequences?” Schoomaker said.
“If you can’t, you’ve got a responsibility to do something about it, and do it while you’re in the position,” Schoomaker said.
“But if you’ve gone through all of that, and lived with it, I’m not quite sure what we’re doing here cleansing our consciences afterwards,” Schoomaker said.
“I think it’s inappropriate.”
With the way the retired generals are behaving these days, I'm all for revoking those privileges. Let them write letters-to-the-editor, work at the local grocery, and shop out on the town like the other retirees. Their responsibility to represent the military in a decent manner doesn't end on their retirement date. If this is how they're going to act, I don't want them representing the military.
You got that right. He got in good with the liberals during Gulf War I because of he was more worried about politics and his public image than being a good general. It's disgusting that the Klintons got to him and that Bush made the mistake of picking up where they left off.
A sincere thanks for your service, and your upstanding way of retiring with class. This country suffers from a lack of folks like you.
"How many of the 8 achieved flag rank under Bill the Schill Clintoon?"
Not sure about that, but the site below gives some excellent insights into five of the general.
"Retired Army Major General John Riggs has his own issues
with Rumsfeld. In 2004, Riggs was accused of contracting improprieties, and given 24 hours to retire from the Army."
http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2006/04/generals-revolt.html
I knew two retired officers, one a Lt General and one a bird Colonel. Both Clinton era officers, both liberal Dems. The Media and Education Establishment are not the only targets for Liberal infiltration.
"As top military leaders, “We are responsible to provide independent advice” to civilian leaders, who in turn have the Constitutional authority to make strategic decisions, he said."
----well said. whether they take it or not. of those that have come out asking for rumsfeld's resignation, I wonder how many have talking head "military analyst" contracts. The problem with much of this whining is that I haven't heard one instance of a general/admiral saying "...one this specific occasion, I didn't want my airborne soldiers to attack such and such city, but rummy did it anyway." or "..three different times I told the SECDEF not to allow this to happen, but he chose otherwise, and the consequences are evident because of such and such."
We must remember that the military must evolve as emerging, new conflicts evolve. That is why manning on ships have been reduced, technology has increased, spec ops budgets have increased, and we continually will show a military presence in an area of vital national interest, rather than focusing on cold war organization, "old europe" and the broken former eastern bloc. My great concern is watching the spending on new military products that are really not needed. why buy a ferrari when a cadillac will do?
That is just too cool....congrats.
Everyone has 20/20 hindsight. It is easy to second guess, when you're not the one making the decisions.
Bank on it!
Schoomaker BTTT !!
CWO Jackson, you are a cut above the best. What you did took courage and integrity. Thank you for serving the USA.
I am SOOOO glad you got that....I wonder how many others have done the same. Thank you for YOUR service.
What would have been the consequences had you gone ahead with the ceremony, declined a certificate signed by the penis-in-chief, and briefly stated your reasons for so doing? It was a shame you had to make this choice after 30 years of honorable service.
Amen sir, and God Bless.
What does that tell us about the problems the new CinC encountered when sworn in in 2001?
THAT is great. Congratulations.
We are being critical of the appropriatness of their remarks, the propaganda value generated by them and their effect on public and military morale, not debating whether they're protected by the First Amendment. That goes without saying.
Most likely. Submarines turned into private cruise ships for visiting dignitaries just floated to the top of my memory....and "ambassadors of goodwill"....co-ed barracks....
>>We are being critical of the appropriatness of their remarks, the propaganda value generated by them and their effect on public and military morale, not debating whether they're protected by the First Amendment. That goes without saying.<<<
More than just having first ammendment protection, here is my concern. People currently in the military can't criticize military policy. If we also say it is innapropriate for retired military then we have eliminated everyone with any military experience from criticizing military policy..
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