W. House backs Rumsfeld as generals demand he resign

Reuters ^ | April 14 2006 | Steve Holland

[jmc1969]

The White House gave a new vote of confidence to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday as yet another retired general demanded Rumsfeld resign.

"Yes, the president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very fine job during a challenging period in our nation's history," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

A fifth retired general, Major Gen. John Riggs, added his voice to those opposing Rumsfeld. In an interview with National Public Radio, Riggs cited an atmosphere of "arrogance" among top civilian leaders at the Pentagon.

Rumsfeld "should step aside and let someone step in who can be more realistic," he said.

Of the Pentagon's civilian leadership, Riggs said: "They only need the military advice when it satisfies their agenda. I think that's a mistake, and that's why I think he should resign."

Retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni kept up the pressure for Rumsfeld's scalp by telling CNN Rumsfeld should be held accountable for a series of blunders, starting with "throwing away 10 years worth of planning, plans that had taken into account what we would face in an occupation of Iraq."

"I think he should (resign). This is not personal, believe me. We grew up in a culture where accountability, learning to accept responsibility, admitting your mistakes and learning from them was critical to us," Zinni said.

A recently retired two-star general, Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the Germany-based 1st Infantry Division in Iraq, called on Wednesday for Rumsfeld to resign.

[jude24]

A few liberal whacko generals spew the usual idiotic line

"Liberal whackos" don't join the military, let alone advance to flag rank.

Saying that Rumsfeld screwed up does not make the generals "liberal whackos." Not unless you define "liberal whackos" as anyone who dares disagree with Bush.

[danamco]

Churchill was right: the best thing generals can do when they retire is SHUT UP.



That should include two democRATS' former Presidents as well!!!

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
"If he's right - and unless you're a flag officer, you're not qulified to determine that any more than I am"

Nonsense. The stars just mean that an individual filled all the requirements and avoided the pitfalls.

He or she might be worthy of respect or they might not but their rank is not necessarily an indicator either way. Not all officers are good officers, but good or bad we respect the rank and not the person.

General Zinni was commissioned in 1965. He met his educational requirements and did the requisite time in grade and in command slots. He was Director of Operation Hope under HW Bush and worked his way up under clinton and his merry band until he became CiC of Centcom. If you look at all of these ex-generals who want Rummy's head, they mostly spent their DOD and CENTCOM time in Weasely Clark and Shinseki's world. That's the time that molds them.

One of the generals, Newbold was a colonel leading a MEU under Zinni in Somalia and got his star from clinton and the DemocRAT congress. He was director of Manpower, Plans and Policy at Marine HQ under a clinton Sec Def. He hung out in Italy with like minds and he hasn't been happy since bill went away. Some FReeper wrote about the golden parachute these guys get when they retire and their relationship with the military/industrial complex. It's no wonder they hate W and Rummy's way of waging war, is it.

You should give black-an-white a try. Sometimes it makes things clearer.

Michael Frazier

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
""Liberal whackos" don't join the military, let alone advance to flag rank."

All kinds join the military and anyone can advance if they try and are lucky in their timing.

Michael Frazier

[NW Gun Owner]

Yes, I agree it might be over the line. But, in my opinion, we ARE talking about retired GENERALS here. Not draftees. Not people that served for a few years for money to go to college. So, I tend to be one of those people who listen. I may not agree, but when people like this break ALL known protocols, I have to ask myself why. I still may walk away thinking these guys are wrong, but they've earned the right to speak in my book. Shame on everyone who would dare call a decorated veteran a "traitor" simply because they don't like what they said. I hear Saddam operated very much like that. We are the greatest country in the world because Americans are free to speak their minds, even if we don't agree with them.

[NW Gun Owner]

So long as we're going to talk about the awful nature of generals, let's talk about why we're supporting a man who shook hands with Saddam Hussein on this thread more than we're supporting (even RETIRED) men who fought his sorry ass? I'm confused. We support the man who at one time welcomed Saddam more than we support our troops? I guess since they're retired, they must've slipped into Clinton era liberalism. Is that what you're saying? A lifetime of service to this country in the military, and once you retire, you're not worthy of having an opinion? I'm a long time supporter of our military, and I'd like to think I would stop to listen to anyone who's fought to protect my freedoms. Particularly if they'd earned the rank of general. In my opinion, all you should do is stand up, shut up, and salute. Even if you don't agree.

[Non-Sequitur]

Gee, I would think military protocol or at the very least, their duty as patriots would keep any retired general from publically speaking out against their commander in chief's decision making during a time of war.

The duty of a patriot is to speak out when you believe something is wrong. Agree or disagree, these men are expressing their sincere beliefs on the way the war is going. They have earned the right to do so, and they speak from experiences that the rest of us cannot begin to understand.

[Non-Sequitur]

Read their different biography's.Night and day.

Not really. Here is General Joulwan's Bio and here is General Clark's Bio . Seem pretty similar to me, if Clark hadn't become such buddies with Clinton he would probably be better respected around here.

[PGalt]

Interesting and very informative thread.

Hooray Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and The United States Armed Forces!

[jude24]

Nonsense. The stars just mean that an individual filled all the requirements and avoided the pitfalls.

I'm gonna call you on that - bullcrap.

How many people in the Army top off at Colonel because they don't advance to flag rank? Or in the Navy who retire at Captain? It takes more than "punching your ticket" to make it to be a General or Admiral.

[Unicorn]

I'm with Rummy screw them generals.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"I'm gonna call you on that - bullcrap."
"It takes more than "punching your ticket" to make it to be a General or Admiral."

Call it what you want.

How many people get the key to the executive restroom, only to lose it when their patron goes away or the mood shifts?

The debate on this thread revolves around trusting or believing people because of what they were, rather than, who they are. What they are is a clique of former officers who are acting for political reasons to harm our war effort.

Believe what you want. I'm off to the VA hospital at Fort Miley. I get to see what generals and admirals do, good ones or bad ones. I'll be back tonight.

Michael Frazier

[edcoil]

More Generals to privates quit the military under Clinton and no one interviewed them. Books have been written by Generals on how bad Clinton was as Commander in Chief.

Now, this is just more Bush Bashing.

[jpsb]

"This is a key point."

Active duty generals learns the lessons of MacAuthur and Pattan and more recently an Air Forse general critical of Clinton. Keep your mouth shut (in public) until you retire, then speak your mind.

[On the Road to Serfdom]

Welcome to FreeRepublic.

1. This is a planned even by Democrats, they talked about it months ago. They went around and found all the retired military members they could that were on their side (fellow believers) and willing to spout their talking points. Now they are coming out.

2. How many retired generals are their total? These generals who agreed to be part of the Democrat campaign (and there is no way do deny that is what this is given 1) represent what percent of retired Generals? 15%, 2%?, 0.1%? What percent?

3. On another thread one of these generals was shown to be part of a Left-Wing democrat think tank. In other words being paid specifically to spout anti-Republican talking points.

4. Several of these Generals have been fired by Rumsfield, or have had their pet projects canceled by him, of course they are going to attack him. So what? Especially if they are even not a majority?

[On the Road to Serfdom]

Ooops, correction:

1. This is a planned event by Democrats

[CWOJackson]

"2. How many retired generals are their total? These generals who agreed to be part of the Democrat campaign (and there is no way do deny that is what this is given 1) represent what percent of retired Generals? 15%, 2%?, 0.1%? What percent?"

This should help you figure it out: In the Department of Defense there are:

34 - four star generals/admirals

124 - three star generals/admirals

278 - two star generals/admirals

439 - one star generals/admirals

Throw in the U.S. Coast Guard and you have 900 generals and admirals on active duty today. Each year 15-20% of those flag officers retire; some not by choice.

How many generals are saying these things? Five? Six? These generals have about the same weight in numbers as the LP Presidental candidates do.

[On the Road to Serfdom]

Wow, how pathetic this effort is then. The only thing keeping this going is the spin of the MSM trying to pretend what spews out of the mouth of a tiny minority of sore losers represent something of signifcance.

[CWOJackson]

Let me share another statistic with you that will add more light on the issue. Our military is 1,400,000 strong today BUT we have the same number of flag officers today as we did during WWII when our military was 12,000,000 strong.

[On the Road to Serfdom]

That is insane. I wonder if Rummy has tried to take any steps in rectifying that. If so that would be another reason for resentment by some over him doing the right thing.