Rumsfeld Criticized by Influential Military Paper

Reuters ^ | 10 May 2004 | Charles Aldinger

[Hal1950]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The independent Army Times newspaper, read widely in the U.S. military, on Monday suggested Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top Pentagon civilian and military leaders should be removed over the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal.

"This was not just a failure of leadership at the local command level. This was a failure that ran straight to the top. Accountability here is essential -- even if that means relieving top leaders from duty in a time of war," the private weekly newspaper said in an editorial.

Army Times is one of four such publications owned by the Gannett Co., and has a circulation of about 250,000. The same editorial was carried in the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps Times newspapers.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, already facing demands from some Democrats and major newspapers that he quit over his handling of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by Americans, said on Friday he would not step down "simply because people try to make a political issue out of it."

President Bush has expressed support for Rumsfeld and said he would remain part of the Cabinet.

Rumsfeld and the chairman of the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, have conceded they were too slow to inform Bush of the abuse -- which has stirred major criticism in Washington, Iraq and the Arab world -- but argue the military is investigating the matter and prosecuting those responsible.

"Myers, Rumsfeld and their staffs failed to recognize the impact the scandal would have, not only in the United States but around the world," the Army Times said.

"He (Bush) was left to learn of the explosive scandal from media reports instead of from his military leaders."

The editorial noted that Army Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, who commanded the Army Military Police brigade that ran the Abu Ghraib Prison near Baghdad, faces possible military action and that seven soldiers have been charged in the matter.

"That's good, but not good enough," the newspaper said.

"The entire affair is a failure of leadership from start to finish. From the moment they are captured, prisoners are hooded, shackled and isolated. The message to the troops: Anything goes."

In congressional testimony on Friday, Rumsfeld took full responsibility for the abuse.

Many U.S. newspapers have demanded Rumsfeld's resignation, including The New York Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, New York Newsday, Boston Globe, Minneapolis Star Tribune and Detroit Free Press. The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and New York Daily News published editorials supporting him.

[MineralMan]

Wierd. I remember getting the Air Force Times when I served back in the late 60s. Is the circulation still just as wide now among military folks? Has the publication changed so much since I remember reading it?

[EGPWS]

Many U.S. newspapers have demanded Rumsfeld's resignation, including The New York Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, New York Newsday, Boston Globe, Minneapolis Star Tribune and Detroit Free Press.

I'm shocked...

[LibFreeUSA]

-"The entire affair is a failure of leadership from start to finish. From the moment they are captured, prisoners are hooded, shackled and isolated. The message to the troops: Anything goes."

Somehow I missed the part where they are "shot"!

[upchuck]

Army Times is one of four such publications owned by the Gannett Co.

And that is where I quit reading. Damned leftist birdcage liner and fishwrap.

[LibFreeUSA]

-"From the moment they are captured, prisoners are hooded, shackled and isolated. The message to the troops: Anything goes."

So, what 'are' you supposed to do with them???

[johnb838]

When in the heck did it become a problem to hood, shackle, and handcuff ENEMY Prisoners of War? Actually Illegal Combatants is what they are. These are dangerous people. What is wrong with these (so-called) Americans? They should not be in the service.

[LibLieSlayer]

Be aware that Rummy has P*ssed off many old time Pentagon brass, by reshaping the military to be a faster/lighter/stronger military force. This is nothing more than payback for killing off wasteful and "old-thinking" weapons systems, and for the smashed toes that were stepped on in the process. Rummy is the FINEST SoD that we have ever had.

Rummy serves at the President's pleasure, and President Bush has stated that Rummy is the MAN!

LLS

[montag813]

Sounds like the traitor Hackworth has some fellow jelly-spined friends inside the Army Times doing his bidding.

[johnb838]

Many U.S. newspapers have demanded Rumsfeld's resignation

Since when do newspaper "demands" count for anything? These people can't get rid of Rumsfeld for ideology so they're trying to pressure a resignation. My Gawd I hope we don't cave to this blackmail.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Gannet is not independent.

[petitfour]

The Army Times is dependent on BIG MEDIA. It is no more independent than Dan Rather or Katie Couric. And it is so independent that FR cannot even post an EXCERPT of one of their articles.

[b4its2late]

Army Times is one of four such publications owned by the Gannett Co., and has a circulation of about 250,000.

That'll drop off quick just like Gannett newspapers circulation around the country. They're moving faster to the left as each day passes. That's why I cancelled my delivery of a Gannett paper.

[TheGunny]

Yeah, but dont be fooled....it aint that influential! Just like any other rag, they have opinions, editorials ect.

[CWOJackson]

The Army/Navy/Air Force Times has been moving more and more left in their opinions for years. Nothing startling in this story.

[tongue-tied]

NavyTimes, ArmyTimes, AirForceTimes...they're all the same. They present a far more liberal view of the military than what I've seen as the actual makeup. Occasionally they are called upon this in letters to the editor, but of course this is why they publish the more inflamatory views--they want to sell papers.

Most of the more senior active duty recognize their bias and take what is said with a grain of salt, but the junior folks are more influenced by the retoric. Times Publishing Co (Time, S.I., etc.) provides free copies of their magazines to every Navy outfit each week. In my opinion, this also influences some opinions.

Do you think they're on an indoctrination mission? Naw, couldn't be...< / sarcasm>

[ex-snook]

Bush has to dance the last dance with the guy who brought him.

[CWOJackson]

Bingo.

[sauropod]

I don't think this is appropriate from the Army Times.