NYT: Pentagon Memo Aims to Counter Rumsfeld Critics

[sabra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/washington/16rumsfeld.html

Pentagon Memo Aims to Counter Rumsfeld Critics

WASHINGTON, April 15 — The Defense Department has issued a memorandum to former military commanders and analysts that offers a direct challenge to the criticisms made by retired generals about Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

The one-page memorandum was sent by e-mail on Friday to the group, which includes several retired generals who appear regularly on television, and came as the Bush administration stepped up its own defense of Mr. Rumsfeld. On the political front, Republican strategists voiced rising anxiety on Saturday that without a major change in the course of the Iraq war Republican candidates would suffer in the November elections.

The memorandum begins by stating "U.S. senior military leaders are involved to an unprecedented degree in every decision-making process in the Department of Defense." It says Mr. Rumsfeld has held 139 meetings with the Joint Chiefs of Staff since the beginning of 2005, and 208 meetings with the senior field commanders.

And, seeking to put the criticism of the relatively small number of retired generals into context, the e-mail message notes that there are more than 8,000 active duty and retired general officers alive today.

[Rose Siding]

1. Don't ya love it when the entire DoD goes after private citizens?

No wonder more haven't stepped up (though I hope their sleep is troubled)

[Demeter]

2. One Page Isn't Going to Cover Rumsfeld's Ass

And it takes a REALLY big tent to shelter all of BushCo from the acid rain that's falling on them all.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
'T is mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, BUSH,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), "The Merchant of Venice", Act 4 scene 1


SHOW NO MERCY TO BUSHCO CRONIES. STRIP THEM OF ALL ASSETS.

[still_one]

3. many more Americans and Iraqiis will be dead before this is over

It should never be forgotten what has been done in our name. We started this war with Iraq based on a lie, and hundreds are dying every day because of these actions.

I wonder if the voting turnout in November will be as pathetic as it has always been

[bemildred]

4. It;s going to take more than bullshit this time, Donny. nt

[IChing]

5. Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice

Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice

prescribes a court-martial for any commissioned officer who "uses contemptuous words against the president, the vice president, Congress, the secretary of defense" or other federal or state officials.

That prohibition, of course, does not forbid serving officers from speaking candidly in private when asked for advice on military matters. Some of Mr. Rumsfeld's critics also fault General Pace and others for not being more forceful in questioning the guidelines put forward by Pentagon civilians that have kept American forces relatively lean in Iraq and have led to the quick disbanding of the Iraqi army.

Neither does the prohibition on "contemptuous words" apply to retirees. And the propriety of the onslaught of attacks on Mr. Rumsfeld's leadership from recently retired senior military leaders, including some who served in Iraq, is a matter of intense debate.

[cliss]

7. Interesting. The military is a self-contained system,

isn't it? That should close up all the loopholes. Except...

What about the phrase, "contemptuous words". What exactly does contemptuous mean? Like Rummy is an ass? He's an idiot, and he should be shot at sundown.

I would agree, those are contemptuous words. But how about these:

"Mr. Rumsfailed didn't send enough troops".
"Mr. Rumsfailed didn't anticipate that there would be widespread looting".
"He thought the insurgency would last 6 hours, 6 days, 6 weeks, I doubt 6 years".

How is that contemptuous?

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. 139 meetings and he didn't listen to one damn bit of sensible advice

Donald, you're a screw-up, plain and simple.

[antonialee839]

8. "And, seeking to put the criticism of the relatively small

number of retired generals into context"

:rofl: Pentagon People: This ain't no "small group", they are a rather important group, retired perhaps, but some even saw time in Iraq. There's no getting around that. Face it,
you bastards have absolutely zero credibility and most of America knows it.

[rodeodance]

19. this should shut people up . Right?

[jazzjunkysue]

9. Here's the Memo:

"I love you, you love me, we all love our Ru-u-mmy, with a
great big hug, and a kiss from me to you (don't tell Joe Lieberman, he'll be jealous)
Donald Rumsfeld loves you, too."

(ducking and hiding under computer table)

[Kagemusha]

10. They never said the meetings were for Rumsfeld to LISTEN.

They were probably for the generals to get bitched at.

[kahleefornia]

11. getting "defensive"!

Remember when they wouldn't stoop to even acknowlege scandals? This is very interesting. It seems to have started with Harriet Meiers - the first time they actually changed course due to outside pressure. Now we're seeing defensiveness - and other changes, like Bush saying all along there will be no troop withdrawal, but then a few weeks later, announcing there will be "reassignments"...riiiigghht. (But he's not doing it because YOU suggested it...he's doing it because HE decided)

"Won't comment on an ongoing investigation" isn't working so much anymore.

[rodeodance]

12. says this was released Fri but this is the first I have heard of it.

The message was released Friday by the Pentagon's office of the Directorate for Programs and Community Relations and Public Liaison, but it was unclear who wrote it.

It is not uncommon for the Pentagon to send such memorandums to this group of officers, whom they consider to be influential in shaping public opinion. But it is unusual for the Pentagon to issue guidance that can be used by retired generals to rebut the arguments of other retired generals.

The memorandum quickly followed President Bush's statement on Friday in which he gave a strong endorsement of Mr. Rumsfeld.

The memorandum spoke directly to the thrust of the retired generals' complaints that Mr. Rumsfeld was a "micromanager" who often ignored the advice of military commanders.

[rodeodance]

13. and the memo was 'quickly followed" by Bush endorsement of rummy

The memorandum quickly followed President Bush's statement on Friday in which he gave a strong endorsement of Mr. Rumsfeld.

[cliss]

17. You're right. They're weakening.

They are definitely starting to change their tactics.

For a long time, I was wondering: are these people completely inflexible? How long do they think the rest of the world is going to go along with this 100% me, 0% you approach?

The first time I noticed it was about 1 year ago, even before the Harriet Miers thing. It was about the tainted beef that went to Japan. The beef had BSE in it, so the Japanese refused to buy it. Meat was sitting in these dockside lockers, costing the beef industry a ton of money.

The State Department got involved, and they said they would "sue" if the Japanese didn't buy it. ( I thought free trade was voluntary!!! Silly me). Anyway, it happened again recently.

This time, the State Department apologized. They were deeply sorry, and they promised to fix the problem.

Now as far as Rumsfailed, they will probably hang on to him, desperately. But they will unload him because he's got lots of baggage, and the ship is sinking.

[rodeodance]

14. DOD said it was a 'fact sheet"!!

....A Defense Department spokesman, Eric Ruff, called the memorandum a "fact sheet" that was developed to provide detailed information to an influential group of analysts. In no way was it meant to enlist retired officers to speak out on behalf of Mr. Rumsfeld, Mr. Ruff said.

"The fact sheet was sent out to provide people with the facts," he said. "We would be doing a disservice to the analysts and the American public if we didn't provide exactly what the facts are."

One retired general who regularly attends the Pentagon meetings said Saturday that he found it unusual for the Pentagon to send such a memorandum in the middle of a heated debate, because it was almost certain to appear politically motivated.

"I think it's part of the charm offensive," said the general, who was granted anonymity because he said he was afraid he would not be invited to future Pentagon sessions.....

[rodeodance]

15. k and r.

[rodeodance]

16. "good news out of Iraq could go a long way toward quieting critics"

....Mr. Rumsfeld still enjoys support in many Republican circles. Senator John Cornyn of Texas, a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said his resignation would be a mistake.

"If this were to happen," Mr. Cornyn said, "it would encourage demands for other members of the cabinet or other people close to the president to resign." Echoing administration officials, he said some good news out of Iraq could go a long way toward quieting critics.

[cassiepriam]

18. Bush will find a way to punish those who spoke out... it is his MO.

Remember what he did to Wilson? Dan Rather? etc.

The generals best watch out, Bush will yank their retirements and perks in a heart beat.

[Jim__]

20. How many retired generals have spoken out in favor of rumsfeld?

It's nice to cite the silent majority; but it's presumptuous to think that every one who hasn't spoken, supports rummy.