Rumsfeld Did Not Intimidate Joint Chiefs, Ex-Chairman Says--WaPo

[Demeter]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/16/AR2006041600665.html?referrer=email



Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld did not intimidate members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during planning of the Iraq war as some retired generals have charged, a former chairman said yesterday.

With Rumsfeld described by his critics as a micromanager who did not listen to military leaders, the Pentagon circulated a one-page memo late last week detailing the defense secretary's frequent contacts with numerous military and civilian advisers.

Richard B. Myers, the Air Force general who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 2001 until last fall, dismissed criticism that military leaders did not stand up to Rumsfeld and President Bush when they disagreed with those civilian officials.

"We gave him our best military advice, and I think that's what we're obligated to do," Myers said on ABC's "This Week." "If we don't do that, we should be shot."

A half-dozen retired generals have called for Rumsfeld's ouster, citing mistakes in the conduct of the war in Iraq. Some have suggested that intimidation by Rumsfeld kept military leaders quiet even when they thought policies were flawed.

"You'd have to believe that everybody in the chain of command is intimidated, and I don't believe that," Myers said. He added that Rumsfeld allowed "tremendous access" for presenting arguments.


I LOOKED MYERS UP: the General with an MBA, a desk jockey for most of his career smoozing with the space contractors, a Vietnam flyboy and not a grunt, he was one of Bush's first appointees back in 2000, and was awarded the tarnished "Medal of Freedom" upon his retirement in 2005. So he was and still is a Bushbot, and Bush didn't have to intimidate the entire chain of command, when he'd put such an effective plug at the top of it.....by the way, some debate as to where the MBA General was when the Towers went down....

Ah, Spring, with the smell of conspiracy in the air....

[DRoseDARs]

1. Of course he didn't, he has a few "bad apples" with dogs to do that. n/t

[Atman]

2. The FORMER Chairman said.

"You'd have to believe that everybody in the chain of command is intimidated,..." Myers said.

So, do you shoot those strawmen between the eyes, or wrassle 'em in hand to hand combat, general? Maybe you could explain why we'd have to believe everybody was intimidated?

[Democrats_win]

3. Who needs intimidation when you can fire/retire them?

[Canuckistanian]

4. You don't need to intimidate EVERYONE

Just the select few. A promotion here, a firing there. People get the message fast.

Then the rest will line up neatly. Doesn't mean they have like it, though.

[rodeodance]

5. that is really not the issue--ruumy's competance is. don't let this be a d

istraction from the real issue. i tire of talking of his quirky personality traits@

[ShortnFiery]

7. Rummy's "quirky" traits are now bordering on the "creepy" n/t

[0007]

6. What a clown! Myers wear a hat with a propeller!

The insane war criminal, Donald Rumsfeld has a nut job say he's okay? Don't make me laugh.

[Virginia Dare]

8. He doesn't have much credibility in sticking up for Rumsfeld...

Myers neice Julie and as I recall her husband also are also working for the Administration.

[seafan]

9. Ah, yes, how does Gen Myers like his new board position w/ Northrop

Grumman, to earn $200,000 a year to attend eight board meetings.?

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/16/myers-cashes-in

Let's not be fooled by this hack.



Oh, and Gen. Myers' niece, Julie L. Myers, just landed a cushy job as Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Nice, huh?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/01/20060104-3.html



These people know which side their bread is buttered on. Sorry, General Myers, you have no credibility concerning your bud, Rummy.

[cliss]

10. At this point, it doesn't matter

what the generals said, or if Rumsfailed intimidated anybody. The bottom line is: what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan.

= it's a failure, complete and total. The generals brought that to everyone's attention. As usual, Rummy is now focused on who did what, and I didn't hurt anyone's feelings no sir.

Instead of focusing on success in this war, he's now involved in "save Rummy's ass".

So the generals have succeeded.

[SKKY]

11. Let me assure you, if those Generals did nothing, they certainly...

...gave voice to the majority of us on the deck plates who don't have one. To those of us
who wear the uniform proudly every single day, this is old news.