CNN: A Fifth General Calls For Rumsfeld's Resignation

[kpete]

The Chorus Grows: Another General Calls For Rumsfeld’s Resignation


CNN is reporting that a fifth retired general is calling for Rumsfeld’s resignation.

“I really believe that we need a new secretary of defense because Secretary Rumsfeld carries way too much baggage with him. … Specifically, I feel he has micromanaged the generals who are leading our forces there,” said retired Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack, former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Actually, this may be the sixth general. Generals Newbold, Eaton, Zinni, and Batiste have gained prominent attention in calling for Rumsfeld’s resignation. But another less-noticed general, Ret. Army Gen. John Riggs, told the Washington Post recently:

Riggs believes that his peer group is “a pretty closemouthed bunch” but that, even so, his sense is “everyone pretty much thinks Rumsfeld and the bunch around him should be cleared out.”

Showing its typical fielty to incompetent advisors, Scott McClellan said today that Bush will not fire Rumsfeld.

more at:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/13/the-chorus-grows-another-general-calls-for-rumsfelds-resignation/

[Catherine Vincent]

1. Poor Rummy. n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

26. I'll bet he's frosted.

[xultar]

2. I don't think he'll even consider it untill a good round number of 20

generals call for his ass.

[Catherine Vincent]

7. I'm surprised the republican machine haven't trotted out

several retired generals to counter this.

[Jack from Charlotte]

11. The Swift Boating will begin soon.... all these guys will be found by ...

repug, draft doger types like Riely and Limpballs to have been closet subversives who cheated in order to become generals.

[0007]

28. I don't think so!

[zippy890]

12. they found an 'ex-aide' to Gen Franks

to mount a 'counter offensive against the growing tide of criticism against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld by retired generals. '

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/13/iraq.rumsfeld/index.html

Like thats really going to matter

:rofl:

[Old and In the Way]

13. Duke Cunningham is available.

Gotta think inside the box.

[Joe for Clark]

15. That they couldn't really says a lot.

Joe

[xultar]

17. I don't think they can find any. We are almost @ the 2,500 mark for

troop deaths. Generals don't want their marines, soldiers and sailors killed.

[reichstag911]

21. If they had cared that much,...

...they would have defied *'s illegal attack order.

[Alamom]

20. Maybe they're aren't any willing to do it....I hope. eom

[cali]

3. Great.

C'mon, the rest of you generals, pry open your closed mouths.

[Jack from Charlotte]

4. Has Shinseki spoken out recently? *

*

[OldLeftieLawyer]

5. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit

Where were these guys when the invasion was being prepared?

Sorry, but it's too little too late.

Besides, what the hell would dumping Rummy do? They'd just replace him with another nitwit.

It demands a change in policy. These generals should be preaching that, not going after a senile figurehead.

Too little too late.

[Chomp]

10. This Slate piece is good on the same issue

http://www.slate.com/id/2139777/?nav=tap3

And Zinni addresses OldLeftieLawyer's question in the following passage:

"He acknowledged other reasons many generals have declined to follow Shinseki, et al. into dissent. Some have no problem with the war or the way it has been conducted. Many others take very seriously the principle of civilian control; they firmly believe it is not their place to disagree with the president and his duly appointed secretary of defense—certainly not to do so in public, especially while the nation is at war. As a matter of principle, we should be glad that they feel this way. There are plenty of lessons from books, movies, and history that support this view as well: Seven Days in May (a charismatic general mounts a coup to keep the president from signing a nuclear-test-ban treaty with the Soviets), Dr. Strangelove (a loony general launches a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union without presidential authority), and the true-life tale of Gen. Douglas MacArthur (heroic commander of Korean War troops publicly advocates going beyond the 38th parallel and invading Communist China, forcing President Harry Truman to recall him)".


Reasonable points IMO.

[Jack from Charlotte]

16. But note the difference in all those examples.....

Generals wanting to do war, AGAINST the wishes of the govt. These current generals just want this failed Sec. of Defense sh*t canned.

They aren't calling for the military to disobey the govt.

[stop the bleeding]

6. 1,2,3,4, FIVE count em FIVE!!!!!

Wilkerson said shit is finding it's way to the fan

[Jack from Charlotte]

8. What needs to happen is a current, active general needs to ....

come forward. His career would be over but so what? If they already have the 4th star... speak out and retire. I thought military guys were brave. I know most are, but being brave might mean risking your career and not your life and limb.

[DUHandle]

9. Come on generals, let’s move fast

Your big chance is here at last!

(apologies to Country Joe McDonald)

[Vinnie From Indy]

14. If these guys are driven to speak out against Rummy

publicly, you can bet that they must either be extremely pissed or, even more terrifying, scared. I also think that the leaked plan to nuke Iraq means there are many still in the military that they are scared as well.

[Supersedeas]

18. Disregard - Pay no attention - Just some disgruntled former employees

[Jacobin]

19. kinda like that 'handful of deadenders' rummy described

3 years ago as the insurgency.

:rofl:

[JohnyCanuck]

22. Does this mean the generals think Rummy is fungible? n/t

[spanone]

23. Bush* couldn't care less. He never listened to them before..

[Hardrada]

24. Wait, we haven't heard from Joementum LIEberman

on this issue yet so we can't make up our minds about how really wrong these generals are!

[realFedUp]

25. I now understand how military coups take place...

At least we haven't lost all our minds in
this country.

[0007]

27. Randi is hot on Rummy ass today

She's smoking!

[BuyingThyme]

29. Wow, they're keeping count!

...Right there on the screen, for heaven's sake.

[KyuzoGator]

30. I somehow doubt Shinseki or Clark have much good too say. nt