More Retired Generals (6) Call for Rumsfeld's Resignation

[kpete]

More Retired Generals Call for Rumsfeld's Resignation

From left, Major General Paul D. Eaton, General Anthony C. Zinni, Lieutenant General Gregory Newbold, Major General John Batiste, Major General John Riggs and Major General Charles H. Swannack Jr.

By DAVID S. CLOUD and ERIC SCHMITT
Published: April 14, 2006

WASHINGTON, April 13 — The widening circle of retired generals who have stepped forward to call for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's resignation is shaping up as an unusual outcry that could pose a significant challenge to Mr. Rumsfeld's leadership, current and former generals said on Thursday.

Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack Jr., who led troops on the ground in Iraq as recently as 2004 as the commander of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, on Thursday became the fifth retired senior general in recent days to call publicly for Mr. Rumsfeld's ouster. Also Thursday, another retired Army general, Maj. Gen. John Riggs, joined in the fray.

"We need to continue to fight the global war on terror and keep it off our shores," General Swannack said in a telephone interview. "But I do not believe Secretary Rumsfeld is the right person to fight that war based on his absolute failures in managing the war against Saddam in Iraq."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/14/washington/14military.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1144987200&en=155d5469db2762de&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin

[qanda]

1. It's being discussed on Washington Journal right now

Brian seems to be taking calls only from Republicans and Military People (most of them are saying the Generals are right). Every now and then he takes a call from the Democrats line.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. Is there any historical precedence for this? Even after retirement it

seems high ranking military officers are very hesitant to criticize any military action by a sitting Secretary of Defense.

Wow, just wow. MKJ

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. I doubt there has EVER been a situation like this!

SIX GENERAL OFFICERS call for the SecDef to step down! WOW! If these guys are willing to speak out PUBLICLY, something is TERRIBLY WRONG! They are either royally pissed off or scared to death of what Rummy is doing now and will do in the future.

[blm]

9. What Defense Secretary has ever DESERVED it as much? And what media ISN'T

mentioning are the large numbers of generals and commanders who came out before the election to switch their support from Bush to Kerry.

That subject was verboten in the corporate media.

So add the latest to a longer, UNPUBLICIZED list.

[WiseButAngrySara]

13. That was my question, and apparently Rumsfeld anticipated this, because

I heard him say that it was 'historical' to have Generals disagree! Like everything else this administration utters, it must be a lie. My bet is that there is nothing comparable to it historically speaking.

[Burried News]

4. Rumsfeld is the instrument of CONtrol.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. The only branch not represented is the Boy Scouts.

Jimmy "Eagle Palms" Anderson: "Rumsfeld must go!"

[WiseButAngrySara]

15. Oh, your name is perfecto! ROFL. ....n/t

[mondo joe]

6. He's just be replaced by another NeoCon tool.

Seriously - if the administration had any intent to actually govern, there might be a point.

As it is, take Rumsfeld out and they'll replace him with a Rumsefeld clone.

[TahitiNut]

7. Fine. Make it more obvious this isn't a 'one person problem.'

Roll heads until the gutters around the White House are flowing with blood. (Figuratively, of course.)

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. K&R , who's going to lead our troops

this is the biggest General exodus in US history

[freeplessinseattle]

10. so is it 6 total, or 6 in addition to?

not that total numbers matters I'm just curious how many we're up to now. I'm sure we will hear from more, too.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

11. 6 IN SUCH A SHORT TIME IS A NEW US WARTIME RESIGNATION RECORD

[freeplessinseattle]

12. are you replying to the correct post?? eom

[helderheid]

14. WOW! K & R! Front page of the Salt Lake Tribune had an article asking

whether or not he should step down! :applause:

[nonconformist]

16. A shining example of fine patriots performing their duty to their country

Generals, I salute you! :patriot:

K & R!

[WiseButAngrySara]

17. Rummy, Rummy's got to GO! K & R! ....n/t

[Bethany Rockafella]

18. Is this what you call shit hitting the fan?

[SalviaBlue]

19. Batiste said something very interesting

On the Today Show this morning. He said "someone needs to be held accountable for what happened FIVE years ago".

He also said he had been uncomfortable with the situation for FIVE years but is speaking out now because he was only a 1 star then and now he thinks people will be more likely to listen now than then. He said "people are starting to ask questions."

What happend FIVE years ago that someone needs to be accountable for??