A thought on the generals calling for Rumsfeld's resignation.

[redwitch]

Anybody thinking it is odd for military to seek to influence politics like this? I never doubted our military is smart enough (some of them anyway) to understand civilian incompetence, but I am a little uncomfortable. I hate Rummy so much it didn't even occur to me until hubby said he found it scary.

[ShortnFiery]

1. No, it's the most SANE thing, IMO to date

This has been building up since this PNAC promoter first took his seat as Secretary of Defense.

I'm amazed that, given the sheer frustration and discontent, these General Officers we able to keep it tamped down this long.

However, this is still painful for them to do because, in the military, being a good soldier is prized. I guess that these men "figured out" that they were not SERVING THE CONSTITUTION by continuing to whore for Bush-Co. like their fellow solider, Tommy "no OBL in Tora Bora" Franks?

[patrice]

11. Of course it has! From the day Rumsfeld was nominated!!

I think that's plenty of time for R. to "figure it out", that is, IF he can. Everyone has been very tolerant of their differences with R., but that doesn't mean that they must remain absolutely silent forever. When did they loose the right to speak the truth? When did they lose the right to free speech? . . . especially when a pResident can leak information, and keep other things completely secret, the results of which are an increase in their Deaths.

Military have a responsibility for one another. That's one thing that's right in their natural culture.

I hate all of the dying.

Are we War Slaves?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. These generals are all retired, and are now civilians.

But they were involved in, and are are knowedgeable about, what Rummy has done, and are obviously appalled by it. I see absolutely nothing wrong with, or sinister about, these guys speaking out, and I hope to hear from more of them.

[babylonsister]

3. Perhaps there's never been such gross incompetence

displayed before?

[BrklynLiberal]

4. I think what BFEE is doing is scaringTHEM, and they have had enough.

They can recognize the Constitution being undermined when they see it.
I think they do not appreciate the military being used as the personal tool of a megalomaniacal idiot.

[patrice]

5. It's their Lives. They have a responsibility to one another.

We have lots of military in our family. Someone has to speak for those who could be prosecuted under the UCMJ. I'm glad we're talking about the Sad tole of this Delusional Administration.

[Vincardog]

6. Uh these are RETIRED GENERALS. Active Military is verboten

to disagree in any way with their chain of command. Tell your hubby to worry about that. When they retire military personnel regain all the rights they gave up to serve.

[sutz12]

7. They might be retired....

but I have a feeling that they haven't forgotten their oath to defend the Constitution from all foes, foreign and domestic.

:patriot:

[HereSince1628]

8. This is unusual. But having a NeoCon building power in the Pentagon

is pretty unusual, too. Just think about all the issues that have gone bad for BushCo and ponder how many have Rumsfeld's finger prints.

I'm guessing there is a powerful force, possibly one from Poppy's administration playing a serious gambit behind the scenes.

[redwitch]

9. Thanks for these responses

I feel better. I think it must be horrible to have to be silent. And I also think the fuck ups of this admin are unprecedented.

[cynatnite]

10. With Iran on the table, someone had to speak up...

It's about time, IMO.

I'm a vet and I hate this kind of shit, but I believe these guys felt they had no other alternatives. Rummy is arrogant as hell and he's known to be verbally abusive to men who have devoted their entire lives to the military service for this country.

These generals actually care about the young men and women serving, unlike rummy and the rest of the chickenhawks. They know the insanity of going up against Iran and they know how bad everything is going in Iraq.

If not these men, then who?

Frankly, I wish I could thank them. They are trying to save lives and sacrificing their careers to do it is noble and an absolute good, IMO.

[DoYouEverWonder]

12. This is why there's talk of more resignations

because for the active duty folks that's their only legal option. Otherwise, there would be a coup and that really is an unacceptable option.

[rodeodance]

13. Barbara Starr saying 3 ACTIVE duty Gens do not support RuMMY but

did not give names. (this was on Hardball today)

[rodeodance]

14. it is unusual but these are unusual situations.

[Disturbed]

17. These 6 retired Generals and Rep Murtha are...

speaking out on behalf of quite a few of the ones that are still in Command positions. Rumsfeld and Franks are responsible for many deaths and injuries of US Troops.

[cassiepriam]

15. They have watched the military being destroyed...

men and women killed and maimed and no end in sight, and for what?

I think the military has had a belly full of fighting the neo con oil wars.

[NNadir]

16. So long as they are retired.

There probably is some deeper level to this story, of course.

It is not unprecedented for generals to have political roles. During the American Civil War, many generals had political activities. Of course, the United States was nearly destroyed in that period.

I have experienced no time in my life when the United States has been under such a threat, except of course the brief moments of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Unfortunately the threat to the United States now comes totally from within. We may not survive the Bush administration with much of what we so recently had intact.