Should Batiste have criticized Rumsfeld? 1st ID troops weigh in

[lebkuchen]

General Batiste led the 1st ID in the initial assault on Iraq. Some 1ID soldiers were recently interviewed on Leighton Barracks in Wuerzburg, where Batiste "ruled the roost," regarding their view of his having spoken out against Rumsfeld.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=36607

“He can say whatever the hell he wants to say,” said one 1st ID officer outside the shoppette at Würzburg’s Leighton Barracks. “He was a great commander, and he genuinely cared for the soldiers. And once you’re a civilian you can say anything you want. That’s freedom of speech.”

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“Batiste should call Rumsfeld up and tell him to his face,” he said. Something is wrong when subordinates don’t tell their commanders what is going on, said 1st ID Sgt. Robert Perez, a member of the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment. “We paint the battlefield for them, and they should do the same,” he said, adding that the criticism from Batiste and other generals came too late to help the war effort in Iraq. “I don’t agree with it, not this late in the game. It’s just not valid anymore.”

????? Too late to help the war effort in Iraq? What about Iran?

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... 1st ID Staff Sgt. Shawn Brooks said it was not right for Batiste to speak out against Rumsfeld. “I think it will hurt morale,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair for them to criticize, especially being at war.”

????? Not fair to criticize a war begun on false pretenses, especially when it's your ass on the line?

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While the words of the former 1st ID commander are being talked about in GI circles to some extent, many soldiers aren’t too concerned, said a private first class from the 3rd Brigade at Ledward. “Lower enlisted don’t care about politics,” he flatly stated.

????? How unfortunate for lower enlisted since political decisions can be harmful to their health considering the soldier is the one most directly impacted by them.

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But three 1st ID, 2nd Brigade NCOs spending a lunch break outside at Ledward said Wednesday that they were glad to see Batiste speak up. “A lot of us that do fall under the political ring are happy that someone is standing up for something,” said one sergeant first class. “We finally have people standing up and getting our backs.”

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“President Bush is still our commander in chief,” one sergeant first class said before adding, “I back Gen. Batiste 100 percent.”

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Regardless of the criticisms, many deployed troops don’t have time for the wordplay that goes on stateside, said one of the NCOs. “We don’t give a sh*t who’s in the White House,” he said. “We’re trying to come home.”

????? If certain people weren't in the WH, you never would have left home, SGT.

Some soldiers' bunks need to be short-sheeted for making such dumb-ass comments while Bush plunges the US, led by our military, into WWIII.

[Ecumenist]

1. I don't buy this crap that the enlisted are backing this idiot

They are afraid of being court martialed or having an unfortunate accident happening to them if they speak out openly.

[Rose Siding]

2. Good! I'm glad someone reported this.

“He can say whatever the hell he wants to say,” said one 1st ID officer outside the shoppette at Würzburg’s Leighton Barracks. “He was a great commander, and he genuinely cared for the soldiers. And once you’re a civilian you can say anything you want. That’s freedom of speech.”

[Rose Siding]

3. Batiste had a WP column yesterday, too- "axis of arrogance"

A Case for Accountability

....I believe that I have an obligation and a duty to speak out.

I had the opportunity to observe high-level policy formulation in the Pentagon and experience firsthand its impact on the ground. I have concluded that we need new leadership in the Defense Department because of a pattern of poor strategic decisions and a leadership style that is contemptuous, dismissive, arrogant and abusive. This dismissive attitude has frayed long-standing alliances with our allies inside and outside NATO, alliances that are fundamental to our security and to building strong coalitions. It is time to hold our leaders accountable. A leader is responsible for everything an organization does or fails to do. It is time to address the axis of arrogance and the reinforcing of strategic failures in decision-making.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/18/AR2006041801164.html

[lebkuchen]

4. Batiste was a well-respected leader.

The troops liked him. That's what counts.