Another retired general wants Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign. “I think we need a fresh start” at the top of the Pentagon, retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste (in photo), who commanded the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004-05, told The Washington Post. “We need leadership up there that respects the military as they expect the military to respect them.”
Batiste joins retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, who directed operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2000-02; retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, who oversaw the training of Iraqi army troops in 2003-04; and retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, who was the chief of the U.S. Central Command, in calling for Rumsfeld to step down.
Will President Bush listen?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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47 Comments
Of course not, what do all these Generals know? If they were all that smart, they would have avoided the military! Or at least gone into a safer branch….who did that again?
The problem is this: Rumsfeld is the best that the Zionist/PNAC/Neoconservative/Israeli/cabal, now actively engaged in overthrowing the constitutional government of the United States has in place and they’re not about to give-up their goal of world conquest.
As soon as you get it through your thick skulls that the so-called “war on terrorism” is nothing more than a scam and the People of the United States and all of our military can never “talk” the “cabal” into just giving-up and resolve yourselves to do some very serious arm-twisting, the sooner we can get our country back.
If you’re serious, then get the FBI to arrest everybody at AIPAC, grab their computers, get their files, throw them in jail. Flush-out the sold-out members of congress…….in other words….”let’s roll.”
It seems to be a popular movement. Once retire, talk about Rumsfeld needing to be fired, get publicity, sell an autobiography.
NPR did a pretty good interview with him and they had somebody else defend Rumsfeld for staying.
Basically what it comes down to, is that some people just don’t like the personality of Rumsfeld. They say he is arrogant because he never appoligizes, is brash with the media, and is super confident.
I guess they want a softer and kinder DOD Secretary.
If the Zionist/PNAC/Neoconservative/Israeli/cabal wasn’t running this country, Rumsfeld would have been fired long before now.
Rumsfeld sent or rushed troops into combat away too soon without body armor or armored Humvees. There was only political rush to do so, no immediate danger, with the exception that the phony reasons for going to war might be discovered.
Because they don’t like his personality? That’s a joke.
I remember retired generals on TV just before the invasion of Iraq were saying that you would see a casualty number of more than 10,000 American soliders on the 1st day or week of the war.
I guess that didn’t happen.
The General was just on Good morining America. He said before the invasion the call was for 300 thousand troops to win the peace. But Rumsfield count that number in half when he told the President.
Good try at spin Joe but it doesn’t fly. These patriots know what they are talking about; their warnings have proven trus. I don’t remember the calim you make but I DO remember the predictions of flowers and it’ll be done in months at most not years. I also remember Ahmed Chalabi as savior. I was a nay-sayer to both. I was right.
So, you’re implying that it’s alright to discount retired generals, and, I guess, well over half the soldiers and 80% of the American public who thing this whole thing is a fiasco.
But I bet you’ll have a hard time convincing the Zionist/PNAC/Neoconservative/Israeli/cabal not to go to nukes.
Israel is especially ready and up for the nukes as is the price of crude oil.
You like your war, now don’t ya.
You’re right Ben. The Bush Administration to picture Iraq to be rosey. Not the case now.
The Bush administration STILL pictures Iraq rosy. And doesn’t the Sec Def have some responsibility in that?
I wouldn’t give a damn about his being “arrogant because he never appoligizes, is brash with the media, and is super confident” if he were also competant. Unfortunately, in his case his arrogance is surpassed by his ignorance.
Rumsfeld’s first loyalty is to Israel. He gives them armament, which they then sell for lots of money { well beyond what they’re given for so-called defence, making them the world’s largest arms dealer }.
Don’t we have priorities right here at home that need funding?
From all the retired generals speaking out, it would appear that the Bush line that troop level decisions will be made by the Generals on the ground, is nothing but another lie.
With Bush the short list is the truth, that is, as soon as there’s something on it.
If Rummy resigns, who’s going to replace him? Somebody who says, “We made a big mistake, we need to pull out of Iraq?” Doubtful.
Here’s the problem. The US is not a major BUYER of Middle East oil. But it is the LEADING SELLER of Middle East Oil. This war is about business. Why do you think our president and vice president came from the oil business?
What we really need to do is separate our government from the oil bidness. We need to develop our own energy resources. Improve energy conservation. Maybe more of us will have to ride buses and light-rail trains. If we spent a trillion dollars in domestic energy research development instead of wasting this money–and Americans’ lives–in the Middle East, our nation would be a lot better off in the long run.
It’s not his personality that turned them against him, it’s the way he’s bungled the misson. He’s a poor military leader who, like Bush, didn’t put nearly enough forethought into what they we’re getting us into.
From the cabal’s point of view, the “mission” hasn’t been bungled. Permanent bases are being built, troops are in place, and though running a little behind schedule, the mission* is proceeding as planned.
*{ The Israeli Middle East War, *Oops, the “war on terrorism” }
Rumsfeld is building and equipping Bases just to the north of Iran, just following orders.
In the Washington Post, Ignoramus, no – excuse me, Ignatius – thinks that replacing Rumsfeld will be the answer to our problems in Iraq. I fail to see how this symbolic gesture will make things any better. The replacement sounds to me to be Ignatius’ version of being welcomed with flowers and candy (he is just forgetting the “exploding” qalifier).
Read this nonsense at your own peril:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/13/AR2006041301238.html
You were being “spoon-fed” reason after reason after reason, why this attack on Iraq was necessary and finally your thick skulls shut-down your gullible mouths and now you’re being told it’s a “civil war” so we still can’t leave.
They’re trying to revive “it’s all about oil routine” and that may put you down for a nap { to give you something to hate them about other than the real reason } and help explain the 3 dollar Jew-gas { other than the real reason }.
I know a couple of doctors who are “arrogane … brash … super-confidant.” The thing is, they DESERVE to be those things – they are damn good! Rummy is a dolt – just look at the record! His failure speaks for itself!
The Washington Post is a Zionist newspaper, God, I wish it wasn’t so I wouldn’t have to write “Zionist” again, but it is.
The Post is going to have to wake-up Ariel Sharon and get him to undo the “end-days” thing out of Bush’s mind, so they can get rid of Rumsfeld and throw America a bone.
The POST: “The administration needs to look this one clearly in the eye: Without changes that shore up public support in America, it risks losing the war in Iraq.”
Just who would we be “losing” the “war” to?
Billimon assesses the situation nicely: Bush will go before Cheney or Rumsfeld.
http://billmon.org/archives/002384.html
Bush answers the malcontent generals:
“Secretary Rumsfeld’s energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period,” Bush said. “He has my full support and deepest appreciation.” In an interview aired Friday on Al-Arabiya television, Rumsfeld said he intends to serve the president at his pleasure.
The rest here:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/14/AR2006041400282.html
Interesting point, CF. Rumsfeld generates his power from his association with Cheney. It could well be that this administration sees Bush as more expendable.
Poor Bush. It’s getting to be a pretty shitty job, everyday another load of crap falls into his lap and you’ve got to know that Osama is laughing himself to tears.
Hard to make out what Osama is saying { in his hysterical laughter } but something about “how many more number 2 guys are you going to claim, ole Bushy Boy?”
On another thread, XXX asked what the blog would do without me.
The answer? Someone else would have to read Digby, the commentator of all commentators, and spoonfeed his dead-on observations here.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/
The latest: the Generals are coming out now because we have covertly been at war with Iran since 2004. It looks increasingly likely that Bush unilaterally authorized covert ground operations against Iran, and that it’s Rummy who’s running the secret war.
That’s why the Generals, the retired ones, anyway, are jumping ship.
The next I hear any Repukes going on about how the President, acting according to the dictates of the ‘unitary executive’ theory, hasn’t overstepped his constitutional boundaries, I will gently remind them of this.
Can we impeach the miscreant, already?
bush steadfastly stands by Rummy.
GOOD!!bush is way over his head and he is stubbornly clinging to an anvil.
Rummy will stay. Isn’t it funny how these Generals currently whining were denied promotions, have upcoming book deals, or political aspirations? What a coincidence! Notice the commander of Centcom General Tommy Franks admires Rummy? Notice that 98% of the troops in the field love him? It’s a sad commentary that 80 per cent of the media is of the Left and the people do not get real news. If anyone knows a troop serving, ask him how the media reports front line ACTION from the air conditioned hotel rooms, playing for the ratings or newspaper sells. Rummy will stay and most likely the Repubs will get voted in again in ‘08 as incessant crying, denouncing, complaining, and sedition, without an alternative option is not a platform that will win in the USA.”Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay – and claims a halo for his dishonesty.” – RA Heinlein
You Zionist flunkies, keep banging their drum.
“Hard to make out what Osama is saying { in his hysterical laughter } but something about ‘how many more number 2 guys are you going to claim, ole Bushy Boy?’”
“I am the new Number 2! You are Number 6!”
Rumsfeld loves you
Tmac,
Quoting a fascist like Heinlein isn’t going to buy you a lot of credibility around here.
More to the point, your whorish mouthing of Admin talking points denouncing media coverage in Iraq and boosting Rumsfeld is downright, well, Rumsfeldian. It would be comical if it weren’t so delusional, and frankly, dishonest.
The logic of Rumsfeld = the worse things in Iraq are going, the better they are going (’the dead-enders are almost exhausted!’) Seriously, Tmac, it’s sad stuff to watch you try to find a silver lining in a civil war in order to exonerate Rumsfeld. Why not just admit the guy’s incompetent, in over his head, and a pathological liar, and join the reality club? It would cost you a lot less intellectual effort and you’d get to keep your pride.
Tmac – “98% of the troops in the field love him?” That’s not what I hear. When his defense to a soldier asking about being sent into battle without the right equipment was “you go to war with what we choose to give you not what you need” didn’t get a particularly good reception from the soldiers there. The soldier who had questioned him got cheers.
Normally, you wouldn’t hear any desent from the rank and file, especially the Generals. If a General wants to be promoted, and most if not all do, he or she will not denigrate his commanders, including this administration. So it goes against the grain when you start hearing desent from the front line troops. It means something is seriously wrong.
That something is Rumsfeld. We lost in Viet Nam because the politicians ran the war. The administration is running this one, and we are losing again. So besides the fact that we have no business being over there in the first place, Rumsfeld has no business trying to run something he is really bad at. The guy is a loser and a moron.
Walker, how true. Generals criticizing top command? Isn’t that pretty much unheard of?
More “war” news…
U.S. Buys Back Stolen Data by Afghan Base
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – American investigators armed with a “box full” of cash have paid thousands of dollars to buy back stolen computer drives — many of which contain sensitive military data, shopkeepers outside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan said Friday.But dozens are still on sale, including memory sticks with information ranging from U.S. troop resumes to photographs of Air Force One during President Bush’s visit last month.
more… http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/afghan_us_stolen_intelligence;_ylt=AnEZQkP9QVaSfs2ZyNsQ9bCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ
A bad review for a military officer is the kiss of death for their career. I do not doubt the motives of the Generals that have taken retirement coming out and now freely expressing themselves. I’ve been in the military, and know how it operates.
New Report: Rumsfeld ‘Personally Involved’ In Torture Allegations at Gitmo
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/14/new-report-rumsfeld/
These torture techniques were developed in “Facility 1391″ in Israel.
The United States can not reclaim its high moral standing in the world until it cuts all ties with Israel.
Zionist Jews prove they are the moral scum of the earth daily. There is no excuse for our association with them.
They are certainly not an ally.
Ed,
The day of reckoning is coming for the evil ones! If youn read you bible you will understand that the filthy zionists and their lackeys will soon be cast into a fiery pit for eternity.
Viva La Revolucion Blanco!!!
This blog has turned from political trench warfare to a hootenanny.
The “pickers” are all over on the open thread making plans for their musical picnic.
“Oh give me a Home where the Zionists don’t roam…..”
The former generals who think that invading Iraq, or doig it under-manned KNOW WAR. The draft-dodging chicken hawks at the top of the administraton DONT”T KNOW WAR. Our last Secretary of State, Colin Powell knew war. Out current SOS is a clueless academic from Stanford.
When Rummy went to Iraq last year to talk to the troops, and they posed intelligent questions, his ignorance was highlighted.
Basically, what he said was, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, because I’ve never put my own body in harm’s way. Sorry, I just don’t understand your questions. But even though I am an ignoramus, I’m going to tell you what to do.”
heartlander,
which makes Powell’s acquiescence in the whole affair even more baffling, doesn’t it? He, of all people, should have biyyen the bullet and resigned. That would have been a statement that would have at least delayed the war, and perhaps even prevented it. He knew intelligence gathering techniques, and he knew the internal squabbles over its interpretation. He knew the “Powell” doctrine was not going to be enforced here. I blame him as much or more than Rumsfeld, Cheney, or Shrub.
Pretty impressive fantasy you have there heartlander.
Nathan, do you recall the pep talk Rummy gave to the troops, which was set up to be a positive-spin media event, until some troops asked questions like, “Why don’t we have armored Humvees and other equipment we need?”
The SOD replied, “When you go to war, you go with what you have, not with what you want to have. It’s PHYSICS [sic].”
So who’s having a fantasy trip? The generals said, “We’ll need 300,000 troops.” Rummy cut that by more than half.
The generals have given their lives to defending this nation. They’ve been to war, they’ve studied war, they know their forces’ capabilities. They are loyal and obedient to the COC. But when the COC’s war-director says, “You’re all wrong in how we need to do this invasion, so just shut up and carry out my commands,” doe this sound rational and responsible to you?
To me, it seems sort of like having a chiropractor running the Mayo Clinic.
Where did Rumsfield say:
“You’re all wrong in how we need to do this invasion, so just shut up and carry out my commands”
CrusaderX , your whorish mouthing of the pig Michael Moore’s talking points doesn’t buy you credibility anywhere except your Marxist web favorites. Maybe you should be posting on Al Jazeera? What is sad stuff is watching you fictionalize a civil war based on ….hell based on what? Michael Moore? Al Jazeera?Civil war:A war between factions of the same country; there are five criteria for international recognition of this status: the contestants must control territory, have a functioning government, enjoy some foreign recognition, have identifiable regular armed forces, and engage in major military operations. Not even close. I do love the rant though. Keep it up, that’s how we won the election in ‘04! Don’t stress it Crusader, we don’t ask your help or your participation. Our military is pure volunteers who believe in the mission and the chain of command. I know that the sacrifices the country has put on you have been SUCH a burden. How oppressive it must be to have been asked to give up SO much. Why not just stay in La La land and we will worry about reality. Rumsfeld has been given a huge vote of confidence by former JCS chairman, Former Centcom commander and many others including Commander in Chief.History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid.”– Dwight D. Eisenhower
Just responding to the chiropractic crack. I would probably let you know that there are plenty of Chiro’s who could handle the Mayo Clinic. So lets not get off onto a subject you do not really know anything about. Except for what mainstream medicine or the drug companies want you to believe.