General Revolt
We’ll start with the Christian Science Monitor: Retired generals speak out to oppose Rumsfeld, which covers General Merrill McPeak [USAF], General Anthony Zinni [USMC], Lieutenant General Greg Newbold [USMC], Major General John Batiste [USA] and Major General Paul Eaton [USA].
Then NPR picks up with Major General John Rigg [USA] and CNN finishes with Major General Charles Swannack[USA].
General Eric Shinseki talked about the need for twice as many troops as Rumsfeld wanted, so he was forced out.
I feel certain that we are all aware of General Wesley Clark’s feeling about the current Defense Department.
There has been a rash of negative views of Rumsfeld and the current administration from retired general officers because nothing is getting better and now they are talking about using nukes.
This is what it looks like when people start thinking about the International Criminal Court and the possibility of real investigations of what has been going on for the last five years.
This did not happen after Vietnam. Senior officers did not speak out, and it is amazing to those of us who spent a great deal of time in and around the military. These guys are really asking Congress for investigations. They really want to talk on the record, not to the media, but only Congress can provide the forum.
Update: I missed Lieutenant General William E. Odom (Ret. USA) and the crew that opposed Alberto Gonzales: Brigadier General David M. Brahms (Ret. USMC), Brigadier General James Cullen (Ret. USA), Brigadier General Evelyn P. Foote (Ret. USA), Lieutenant General Robert Gard (Ret. USA), Vice Admiral Lee F. Gunn (Ret. USN), Admiral Don Guter (Ret. USN), General Joseph Hoar (Ret. USMC), Rear Admiral John D. Hutson (Ret. USN), Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (Ret. USA), General Merrill McPeak (Ret. USAF), Major General Melvyn Montano (Ret. USAF Nat. Guard), and General John Shalikashvili (Ret. USA).
13 comments
Don’t forget Major General Claudia Kennedy. She’s no big fan of the shrub. I believe she endorsed Gore in 2000, one of the few retired Generals to endorse Gore back then.
Roger that.
I also forgot the old DirNSA Odom, who has been nasty lately.
I live around retired AF Generals and a few Admirals. They were unhappy when Clinton got elected, but they are foaming at the way Rumsfeld treats anyone in uniform.
Wow. Anyone who doesn’t get the message from all that retired brass simply isn’t listening… or else is busy repeating “la la la la.”
Two questions, Bryan: first, are we done for? is America truly beyond being successfully defended in the long run, because of what Bush, Rummy et al have done to the military? Second, what do you think of our chances of running, say, Gore and Clark (and I’d be willing to reverse the order of that ticket, if they are willing) in 2008?
When an administration is a nightmare for both the career military and the antiwar movement (yes, I realize there’s some overlap there), you know something is deeply, fundamentally wrong with that administration.
We can defend the United States, there is no question of that. We have the weapons and the trained people who would respond if there was a real threat to the country. there are a lot of us “old coots” who could and would respond if there was a credible threat.
What we can’t do is nickel and dime the military and select weapons systems based on politics rather than performance. If we weren’t squandering our military on these mad adventures, we could recruit and train the people we need. We have done it before and can do it again.
It’s the same problem as Vietnam: the civilians are micromanaging the military and they don’t understand what the military needs to accomplish the goals set.
Gore and Clark would be a great ticket and great for the country. Gore knows how to streamline bureaucracy and promote efficiency. He understands the problems and knows what the solution are. Clark understands national security issues.
With a minimal cooperation from Congress, we can turn this mess around.
Thanks, Bryan; I feel better already. I don’t expect this to be easy; no one ever promised me that. Well, actually, the Shrub did, but I never believed him. I just have to hold in mind the notion that we can in fact recover and protect our nation as a representative democracy with reasonable liberties. As long as I believe that, I can endure all sorts of unpleasantness along the path.
There will never be any doubt in my mind that thousands will respond to a REAL threat to this country. I think the real question is – is the ‘talent pool’ big enough and would there be TIME to train volunteers? And qualified people to train them?
God forbid there is any real threat while the current crop or their spiritual spawn are in charge. If they responded to a true national security threat the way they responded to Katrina….
I second Gore/Clark or Clark/Gore. But I can’t blame Gore for saying ‘no’ after his shameful treatment.
When many generals complain and speak out common sense demands something should be done to correct the problem. Nothing will be done. (sigh)
Andante, real wars are easier to fight than counter-insurgencies and we have a lot of people with combat experience to train the new people. A lot of people who refuse to fight for the Shrubbery are ready and able to fight for the United States. If there is a real war and a real enemy we can not only fight, but win.
Lark, this is totally unprecedented. I hope it never gets so bad that serving officers feel obligated to speak out, that would really fracture the military.
True, Bryan, but we are in deep trouble currently. Desperate times call for desperate measures, unfortunately.
Gore also understands the Major THREAT ot the U.S. ( as assessed even by the military) is Global Warming (not Terrorism) …and would – as he has been traveling around the country on this issue – be ready to take the steps to ameliorate this as much as the US can.
How i Wish we could get a few smart, responsible Grown-Ups to take charge here!!!
Completely not appropriate, but your title reminds me of the line from History of the World, Part I with Mel Brooks as King Louis XVI. Someone says, “Your majesty, the peasants are revolting!” and the king replies, “Yeah, they stink on ice!”
Anyway… what I’ve been getting from my Republican pal “Luke” is that the generals are looking for face-time on cable TV and book advances…
Lark, the worst thing the Shrubbery has done is to pull active duty military into politics. Having uniforms at political events is inherently un-American.
Karen, if we don’t start doing something about global warming Florida will cease to exist.
Bobby, don’t ever consider any of my headlines as literal. I wonder if Luke realizes that these guys are almost always registered Republicans.
I agree with you Bryan. He does it because they cannot disagree with him. Captive audience. You don’t think he would actually talk to folks like us do you? I know you don’t.