The Spin: Retired Generals were just feeling "Intimidated" by Rummy.

[Sparkly]

Myers Says Rumsfeld Didn't Intimidate

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer 33 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld did not intimidate members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during planning of the Iraq war as some retired generals have charged, a former chairman said Sunday.

(snip)

Richard B. Myers, the Air Force general who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 2001 until last fall, dismissed criticism that military leaders failed to stand up to Rumsfeld and President Bush when they disagreed with those civilian officials.

"We gave him our best military advice and I think that's what we're obligated to do," Myers said on "This Week" on ABC. "If we don't do that, we should be shot."

:wtf:
(snip)

A half-dozen retired generals have called for Rumsfeld's ouster, citing mistakes in the conduct of the war in Iraq. Some have suggested that intimidation by Rumsfeld kept military leaders quiet even when they thought policies were flawed.

"You'd have to believe that everybody in the chain of command is intimidated, and I don't believe that," Myers said. He added that Rumsfeld allowed "tremendous access" for presenting arguments.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060417/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rumsfeld;_ylt=AtdewM_Q39_MadrMILIC0les0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

The article did MENTION "micromanaging" and mistakes in Iraq. But the criticism, as I heard it, also centered on incompetence, failure to listen and heed the advice of the military brass, arrogance, and a consequent lack of confidence in Rummy as SoD.

Oh, silly me! It's just that Rummy's powerful presence, steely determination and steadfast strength made the generals go limp with "intimidation," so they failed to do their job in speaking up (and now "should be shot")! I'm so glad the Pentagon put out the memo of talking points to clear it all up.

:crazy:

[xultar]

1. I suppose this whole scenario came from NSA shower cams in the

pentagon locker rooms.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. And we're not even into the thick of the campaign season yet

Given the bully pulpit, the media echo chamber, and the disgusting monkeys in the media and what can you expect?

I've said it before and I will keep on saying it ...... we had DAMNED WELL better be prepared to do whatever it takes to beat these bastards. No one likes to admit that negative campaigning owrks, but the simpoply. oft-proved fact is, it does.

In spades.

Andwe had better ne ready to do it to every goddam Republican office seeker in 06.

Slime them early, slime them hard, and slime them often.

[Javaman]

3. Has a single one of these generals criticized moron*?

If not this supports my theory, that this is all bullshit.

They can criticize rumspuke all they want, but it was moron* that started this bullshit war.

Frankly, I see this as a concerted effort by the propaganda machines to get rid of rumspuke because he and moron* are having a private pissing match.

rumspuke won't resign because of his massive ego and moron* won't fire him because his "base" thinks rumspuke is doing a "heck of a job". So as long as moron* keeps the public smile on his face, he's not part of it. And the generals act as him mouth piece.

I don't trust a single thing that comes out of these idiots.

[Sparkly]

7. They're criticizing him for not firing Rumsfeld. nt

[Donna Zen]

11. Yes...

General Clark

[HughBeaumont]

4. Yeah, I'm sure that as veterans of horrific and deadly combat

they're intimidated by a 3-year peacetime neocon navy pilot.

[Sparkly]

5. Michael DeLong today: Rummy is "tough!"

"His management style is a tough management style," DeLong said on NBC's "Today" show. "He's tough to work with. He is a micromanager, but he's very effective. He's very competent but very dogmatic and tough when he deals with people."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060417/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rumsfeld;_ylt=AtYeKY.9MOfCBTWfgMoRKAes0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

[Donna Zen]

12. Tough and wrong

He has been effective. Unfortunately for the world, he is effectively wrong...about everything. The two traits are not exclusive.

[Sparkly]

6. John Jumper: Rummy "is no shrinking violet;" generals have to "push back."

General Jumper jumps on the bandwagon blaming the generals. According to him, the problem is that the generals either didn't have their facts prepared, or were afraid to "push back." :eyes:


GENERAL JOHN JUMPER (RET.), U.S. AIR FORCE: Secretary Rumsfeld, as we all know, you especially in the press know, is no shrinking violet.

And there are a couple things about the secretary that I learned over time. One is that, when you go before him, you better have your duffel bag full of facts and be ready to -- to present your case in a factual manner. And the second is that, if he doesn't agree with you or pushes back and pushes on you, you need to be ready to push back.

COOPER: It doesn't sound, though, General Jumper, that the criticism from -- from these other generals is that, you know, they -- they were shocked that he's not a shrinking violet.

I think the -- the criticism, certainly, that comes out of "Cobra II," for instance, seems to be, well, it -- it's all well to -- that you have got to bring your -- you know, a bag full of facts with you to the table. I think the criticism of Secretary Rumsfeld is, he has got his own bag, and -- and -- and he's pulling his own stuff out of there, and that's what he's going with, and he's trying to get everyone else to go along with what...

JUMPER: No.

COOPER: ... is in his bag.

JUMPER: But you -- you got to be ready to push back, Anderson. And I -- if -- you can talk to Pete Pace or Dick Myers, and there have been plenty of occasions where the secretary has changed his mind.

General Christman, what about that? I mean, there are people out there who will say, with these generals who have come forward, saying Rumsfeld should resign, they should have been speaking up sooner.

CHRISTMAN: I think they have been.

The issue is not so much did they speak out or not, but whether their views were dismissed. And I think the sensing, as I read these tea leaves, is that these officers are concerned that the views were -- were treated dismissively and treated arrogantly.


http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/14/acd.01.html

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Apparently, the "it's only six of the 1,000's" wasn't working

so the WH strikes out a PR counter-offensive. Hmmm....well, if "It's only six of the 1,000s" why is it that they could only get two of them to come out and speak in support?

[Sparkly]

9. Yes, and they are hyping those two like crazy.

Myers and DeLong have been propping Rummy up since last week, and yet somehow they get a headline TODAY:

"Two Ex-Generals Come to Rumsfeld's Defense"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060417/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rumsfeld;_ylt=AtYeKY.9MOfCBTWfgMoRKAes0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

As you point out, it doesn't look strong considering the people who are calling for him to GO. Perhaps they can keep churning out headlines about "growing support" for Rummy, though, if they can keep adding to that number. And no doubt they're trying.

[Kablooie]

10. Another spin from a general today ...

It's not Rumsfeld's fault that the war didn't go as planned. No one expected Sadaam to let out all those prisoners.
Rumsfeld did the very best any man could do in such adverse circumstances.