Generals opposing Iraq war break with military tradition

[babylonsister]

Generals opposing Iraq war break with military tradition


By Mark Sauer
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

September 23, 2007

Retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton: "The ethos is: Give your advice to those in a position to make changes, not the media. But this administration is immune to good advice."

Retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste: "I had a moral obligation and a duty to do so. I have been speaking out for the past 17 months and there is no turning back."



The generals acted independently, coming in their own ways to the agonizing decision to defy military tradition and publicly criticize the Bush administration over its conduct of the war in Iraq.

What might be called The Revolt of the Generals has rarely happened in the nation's history.

In op-ed pieces, interviews and TV ads, more than 20 retired U.S. generals have broken ranks with the culture of salute and keep it in the family. Instead, they are criticizing the commander in chief and other top civilian leaders who led the nation into what the generals believe is a misbegotten and tragic war.

The active-duty generals followed procedure, sending reports up the chain of command. The retired generals beseeched old friends in powerful positions to use their influence to bring about a change.

When their warnings were ignored, some came to believe it was their patriotic duty to speak out, even if it meant terminating their careers.

It was a decision none of the men approached cavalierly. Most were political conservatives who had voted for George W. Bush and initially favored his appointment of Donald Rumsfeld as defense secretary.

But they felt betrayed by Bush and his advisers.

more...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20070923-9999-1n23generals.html

[babylonsister]

1. Kicking, because I admire these particular generals! nt

[sarge43]

2. It's about time.

But there's nothing new about flags publicly disagreeing or more about the CinC's policy. Among others, McClellen vs Lincoln, both Eisenhower and MacArthur vs Truman, LeMay vs Johnson. Powell vs Clinton about DADT. Usually they wait until they're off AD.

[babylonsister]

3. Or the really courageous ones retire when they're disgusted so they can

vent publicly. We need more of them!

[sarge43]

4. Yes, we do. It's just that it may be too late. n/t

[eridani]

5. OOooooooo! You said "betray"! You said "betray"! n/t

[MissWaverly]

7. yeah, can we get a million and half dollars

just making an observation

:-)

[rodeodance]

9. oh oh

[rodeodance]

6. to everything there is a season

[rodeodance]

8. "But they felt betrayed by Bush and his advisers." very telling--the use of that word.

[libodem]

10. Go Generals!

I read Hose of Bush/House of Saud a couple of years ago and one of the most sickening points of the book was that during the Iran/Iraq war we armed both sides. We made tons of money supplying the guns, grenades, and bombs for those countries to fight each other. Is it any wonder Muslims hate our greedy guts. Making money off the oil and selling tanks is all we have ever cared about. Keeping the world safe for Democracy is so, WWII. They are only selling us the rhetoric these days. Go Generals...:bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :kick: :headbang: :yourock: :patriot:

[rodeodance]

11. Mark Sauer: [phone]; [e-mail] (I will send a Thank you)

[Richard Steele]

12. K&R

[WillyT]

13. Big K & R !!!

Thank you for posting this!!!

:patriot::kick::patriot:

[achtung_circus]

14. K, too late to R nt