April 21, 2006
"All-Star Shame"
Printer FriendlyBy: Oliver North
HANOI, VIETNAM -- Here in this former enemy capital, the government of The Socialist Republic of Vietnam operates a museum full of mementoes from the only war America ever fought in which U.S. troops won every battle -- but still lost the war. Among displays of captured U.S. military equipment, parts of shot-down aircraft and expended munitions are exhibits devoted to the American anti-war movement. The carping coterie of retired generals now blasting the war effort in Iraq -- and demanding Donald Rumsfeld's head -- ought to spend a few hours here before firing another salvo. It might make the tarnished brass hats think twice about whether their words aid and abet America's adversaries in the Global War on Terror.
"We went to war with a flawed plan that didn't account for the hard work to build the peace after we took down the regime. We also served under a secretary of defense who didn't understand leadership, who was abusive, who was arrogant, who didn't build a strong team," said retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste. His sentiments are echoed by two other retired Army two-stars, Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, and Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack.
"My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions -- or bury the results," said retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, perhaps forgetting that the defense secretary served as a Navy fighter pilot. Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Riggs accused the White House and Pentagon of seeking military advice only "when it satisfies their agenda." Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, former chief of U.S. Central Command said, "Poor military judgment has been used throughout this mission."
Set aside for a moment that these are all men who helped plan various aspects of the war they now say was poorly planned. With the exception of Zinni, who served as CENTCOM commander during the Clinton administration, they all accepted promotions to "serve" under Commander in Chief Bush and helped carry out a plan they now claim to be irreparably flawed. If the jawing generals felt then as they say they do now -- why didn't they just quit -- before their promotions and pay raises?
It's been done before. On April 21, 1980, Secretary of State Cyrus Vance tendered his resignation and privately confided to President Jimmy Carter, "I know how deeply you have pondered your decision on Iran. I wish I could support you in it. But for the reasons we have discussed I cannot." The secretary of state was referring to the mission -- three days later -- to rescue American hostages -- an operation he had steadfastly opposed. Unlike the "six-pack" of generals now castigating the war they helped plan and execute -- Vance had the integrity to make his views known during planning for the Iran operation -- and the courage to quit when the commander in chief decided to proceed over his objections.
That archaic combination of honor and fortitude is apparently absent from the current crop of retired generals shouting "Dump Don!" into any available microphone. They should be grateful that the Bush-phobic mainstream media is either ignorant of the ethical tradition exemplified by Vance -- or too lazy to research the inconsistencies in the generals' past and present positions on the war.
Zinni, making the round of talk shows to hawk his latest book, should be the most thankful of the bunch. The retired four-star now says, "There was no solid proof, that I ever saw, that Saddam had WMD." But in 2000, he testified before Congress, "Iraq remains the most significant near-term threat to U.S. interests in the Arabian Gulf region." He went on to say that "Iraq probably is continuing clandestine nuclear research, [and] retains stocks of chemical and biological munitions ... Even if Baghdad reversed its course and surrendered all WMD capabilities, it retains scientific, technical and industrial infrastructure to replace agents and munitions within weeks or months." Which Zinni are we to believe?
Perhaps it's unfair to expect equal measures of courage and character from senior officers in this age of political opportunism. After all, the modern "gold standard" for flag-officer fidelity was set back in 1992 by Adm. William J. Crowe. Appointed Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command by Ronald Reagan in 1983, Crowe was subsequently named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in 1985 -- a position he continued to hold under President George H.W. Bush -- a fellow naval officer and World War II hero. On retirement however, the admiral demonstrated his appreciation by endorsing and campaigning for William Jefferson Blythe Clinton. Clinton, showing far more gratitude than the admiral had for George H.W. Bush, appointed Crowe to be U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James in 1994.
Tough duty. With a role model like this, Don Rumsfeld has to wonder why more of his "all stars" haven't piled on. Meanwhile, the al Qaeda clipping service is assembling material for a war museum like the one here in Hanoi. Jane Fonda -- call the Pentagon.
Posted by redguy at April 21, 2006 08:41 AM
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Comments
Oliver North, Thank you for your excellent to the point article. I wished we had Don Rumsfeld in Vietnam and it would have turned out much differently-we would have won.I support Mr, Rumsfeld completely and I challenge the 6 x-generals who are developing a strategy for the Democratic-left liberalists and Zinni is making money on his book, vern
Posted by: Verno
at April 21, 2006 03:16 PM
I think that Rumsfeld is a terrific leader. It is hard to imagine why six retired Generals have come out and criticized him for actions that they themselves have planned. Besides, we have already won the war in Iraq, we are now in a lengthy recovery to stabilize the country. . . not an easy task.
Posted by: dmtrep
at April 21, 2006 07:11 PM
This only goes to show what I have come to believe for the last few years: A liberal is a liberal is a liberal. A liberal is a liberal first, foremost, and always. When anyone or anything comes into conflict with their deeply held religious (liberal) beliefs, that is always dumped in favor of liberalism.
These generals are just liberals. They will never put America first; they will put their liberal views first. They will betray anyone, even those who show them kindness, confidence, or mercy.
Any doubt as to why they lie about the war?
Posted by: Loser
at April 21, 2006 09:48 PM
Right On Skipper :)
We both know that 'some' generals succumb to that NATO/EU Caesar complex and forget which side of the Atlantic is 'home'.
The EU agenda needs for us to fail. And the DNC is only too happy to comply.
As to those generals ... I can only wonder what kind of Attack Dog wants to be turned into a Liberal Lap Dog.
Maybe I'm Old School, but I could never do that ... I just couldn't.
Semper Fi
Posted by: Athling
at April 22, 2006 01:05 AM
I believe you have hit the proverbial nail on the head, Colonel. If these men had the "honor" to go along with their rank, they would followed their convictions and stepped down much earlier. These tardy commentaries come across as almost cowardly...attacking someone once your lifetime pension is secure. It appears that the liberal media outlets are once again offering a microphone to all who wish to denigrate the president - without any background checking as to possible motives.
What I would like to know is...what is going to happen in 2008 when the media have to find an agenda other than "Get the President - no matter what ethics they have to discard along the way!"
Posted by: JASCC
at April 22, 2006 03:35 PM
These men don't know what honor is. They'd sell Momma' for that chance at a book deal!
Doesn't anybody remember the retired traitor Clarke, from the`04 primaries? He was loved by Clinton, after all he led the "Big War on terror" of the Clinton era. Doesn't anybody remember those insipid Waaco wackos, the Branch Davidians and their feared leader Karesh? I mean for God's sake they had firearms in their complex. So they had to die???
Okay- strike one for Clinton! And who do you think led the mission? the great Wesley C. I give him no announced status in the military, because he obviously deserves none. Yet another incident with a traitor of late, greatly publicized!
Posted by: TheIcePrincess
at April 25, 2006 09:01 PM
While evey General and Captain is ultimately responsible for the conduct of his men, it is also a fact that a command can be subordinated to political influences (subterfuge).
The weapons the agents carried at Waco are proof that the mission was not designed to be confrontational to the degree of precipitating a shoot-out. Weapons capabilities define the parameters of mission.
The mission was compromised by MEDIA presence even before the agents arrived. The only source that could have and would have leaked this info was Janet Reno anticipating a bloody media and political coup against the Right ... meaning Hillary was in on it ... and Clarke?
Clarke knows what went down ... and still sold his soul.
This is why the Founding Fathers did not allow for the military to play at being cops ... great shades of Oliver Cromwell!!!
Clarke is in every way a traitor ... and his claque along with him.
Posted by: Athling
at April 27, 2006 02:23 PM
That's the point! They posed no danger to the public, but he through the military in head first. I'm not blaming the military! this was Clinton trying to prove he was a tough guy and Clarke helping him, without question.
Posted by: TheIcePrincess
at April 27, 2006 04:54 PM
That was supposed to say threw not through!
Posted by: TheIcePrincess
at April 27, 2006 06:31 PM
Waco and Ruby Ridge .... in both cases this was Hillary's agenda, not Wild Bill's.
Reno was Hillary's creature ... Bill wanted her gone ... now you know why ... and he failed to get rid of Reno because the DNC inner-circle supports Hillary.
Clarke belongs to the Hillary-Gore claque.
They need to keep something in mind, "You reap what you sow."
I hated saying that. I do not want my nation devolve into a banana republic ... but they do ... they prove it with every move they make ... and, sooner or later, they will surely reap what they have sown.
Posted by: Athling
at April 28, 2006 02:07 PM
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