As ThinkProgress documented previously, right-wing commentators have wasted no time impugning the character and motivations of the seven generals who have spoken out against Secretary Rumsfeld. A new talking point has surfaced: the generals’ comments have endangered America by emboldening our enemies.
Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer in today’s Washington Post:
[This] kind of dissident party within the military is alien to America. … [I]t is a disturbing and very dangerous precedent that even the left will one day regret.
Krauthammer suggests that foreign governments may “exploit” the generals’ comments to “force” our government to change policy:
That happens in places such as Hussein’s Iraq, Pinochet’s Chile or your run-of-the-mill banana republic. And when it does, outsiders (including the United States) do their best to exploit it, seeking out the dissident factions to either stage a coup or force the government to change policy.
Meanwhile, syndicated conservative columnist Cal Thomas charges that the comments will only “further embolden America’s enemies”:
By going public with their criticisms in the midst of the war, those generals are making victory more difficult. They are encouraging the enemy to fight on, believing we will ultimately surrender. There can be no good that will come from the comments of the former leaders of our volunteer soldiers, at least no good for what they once called “our side.”
Apparently, the key to defeating our enemies is stifling all dissent against administration policies.
You know what would stop all this nonsense? If everyone started thinking for him or herself instead of looking to self-imposed ‘authorities’ to do it for them.
I know, I’m dreaming. It’s just that the spin gets deep, and smells really bad.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:31 pmi don’t even drink beer, but, i think this is worth a sip…
April 21st, 2006 at 12:34 pmI got an idea–let’s stifle freedom at home so we can bring it to the heathens in other countries. We will just bomb that freedom right down their ungrateful throats.
By the way, Anvil–see you at the recruiting station. You still got one of those yellow “support China’s magnetic ribbon industry” ribbons on your vehicle?
April 21st, 2006 at 12:35 pmvehicle STUCK IN THE MUD:
Democrat: rock it back and forth and ease it out.
Republican: Put the F’n gas peddle to the floor, spin them wheels, and sink in deeper.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:36 pmWho knew that a life of service to this nation meant you surrenderd your First Amendment rights? Why does the Constitution hate our freedoms? Why does anyone think that Krauthammer and Cal Thomas have anything intelligent or worthwhile to say?
April 21st, 2006 at 12:37 pmAnvilhead: Why do you hate the constitution?
April 21st, 2006 at 12:38 pmRegarding this part taken from the article……”There can be no good that will come from the comments of the former leaders of our volunteer soldiers, at least no good for what they once called “our side.â€
I don’t know who this Cal Thomas is but what a doushebag. The statements by these generals and others has nothing to do with a hidden political agenda thought up by the Progs. Somehow the Progs brainwashed these generals into saying these things and come to “our side”. What crap is that? When something is wrong saying it is wrong means your not a good little soldier boy that does everything without question? These Cons really do want this to be a fascist country with them in sole control. Frightening.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:39 pmSOMEDAY YOU WONT HAVE BUSH TO PROTECT YOU.
Comment by ANVILHEAD — April 21, 2006 @ 12:33 pm
Thank God for that!
April 21st, 2006 at 12:39 pmSome idiots haven’t figured out the America won the battle, but has lost the war.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:39 pmSome idiots haven’t figured out that America won the battle, but has lost the war.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:40 pm#2
SOMEDAY YOU WONT HAVE BUSH TO PROTECT YOU.
Comment by ANVILHEAD — April 21, 2006 @ 12:33 pm
Like he protected all those people in New York and Washington on 9/11?
April 21st, 2006 at 12:43 pmThe only people who will be left to defend this administration will be behind bars.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:43 pmThe supporters of their cause, the few that remain will likely commit suicide in a fit of zealot rage so that they may live in the land of milk and honey.
Milk and honey = 72 virgins in Neoconochristofascist speak.
Awaken from the nightmare if you dare.
Apparently the key to defeating America’s enemies is not giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:46 pmTranslation: “If only all opposition was crushed and we all wore the same brown shirts and armbands, we could have won this war.”
April 21st, 2006 at 12:46 pmSOMEDAY YOU WONT HAVE BUSH TO PROTECT YOU.
Comment by ANVILHEAD
Thankful for little miracles…
April 21st, 2006 at 12:46 pmGee, Anvil, thanks for contributing to our oil-dependency. I’ll bet that if you could afford to, you’d buy a Hummer.
If these courageous generals are not allowed to speak out against policy while they’re still in military service, and they can’t speak out when they leave, when ARE they allowed to speak out?
April 21st, 2006 at 12:48 pmThe generals are doing what they should have done before they retired. Georgie would not have listened, but a cascade of fired generals would have caught the public’s attention eventually.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:49 pmThe US is building four military bases as large as any in the world and a 104-acre embassy complex that has 21 buildings, its own water wells, an electricity plant and wastewaster-treatment facility that makes the huge compound completely independent of Iraq.
The military, congress and administration are waiting for a complete breakdown of Iraq, people and infrastructure. The US, in time, will rebuild their new commonwealth armed to the teeth and with a new satelite capitol.
The “news” are just noise making know nothings.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:49 pmRECRUITMENT IS DOING FINE. LET THE 20 YEAR OLDS FIGHT. IM ALMOST 31. THE ARMY DOESNT NEED ME.
Fucking pussy.
Pull on your bootstraps Francis, this is war.
-GSD
Yeah, Bush did a hechuva job on 9/11. He kept a room full of children at bay for 10 minutes and then flew around the country like a bat in a barn.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:50 pmAnvil,
April 21st, 2006 at 12:51 pmI think your caps key is stuck…just to let you know.
According to contemporary Republican conventional wisdom…..Freedom means never having to exersize your rights.
-GSD
April 21st, 2006 at 12:52 pmYou know, as a military vet I am seriously so disgusted with our government that I really am hoping for a civil war here in the states so we can take back our country from traitors.
When the time has come that people who have served this country with their lives for their entire lives are chastised, I think it’s time that the sound minded people take back this country from those non-thinking people.
When people support a man who has no knowledge of what he is doing and has failed at everything he has done, I hang my head in shame for this country. When they will believe and support this man over men who have served their whole lives serving this country is outright outrageous. What has this country come too when people choose a man, or a few select men, over the nation and men that have served their lives for this country.
I ask anyone who talks bad about these Generals to point out ONE thing that is false that they are saying? None of this lip service, provide proof! You can’t show the success of Iraq because there is none! You can’t show the success of capturing Bin Lauden, because he is still out there and YOUR president said “I really don’t think about him much, I’m just not that concerned about him”.
If you are one of those people who are calling these Generals as traitors or aiding the enemy, please tell me how many years of mililtary service you have that gives you the experience or right to talk bad about these men?
I await for your answer!
April 21st, 2006 at 12:52 pmThat’s right IronSkull, let some young kid die so you can keep your reservations at the “Hate everybody not like me” convention. At 31 you are not out of the woods when Bush flips again (and again and……) and starts a draft so we can spread that freedumb he thinks the world needs from us.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:52 pmApparently the key to defeating America’s enemies is not giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
Comment by mighty aphrodite — April 21, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
Your pointing this out only emboldens the enemy. Traitor.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:54 pmAll dictatorships hate freedom of speech. However until our president’s ardor soldiers to fire on the citizenry, this country will have descent and maybe afterwards too.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:55 pm“By going public with their criticisms in the midst of the war, those generals are making victory more difficult.” Give me a fu*king break! The incompetent nincompoop chicken hawks lost the war a long long time ago. This is nothing more than a pathetic attempt at finding scapegoats. Their failures are always somebody else’s fault. That explains why they never learn - an essential part of the learning process is recognizing your mistakes.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:55 pm#21 - RECRUITMENT IS DOING FINE. LET THE 20 YEAR OLDS FIGHT. IM ALMOST 31. THE ARMY DOESNT NEED ME.
Fucking pussy.
‘Nuf said.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:56 pmOH REALLY ? AND WHY ARENT YOU HUMPING YOUR GEAR IN ANBAR PROVINCE AS A MARINE RIGHT NOW? COULDNT GET TIM OF FROM BURGER KING?
Comment by ANVILHEAD — April 21, 2006 @ 12:54
Pussy about sums it up. Illiterate pussy at that.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:56 pmCOULDNT GET TIM OF FROM BURGER KING?
Comment by ANVILHEAD — April 21, 2006 @ 12
The manager said he had to work an extra shift, but I’ll tell Tim you asked.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:59 pmI’m pretty sure Lincoln thought a key to defeating his enemies was to stifle all dissent against his policies.
April 21st, 2006 at 12:59 pmI am sure they (the write wing) said the same thing about the Gererals that spoke out against Clinton’s policies while they were STILL IN the service. Oh yah! That’s right they didn’t.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:01 pmI’m pretty sure Lincoln thought a key to defeating his enemies was to stifle all dissent against his policies.
Comment by C Storms — April 21, 2006 @ 12:59 pm
Yeah, for republicans stifling dissent is like breathing.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:01 pmAnvil,,,,
FOX POLL===57% say it was appropiate for the Generals to critize Rumsfeld…..Seems the American people are NO LONGER buying Rummy’s incompetence…Rumsfeld’s poor planning,,,,,,caused the problems that our Troops are facing in Iraq….I suggest you look to Rumsfeld for Aiding the Enemy….
The Generals served their country,,,,,,I’ll believe them alot quicker then I’ll believe ChickenHawks like Rumsfeld and Bush,,,,,,who have NO War Experience at all.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:02 pmBlah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.
I can’t wait for the day when Bush is no longer “protecting us” We can’t afford his “protection” anymore.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:03 pmIM NOT IN THE ARMY — BUT I DID COME IN SECOND PLACE AT MY SHOOTING RANGE LAST SUMMER IN THE PISTOL COMPETITION. SO THERES THAT.
Comment by ANVILHEAD — April 21, 2006 @ 1:04 pm
And what prize did the carny give you? Kewpie doll?
April 21st, 2006 at 1:06 pm#2 - That was satire, right? Sometimes subtlties elude me.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:06 pmRecruitment is in the toilet. They do need and will take you. That is why they raised the aged limit and lowered the IQ level. You will be a perfect fit.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:07 pmIM NOT IN THE ARMY — BUT I DID COME IN SECOND PLACE AT MY SHOOTING RANGE LAST SUMMER IN THE PISTOL COMPETITION. SO THERES THAT.
Comment by ANVILHEAD — April 21, 2006 @ 1:04 pm
You should enlist. Right away. They could use a few sharp shooters like you.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:08 pm#38
April 21st, 2006 at 1:08 pmAnvil,
Wow, a pistol range competition. Say did you ever hunt deer. You can say that was some combat experience. I mean they do have antlers that are pointy and all.
Oh and your CAPS LOCK key is still on. The loudness of your words hurts my eyes when I read them.
At the end of This Week with George Stephanopolis (sp?), when they post the names of the soldiers killed in Iraq, Wayne and I keep an eye out for two things: the soldiers’ ages, and their hometowns. Most weeks, about 4 out of 5 of the war dead are in the 18-25 age group.
Anvil, you’re a pathetic excuse for a human.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:08 pm#27 - Dear Barfly - go have another drink. You might have a good “defense” for the “Islamic appeasement” crowd - if you can maintain a high BAC level, you probably won’t feel much pain if we are overrun by barbarians. Clever of you….
Zoopooper - I wouldn’t call 6 retired Generals a “cascade” - a miniscule trickle perhaps…but “cascade”? I don’t think so.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:11 pm[I]t is a disturbing and very dangerous precedent that even the left will one day regret.
I would respond this cornerstone of conservative ideology—updating institutions invariably leads to regret—is becoming a tad worn if that was indeed the intention of the generals that have come forward.
But, that’s not what conservatives like Krauthammer are concerned about. They’re concerned about saving face domestically at all costs, including the ruin of the people we set out to “liberate.â€
April 21st, 2006 at 1:11 pmSame song, same fucking verse. One of these days, I would like to see one of these “traitors” smack the living fuck out of one of their chickenhawk accusers. I would pay good money to see it.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:12 pmThe Kraut Hammer has outdone himself. Here’s my attempt at gutting the Kraut and his separation anxiety from reality.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:13 pmThe Rightwing is basically caught in the grip of groupthink, and it doesn’t realise that America is just begining to wake up to how much groupthink, and the inevitable screw-ups that come with putting unity before truth, can cost.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:15 pm#38 Did those pistol targets shoot back? No war cheering from you until they do.
Go to Iraq, follow some marines on patrol and cheer loud happy cheers for them. We’ll lay bets on how long it takes you to get fragged.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:15 pm#2 Our borders our wide open… Our ports our wide open… Parts of our country our falling apart and still flooded… Millions of people are displaced and homeless. We have ignored our own infrastructure for years. He has used nothing but fear to rule ever since 9/11.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:16 pm#1 is right, you need to take off the blinders and think for youself because blind faith will destroy you. We are occupying a foriegn country and people in the occupied country don’t usually like that, or put up with it for very long with out fighting back. I know it would never happen here because we would not put up with it at all. We’ve kick their asses long enough it’s time to focus our energy here to find alternative resources so we don’t have to be messing with other regimes so they will sell oil on our terms.
You sir are the same type of jackass who says that we’re fighting them for your freedoms and then you call people traitors when they exercise those freedoms.
You sir don’t sound like a patriot. You sound like a sheep being hearded.
President Bush doesn’t protect me the troops protect me, from him.
Dear Barfly - go have another drink. You might have a good “defense†for the “Islamic appeasement†crowd - if you can maintain a high BAC level, you probably won’t feel much pain if we are overrun by barbarians. Clever of you….
Overrun by barbarians! Lawsy, say it ain’t so! Shouldn’t you be putting on the houri costume? They’ll be here any minute!
April 21st, 2006 at 1:16 pm“YOU DONT NEED TO BE IN THE ARMY TO KNOW GW BUSH IS KICKING ARAB ASS .”
Really? Is that why we still are in Iraq for a war that “could take six day, six weeks, I doubt six months” (Rumsfeld)!
Is that why we have lost over 2,000 soldiers?
Is that why I am now paying $3.00 for gas? When before bush took office it was around $1.60.
Is that why I have paid more in Income taxes in the last 4 years then I ever have before, despite that I am suppose to have received these great tax cuts? OH wait! Thats because I’m not in the 1%.
And by the way!!!! You have no right at all, other than the ones that those Genterals have served to give you, to talk bad about them. You have NO (ZERO, ZILTCH) knowledge of what the hell your talking about!
April 21st, 2006 at 1:16 pmIts funny Anvilhead thinks buying Ford is buying American, wow this one must really be old and stupid.
Lets see….. buy Ford, all the steel comes from Japan, wiring harness from Taiwan, electronics from China or Japan, plastics from overseas, Oh yeah but its assembled here in the US by Americans. So are all the Toyotas that are assembled in this country by Americans.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:16 pmThe 6 former Generals: Should we talk these suicidal nuts down, or yell JUMP by saying nothing?! The 6 did the right thing for their country. PATRIOTS, ALL.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:16 pmAhh, the Mighty Aphrodite is here to share some knowledge with us. How many of the generals have spoken as forcefully in support of Bush? A mere “trickle.”
Consider aslo that 2 of the dissenting generals were former commanders of the U.S. Central Command which includes Iraq. Two of the dissenters were Army division commanders who served in Iraq.
I don’t give a good god damn about how many or how few generals criticize Bush- the fact remains that Iraq is a fucking debacle and you haven’t done a damn thing to make it better, you chickenhawk Bush cheerleader.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:17 pmThe right wing seems to forget that these retired generals are private citizens now, and are therefore free to criticize the government as much as they want.
This is quite an about-face from the crowd that was recently talking about how much the army supports Republicans, so we should support Republicans or we don’t support our troops.
Krauthammer’s punditry turned out to be wildly innacurate, so now he’s turning to comedy writing.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:18 pm#46
April 21st, 2006 at 1:19 pmMA,
That whole thing that Rumsfield saying that there are thousands and thousands of genreals and blah, blah, blah. The only thing that I have to say about that is if you take away all of the generals that never stepped foot in Iraq and then took away all of the generals that aren’t involved in combat or combat planning, than took away all of the ones that never had a chance to voice their opinions directly to the DoD then the small group of these 6 generals becomes pretty impressive. Save the spin for the ones that don’t think.
“Zoopooper - I wouldn’t call 6 retired Generals a “cascade†- a miniscule trickle perhaps…but “cascadeâ€? I don’t think so.
Comment by mighty aphrodite — ”
Really? Please enlighten me MA as to how many other times in history has generals ever spoke out like this? Please set us straight!
Also, just because other genterals do not come forward does not mean that they support the WH. I don’t hear them supporting the WH, and silence does not mean support.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:20 pmGeneral Dwight D. Eisenhower, President - Beware the Military Industrial Complex - guess Dwight was a liberal simpithiser too. Maybe you could go piss on his grave at ARLINGTON.
Don’t look now, but that All American Truck/SUV you have has about 40% Communist China made parts in it. Guess who’se supporting the Commies now…
On that note…..Why do any of us even reply to the trolls? I know they piss me off & my typing is quicker than my impulse to calm, but still. Let’s try to let them just be idiots. Why aren’t we talking amongst ourselves rather than grovelling in the mud with the scum of the earth? I’ll try if you all will.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:20 pmInteresting. He was a Whig/Republican. SO, it would make sense.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:22 pm#32 what Bar do you hang out at . i WANT to hang out with you!! :) ;)
April 21st, 2006 at 1:22 pm#59 I love that line about the thousands of retired generals not criticizing Bush. It’s hilarious. Next they’ll tell us that no civil war generals have criticized Bush, and Bush got more votes than Abraham Lincoln and George Washington combined, neither of whom have criticized the Iraq war.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:23 pmYeah but George Washington used electronic survaillence too.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:27 pmBig fvcking deal. Anybody can shoot at targets. They don’t shoot back.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:28 pmFarthammer is a bitter goon.
-GSD
April 21st, 2006 at 1:28 pmDEAR NRC;
CAN YOU SEND US SOMEONE WHO CAN THINK! YOU ARE BEING RIPPED OFF!
THANKS!
April 21st, 2006 at 1:30 pmOH REALLY ? AND WHY ARENT YOU HUMPING YOUR GEAR IN ANBAR PROVINCE AS A MARINE RIGHT NOW? COULDNT GET TIM OF FROM BURGER KING?
Comment by ANVILHEAD — April 21, 2006 @ 12:54 pm
Hey Onion-nuts. Guess who was agains this fools folly from the beginning?
-GSD
April 21st, 2006 at 1:30 pmThis amused me:
Did Krauthammer just call Bush a tinhorn, banana-republic dictator?
April 21st, 2006 at 1:31 pmANVILHEAD IS NOT IN THE ARMY, BUT HE DID SLEEP AT A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS!
-GSD
April 21st, 2006 at 1:32 pm#60 :-)
April 21st, 2006 at 1:33 pmThe problem is that the political leadership of the military do not listen to the experts. They continue to degrade the military and destroy our economy at the same time. If george w. bush had told Americans, “This war will outlast my presidency and cost $10 BILLON a month for longer than anyone can imagine.” Would anyone in their right mind, other then the chicken hawk oil producers, have supported him? Of course not. It’s totally irrational. . . and the generals have no other option but to tell Americans that this president has and continues to make the worst decisions a “commander and chief” can make.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:33 pmBesides joining the Fighting 101 Keyboard Unit and having a stupid ribbon magnet, how have you supported the war? Simple question, let’s see if you have an answer.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:33 pmThey had no problems with the military complaining about Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t tell” policy with regards to gays. They have a problem now because the military is complaining about them.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:34 pmDRAFT REPUBLICANS.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:36 pmWHAT ABOUT CIVILIAN CONTROL OF THE MILITARY? IM A CIVILIAN AND MY OPINION IS AS VALID AS ANY ONE ELSES.
Comment by ANVILHEAD — April 21, 2006 @ 1:22 pm
Which would mean that the opinion of the retired generals, all civilians now, is at least as valid as yours. And since several of them were there and saw how disastrous the administration’s policies are, I tend to believe them. By contrast, you are sitting here in the USA all safe and sound. You are in no position to say that the retired generals are wrong.
Try to understand something simple: Thousands of people, some of them not even citizens of our country, have fought and died to protect the right to speak out against your government when you think they are wrong. How can you say you have this right if you’re not allowed to exercise it?
Rumsfeld supporteers like to put forth the idiotic idea that the generals should have said something when they were still generals. Some of them did give the SecDef the benefit of their experience and the SecDef overruled them anyway. Everyone agrees that it would have been wrong for them to publicly criticize the policy while they were in uniform. Now that they are not in uniform, are you and other Rumsfeld supporters going to tell them they can’t speak now that they are civilians? When will you allow them to exercise their right to petition the government for a redress of grievances? Or do you think we shouldn’t have that right?
April 21st, 2006 at 1:38 pmSPUDGEBOY…. ooooh ouch ;) !!!!!! your ascerbic wit continues to astound and please!
April 21st, 2006 at 1:38 pmAS IF YOU CANT SUPPORT A WAR WITHOUT GOING !?
Of course you can. George W Bush did. Dick Cheney did. And now you.
You can support a war without going, and I can call you a hypocrite. That’s the kind of free country we live in.
Of course, if you tried this in WWII, you would have been ostracized from society, spit upon, and called a traitor to your country for letting others do your fighting for you.
As it is, we just call you a chickenhawk for letting others do your fighting for you. I reckon you got off pretty easy.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:38 pm#14 RECRUITMENT IS DOING FINE. LET THE 20 YEAR OLDS FIGHT. IM ALMOST 31. THE ARMY DOESNT NEED ME. - NUTSHEAD -
Currently, the age to enter the military has been raised to 38. If you have a prize in pistol shooting, why aren’t you in the army already?
April 21st, 2006 at 1:39 pmI can’t decide what kind of sign to hold up at the Bush protest at Cisco today. Years ago it was just “let the inspectors stay in Iraq” Now it’s “No war in Iran”, “don’t spy on us”, “stop torturing”, “get out of Iraq”…..I could go on…
April 21st, 2006 at 1:39 pmmeg_mac,
Just pointing out the obvious. It’s tough for a guy named anvilhead to retain or gain new knowledge.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:42 pmThe recruitment aged has been raised to 42.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:45 pmJesus fucking christ stop feeding the fucking trolls.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:45 pmAs long as the military is missing its recruiting numbers and implementing stop loss and sending our national guard overseas, anvilhead doesn’t see the need to join.
#82 there’s no sign big enough for all the grievances we need to redress.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:49 pmThese generals, who now are mere civilians, started a civilian policy debate in the most political of terms - they called for the termination of the top civilian at the Pentagon, who serves at the pleasure of the President. Once that debate began, they became subject to the same “all’s fair” rules as any other political figure.
The trouble is, the Left doesn’t want a real debate. The Left just wants to listen to itself in an echo chamber. Consequently, these dissident generals - a whopping seven out of 7,000 retired generals - can say whatever they want, as long as they agree with the Left. No one is allowed to criticize them. No one is allowed to point out inconsistencies in their past statements or actions. No one is allowed to question their motives. No one is allowed to suggest that they might be hurting the troops, or helping the enemy.
And, of course, we have to ignore the other 6,993.
The only way the Left can win a debate is not to allow one. Well sorry, Nico, those aren’t the rules of the game. So either put up your best arguments or shut up and quit whining.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:49 pm#32 what Bar do you hang out at . i WANT to hang out with you!! :) ;)
Comment by meg_mac — April 21, 2006 @ 1:22
Thanks MM. I’m a fly; always checking out new joints. If you’re in San Diego bar and see a loudmouth in a straw Panama, it’s probably me.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:50 pm“It’s tough for a guy named anvilhead to retain or gain new knowledge.”
April 21st, 2006 at 1:51 pmComment by Spudge_Boy
****It’s even tougher for a boy named Sponge_Boy….
Jesus fucking christ stop feeding the fucking trolls.
Comment by Lollerskates — April 21, 2006 @ 1:45 pm
It’s Friday. Target practice free for all.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:51 pmThat is it? Weak!
Then you can never ever ever ever say that I don’t support the troops ever again, because I know for a fact that I pay more taxes than your dumbass.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:51 pmThese generals, who now are mere civilians, started a civilian policy debate in the most political of terms - they called for the termination of the top civilian at the Pentagon, who serves at the pleasure of the President. Once that debate began, they became subject to the same “all’s fair†rules as any other political figure.em>
Well then, according to republican rules, when do the smear jobs on the generals relatives begin? Hope none are currently in the CIA.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:53 pmThat would have worked if you didn’t use your pet name of Sponge_Boy.
You do know what sponges do right? They soak things up. In my case, that would be facts. You should have called me something else.
Another backfire. Try again.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:55 pm#78 - Try to understand something simple:
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
You’re too funny, Wayne.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:55 pm#95 Zookeeper,
Yeah, that’s what Jane says when I want sex. :)
April 21st, 2006 at 1:58 pmYou know what hurts or troops and aids the enemy? Giving them our main battle plan. You know, the one that has been blasted all over the newspapers, television and Internet? You know the one Bush and pals have been trumpeting forever.
“We are fighting them there, so we don’t have to fight them here.”
How many terrorists do you think have said to themselves. “Ackmed, we should go fight in Iraq instead of planning our next attack”
You republican sure are stupid. You are Bush’s base.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:59 pmI love how the trolls come here to whine about progressives whining.
And A**head…you said yesterday that the army was not goin into Iran, we would just bomb them. We do not have enough troops to be fighting in THREE countries, so I guess now you must join.
Oh yeah but you won’t because you are a COWARD!!!
April 21st, 2006 at 1:59 pmYeah, that’s what Jane says when I want sex. :)
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — April 21, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
Too much information Wayne ;)
April 21st, 2006 at 2:01 pmI love how the trolls come here to whine about progressives whining.
Comment by Jules — April 21, 2006 @ 1:59 pm
I think that’s the best part about them… :)
April 21st, 2006 at 2:02 pm#81 He, that makes even easier for EVILHEAD to join the military!
#87 You support the war effort “BY PAYING TAXES AND I HAVE EARMARKED MY TAXES TO GO TOWARDS PAYING FOR BUNKER BUSTING BOMBS. ”
Well, no Bunker Buster has been used in the Iraq War, yet, so your “effort” has been void, if any. In fact, your taxes are going to no bid contracts to Haliburton, who casually is paying a retirement to Cheney, actually.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:02 pm#98 I remember seeing Sy Hersh when he gave the report about how many generals are upset because we won’t take nuclear weapons off the table even internally. What the MSM forgot to notice was that he also said we already have ground troops in Iran.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:03 pm“Apparently, the key to defeating our enemies is stifling all dissent against administration policies.”
Well, let’s put it this way Nico, FDR would have your skinny little butt in Ft. Leavenworth 20 years for 1/10 of the content you’ve posted so far. You people don’t seem to understand the concept of war. It’s my sincere hope that the next president whomever HE is will start clamping down on anti-American fuckweasels that don’t mind at all they their “freedom of treason” kills Americans.
“Dissent” my rosy red ass.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:12 pmThe supporters and defenders of King George Bush II are traitors to America, so they can all drop dead for trying to smear patriot Generals who know that Bush is a dirty dictator fruitcake!
April 21st, 2006 at 2:16 pmI wonder if IRI would be so interested in a president clamping down on ” anti american fuckweasels” if that president is a democrat? I would imagine that he would be in leavenworth instead of Nico.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:17 pmWhy do you hate freedom?
April 21st, 2006 at 2:18 pmThe problem that trolls can’t overcome, no matter how much they scream. . . g w bush. Historians are already calling him the worst president ever…. Time will not be george’s friend. He can give ten speechs a day to his selected listeners and still he will be judged on his lack of accmoplishments. The man is a complete failure and trolls must attack because they can’t claim acheivements other than the very rich are now getting richer.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:18 pm#96 - It’s going to be a long weekend, Wayne. ;)
April 21st, 2006 at 2:18 pmI have never been able to understand how a citizen exercising his right to free speech can be considered “treasonous”. It seems to me that telling someone they can’t speak out against their government is treasonous, un-American, and a sign of cowardice in and of itself. What’s the matter? Afraid someone might convince you that you were wrong to support this president?
April 21st, 2006 at 2:19 pmYou people don’t seem to understand the concept of war. It’s my sincere hope that the next president whomever HE is will start clamping down on anti-American fuckweasels that don’t mind at all they their “freedom of treason†kills Americans.
Out of curiosity I-R-I, how does one win a war by maintaining a failed war policy approach? I am interested in learning how/why conservatives think appearances trump reality. If the dissenters came forward wearing little laurel pins declaring their support for the troops and stage pro-war rallies with a lot of flag-waving, would the dissenters still be giving comfort to our enemies?
Bonus question. If Rice and Hillary ran, would you vote for a third party?
April 21st, 2006 at 2:20 pm#108 I’m clear. She and some of her co-workers took one of their co-workers out to lunch today. And since she most likely won’t be back to the office until Monday, she won’t ever see it, because by then there will be other topics to talk about.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:22 pm#111
ROFL
April 21st, 2006 at 2:25 pmAnvilhead, it’s been said before. You, sir, are a pussy. You and your ilk are bottom feeders and I will laugh my Master Sergeant ass off when you either suddenly claim to be gay or run off to Canada when the inevitible draft occurs.
Draft the Bush Twins and All Young Republicans.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:26 pm“I HAVE EARMARKED MY TAXES TO GO TOWARDS PAYING FOR BUNKER BUSTING BOMBS.”
Seriously Anushead, you have to be the biggest tool that has posted to this site in a long time. Have you hit puberty yet?
“You people don’t seem to understand the concept of war.”
I-Right: The concept of war? Ok, I’m game, what’s the concept of war? I apparently don’t understand it.
“It’s my sincere hope that the next president whomever HE is will start clamping down on anti-American fuckweasels”
I-Wrong: What’s wrong with Bush? Why can’t he clamp down on us fuckweasels? Oh, that’s right, there’s the little incovenience of the Constitution of the US of fucking A that the has to contend with. You know, the piece of paper which grants us freedom of speech? You’ve heard of the constitution, right moron?
April 21st, 2006 at 2:26 pmAnd with your years of military service, you do?
Oh that’s right, you haven’t served, so not only are you NOT an expert, but you have no fvcking clue.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:27 pmUsually I-RIGHT-I talks about other guys asses. Now he is telling us that his ass is rosy. Is that because he has been visiting Jeff Gannon?
April 21st, 2006 at 2:31 pmThis is my favorite comment from Charles:
“If they felt so strongly about Rumsfeld’s disregard of their advice, why didn’t they resign at the time? Why did they wait to do so from the safety of retirement, with their pensions secured”
First of all, that is exactly what some of them did…Resigned because they disagreed and then, as a civilian, complained.
But what is even better is how Charles contradicts himself. He says “why didn’t they resign” instead of wating for “retirement”…Excuse me Charles, but when you “resign” as a General, it is called “retirement”.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:33 pm“a whopping seven out of 7,000 retired generals - can say whatever they want, as long as they agree with the Left. No one is allowed to criticize them. No one is allowed to point out inconsistencies in their past statements or actions. No one is allowed to question their motives. No one is allowed to suggest that they might be hurting the troops, or helping the enemy.
And, of course, we have to ignore the other 6,993.”
As I have already pointed out BSR, just because 6,993 other generals do not say anything does not mean that they support the WH. Silence does not signify support.
Please provide us with a list of those 6,993 generals who have come out and stood in support of Rumsfeld? Cummon! Provide us with a time in our history that this many generals have spoken out agains an administration?
Dont be affraid BSR or IRI, just give the list. Stop with the lip service. You have the list of the 7 generals that have spoken out against Rumsfeld, give us a list of those that support him.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:34 pmApparently the key to defeating America’s enemies is not giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
Comment by mighty aphrodite — April 21, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
You mean like Bush telling the world that we can’t win the war on terror and telling the world that he really doesn’t care where Bin Laden is.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:34 pmHillary is a traitor and gets Americans killed.
Speaking to an Arab-language newspaper, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., charged President Bush’s “stubborn” policies are endangering the stability of the Middle East.
The president does not fully understand the situation in Iraq and has no plan, Clinton told the London-based Arab-language daily Asharq al-Awsat, according to Agence France-Presse.
The Bush administration has not been “frank” with the American people about Iraq’s financial and human toll, she asserted.
The former first lady, whose remarks were published throughout the Middle East and Muslim world, said the “stubborn and arrogant” Bush administration has refused to admit mistakes which are endangering the lives of Iraqis and American soldiers and threatening stability in the region.
Clinton told the paper, according to AFP, the U.S. is in trouble because it can’t abandon Iraq but is unable to provide the necessary manpower to run the country because of its inability to garner international support.
After a December visit to Baghdad during which she sharply criticized the Bush administration, Clinton was accused of giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
Clinton insisted she had come to Iraq to tell the troops “Americans are proud” of them, but she said back home “many question the administration’s policies.”
She then criticized President Bush for having been “obsessed with Saddam Hussein for more than a decade.”
Al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based satellite news channel, broadcast her remarks immediately in Arabic translation.
The network also gave prominent play to comments by her traveling companion, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who said the administration’s justification for the war was “tenuous at best” and Americans “could look back and see the decision to attack Iraq was one that ended up being very, very costly.”
Former police captain Anwar Ibrahim, Iraq’s deputy minister of interior, was asked about the effect of earlier blasts against U.S. leadership by Democratic presidential contenders.
“Our enemies all have satellite television and they are watching,” Ibrahim said, according to New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik. “When they hear this kind of thing, they think they are winning.”
April 21st, 2006 at 2:35 pmI-RIGHT: Dear moron, you are changing the subject.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:36 pmIM NOT IN THE ARMY — BUT I DID COME IN SECOND PLACE AT MY SHOOTING RANGE LAST SUMMER IN THE PISTOL COMPETITION. SO THERES THAT.
Comment by ANVILHEAD — April 21, 2006 @ 1:04 pm
BB pistols don’t count.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:38 pmLet’s do some math.
Iran hated Saddam.
Iran hated the Taliban.
Iran is our enemy.
By taking out Saddam and the Taliban, George Bush and friend AIDED THE ENEMY.
WAKE UP YOU MORONS.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:40 pmHow do you know when your own ass is rosy?
April 21st, 2006 at 2:40 pm#60 - “Really? Please enlighten me MA as to how many other times in history has generals ever spoke out like this? Please set us straight!
Also, just because other genterals do not come forward does not mean that they support the WH. I don’t hear them supporting the WH, and silence does not mean support.” Remove Bush
****Really! 6 ain’t a cascade no matter how you try to spin it. Your supposition of what other might possibly think is an indication of …nothing. I guess your “argument” means nothing.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:41 pm“How do you know when your own ass is rosy?”
1. You stare at your naked ass in the mirror alot?
2. You visit a dominatrix regularly because you are a bad boy?
3. You have a bad rash?
Not sure?
April 21st, 2006 at 2:42 pmRecruitment is in the toilet. They do need and will take you. That is why they raised the aged limit and lowered the IQ level. You will be a perfect fit.
Comment by Spudge_Boy — April 21, 2006 @ 1:07 pm
I think that’s why Bush included a provision in the No Child Left Behind Act that requires local schools to provide student information (name, address, etc.) to the military for recruitment activities. Military recruitment and improving education have nothing to do with each other. This is a contingency plan, if you will. He new a war or 3 was coming, so this can only help round up warm bodies.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:43 pmIRI… i think they all watch American Idol. you know your favorite tv program??
April 21st, 2006 at 2:43 pmI guess quoting someone who shares your opinion means that whatever you say is correct.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:44 pmWhere is that long list of retired generals that support Rummy?
Dang crickets……
April 21st, 2006 at 2:46 pmThe problem is that the political leadership of the military do not listen to the experts.
One of our founding principles is civilian control of the military. Jefferson even opposed appropriations for standing armies and navies, a policy that eventually led to war. Today, polls show that a majority of Democrats prefer to have the military in control of itself. That’s just one more reason we should never trust them with power.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:46 pmPost 124 I-R-I sits naked over a mirror on the floor to see his ass I guess > lol. He seems to have a fixation on male asses which means he dreams of Gay sex, but denies it like Bush does!
April 21st, 2006 at 2:47 pm“****Really! 6 ain’t a cascade no matter how you try to spin it. Your supposition of what other might possibly think is an indication of …nothing. I guess your “argument†means nothing.”
MA, I noticed that you failed to provide a time in history that this many generals have spoken out at an Administration.
Cummon! Provide a time when this has happened like it is now! If this is not anything special, you should have 10’s or 100’s of examples to provide to us.
ENLIGHTEN US!
April 21st, 2006 at 2:48 pm“polls show that a majority of Democrats prefer to have the military in control of itself.”
BSR: Please point to this poll.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:48 pmIs it treason yet? Oh yeah, it certainly is and it’s making my stock in ACME Hemp and RazorWire Ltd. look better all the time. It won’t be long before you ratbastards will not be allowed to hind behind your twisted concept of patriotism and the First Amendment. I blame McCarthy for putting himself ahead of his country and blowing the chance he had to rid this nation of your ratbastard communist grandfathers and grandmothers.
Is It Treason Yet?
By Joe Mariani
December 9, 2005
Treason is defined, in part, as “giving aid and comfort” to the enemies of the United States, according to the Constitution (Article III, Section 3) (web site) and the United States Code (Title 18, Part I, Chapter 115, Section 2381). (web site) Yet the Constitution also states, in the First Amendment, (web site) that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech.” How do we distinguish between free speech and treason? Where do we draw the line? The answer may be found using that least-used resource: common sense.
I would submit that the elected leaders of this country have more responsibility than the rest of us to ensure that they give no aid and comfort to the enemy in time of war. With American troops risking their lives in daily battle on behalf of the nation, critical words from those in leadership positions carry greater weight than in peacetime, both with the enemy and with our own troops.
Yet the leaders of the Democratic Party consistently attack the war in Iraq with lies, from distorting the history of our confrontation with Saddam Hussein, (web site) to prevaricating about their own statements which led us to war, (web site) to defaming the character of every member of the Bush administration in turn. Worst of all, however, is the slander they spread about our troops.
The Chairman of the Democratic party, Howard Dean, said during a radio interview on 6 December (web site) that the “idea that we’re going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong.” Does this statement not give “aid and comfort” to the enemy? The leader of a major political party, to which nearly half of all Americans belong, is telling the terrorists and insurgents in Iraq that they will win; that they will beat the United States.
Dean also said that, “this is the same situation we had in Vietnam,” and in a certain sense, he’s right. The beaten, demoralized North Vietnamese leadership was given new hope by certain American politicians and the press, to the point where they struggled on until America’s liberals turned public opinion against the war. America was forced to withdraw from Vietnam in disgrace, having never lost a battle, by people just like Howard Dean. With his defeatist statements, Dean is giving our enemies the aid and comfort they need to keep fighting. How many Americans will die because of Dean’s irresponsible remarks, made only to seek political advantage? Tell me why that’s not treason.
Senator John Kerry (D-MA), the Democratic Party’s most recent Presidential candidate, appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on 4 December (web site) to deface the American military. Speaking to interviewer Bob Schieffer, Kerry said that “there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the — of — the historical customs, religious customs.” (And some people accuse GW Bush of being incoherent?) .
Does a United States Senator and former Presidential candidate accusing American soldiers of terrorizing women and children in the dead of night not give aid and comfort to the enemy? Just as he did during Vietnam, (web site) John Kerry is falsely accusing American troops of committing atrocities as a matter of normal course in an attempt to undermine support for the war among Americans. As a consequence — intended or not — he is yet again handing America’s enemies an immense propaganda victory. How many potential terrorists will have their hatred of Americans fueled by Kerry’s matter-of-fact statement that American soldiers are terrorising women and children in their homes at night, breaking cultural and religious taboos? Tell me why that’s not treason.
House Minority Leader (Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) fully supports and endorses the recent statements of Representative John Murtha (D-PA), the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. Murtha has made a big splash among the anti-war faction by calling for an immediate — within six months — pullout from Iraq. On 1 December, Murtha told a group of leading Pennsylvania citizens (web site) that America would be forced to abandon Iraq within a year because the troops are “broken, worn out” and “living hand to mouth.” Murtha is hailed as a hero in the media for suddenly changing his mind about the war in Iraq, but called it “unwinnable” and stated that “we cannot prevail… with the policy we have today,” while urging President Bush to send even more troops in May 2004. (web site)
What a burst of enthusiasm Murtha’s words must have engendered among our enemies! How much hope will they take from his proclamation that they are, in fact, winning the war? Despite fantastic losses, and despite earning the enmity of the Iraqi people, the terrorists and Saddam supporters in Iraq can now believe that if they just find the strength to hold on a little longer, they can push the hated United States out of Iraq. How many of the enemy will fight rather than surrender, because Pelosi and Murtha have told them they’re winning? How does that not give the enemy aid and comfort? Is that not treason?
(Not all Democrats follow the defeatist, destructive path of their leaders. But those ARE their leaders — the Chairman of their party, their most recent Presidential candidate, their party leader in the House of Representatives. Some Democrat politicians have repudiated the statements of Dean, Kerry, Pelosi, Murtha and the rest… not because those remarks were vile, untrue and treasonous, but because the Democrats are afraid such openly anti-American statements might “harm efforts to win control of Congress next year,” according to the Washington Post. (web site) The only way they can regain power is to hide their true feelings, and they know it. Treason, it seems, is still considered malapropos by some Democrats.
But not all.
————-
Joe Mariani is a computer consultant born and raised in New Jersey. He now lives in Pennsylvania, where the gun laws are less restrictive and taxes are lower. Joe always thought of himself as politically neutral until he saw how far left the left had really gone after 9/11. His essays and links to articles are available at http://www.guardianwatchblog.com/
Wait until I find the stories about the Donk congresscritters that went hat in hand to Saddam to apologize to him for kicking his ass out of Kuwait and making it difficult to re supply his mass murdering army. I’ll post more reasons why Left Wing Fucktards are traitors and how it is exactly I-RIGHT-I stands to gain financially from that fact.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:48 pmSection 9528 of No Child Left Behind was designed as a recruiting tool, because Bush knew none of his base has the balls to join the military.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:48 pm#124 - All Gumbies know their asses are rosy, that’s why their brains hurt.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:49 pmfrom an article in ‘The Sun’
When Saddam came to power the US gave him a long list of ‘communists
eliminate.He got rid of a number of them and slowly ingratiated himself to western powers, particularly the US.Later through go-betweens Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld-who are now respectively vice president and secretary of defense-the US supported Sadaam in his war against Iran.But there is no way to switch off a tyrant like Saddam and he eventually started to cause trouble where we didnt want him too.
so for us to claim we had nothing to do with his tyranny is ludicrous.
on the contrary we knew everything he was doing,but as long as it was considered in our interest to let him do it ,we looked the other way.
WHO IS AIDING AND ABETTING WHO??????
April 21st, 2006 at 2:50 pmWhat poll? Proof? Link?
Or truly just more blather.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:50 pm“I have never been able to understand how a citizen exercising his right to free speech can be considered “treasonousâ€.” - comment by Wayne
****I understand your point. But rules are different in war time. I refer you to Lincoln’s suspension of habeus corpus during the Civil War.
As I see it, when an American says or does something that can be EXPLOITED by the enemy to emboldened enemy comabatants resulting in stepped up attacks and deaths of American service personnel, that is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
A prime example is the perception many Americans have of a certain has-been Hollywood personality. When she went to Hanoi during the Viet Nam War, her statements and photos were used to inflate the pysche of the enemy NVA and deflate the morale of US troops. The washed up B*^ch should have been tried for treason - before they shot her…..
April 21st, 2006 at 2:50 pm#131: I’m really not familiar with the poll you are speaking about which says that Democrats prefer that the military is in charge of itself. Help me out with this one. Personally, I prefer civilian control. Sounds to me like you are making up shit.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:51 pm[…] Conservative columnists are outraged–outraged!–that people with intricate knowledge of the military, that is, former generals, are daring to use their knowledge to criticize its current operation, both in the military and the civilian sense. You see, they’re emboldening the enemy you unpatriotic, commy-worshipping bastards! Says Krauthammer: That happens in places such as Hussein’s Iraq, Pinochet’s Chile or your run-of-the-mill banana republic. And when it does, outsiders (including the United States) do their best to exploit it, seeking out the dissident factions to either stage a coup or force the government to change policy. […]
April 21st, 2006 at 2:52 pmI-RIGHT-I is investing in hemp. How very hippy and liberal of you.
“Smoke up Johnny!”
April 21st, 2006 at 2:52 pmI-R-I, are you going to answer my questions on #110?
So you quoted Clinton. Okay, I’ll ask again. If she criticizes the policies of this administration while waving a flag, does it stop insurgents from believing they’re winning the fight?
Is this Marine Corps veteran giving aid and comfort to the enemy?
April 21st, 2006 at 2:53 pm“I-R-I, are you going to answer my questions on #110?”
I think we are all waiting for IRI to answer the questions asked of him. But he cannot, so he will continue to ignore us. Moron Troll.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:54 pmYea! Another republican that took away the people’s rights. Good pull, but I wouldn’t try to use it as ammunition as he was one of you guys.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:55 pm“Another republican that took away the people’s rights.”
But they don’t think of Lincoln as a Republican because he freed the slaves.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:58 pmA civil war president? Now who has a pre-9/11 view of the world?
April 21st, 2006 at 2:58 pmYea! Now we get to fight all of our enemies in the middle east.
Yahoo! News
Arpil 21, 2006
Mideast ‘axis’ forms against West
I am sure this is Bill Clinton’s fault or the left.
I am sure it has nothing to do with Bush or our fvcked up foriegn policies.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:58 pmI should add that I’d be less critical of Bush apologists if the administration had any inclination of correcting its military missteps. As it is, we know the White House’s MO for political purposes is admit no mistake. Unfortunately a war hasn’t modified that MO. As far as I’m concerned if anyone is giving aid and comfort to the enemy it is the administration for dooming the careers of top brass like Shinseki for daring to speak out against Rumsfeld’s vision. They’re responsible for unnecessary deaths of our troops and a prolonged, unwelcome stay for the military in the desert.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:59 pmOh, so freeing the slaves to stop the South’s crazy antics makes Lincoln a liberal pot smoking hippy Democrat?
April 21st, 2006 at 3:01 pm#140 ma,
With all due respect before I leave for the weekend, I don’t buy that “in war time” crap. One of the main reasons that we liberals are speaking out against this war in Iraq is precisely because we feel that the president misled the American people about the danger Iraq posed to us. We do not feel that the justification is there to do what we did. And we do not accept the dismantling of our civil liberties in the name of “national security” just because we are “at war”.
When you let a president, any president, get away with lying to you about why it’s supposedly necessary to spend your money and kill your children, then you have not only the right but the obligation to speak up and say, “This is wrong!” But the real cowardly thing to do would be to tell people, “No,no. You can’t speak out against this illegal war. Don’t you know we’re at war?” Yeah, I know. We’re illegally in this war. And if you care at all about the US Constitution, you would be standing up here with the rest of us screaming for the President and Vice President to be impeached (in accordance with our constitutional system of government, something the President himself does not support.)
April 21st, 2006 at 3:08 pmAccording to the articles of UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) these Generals were prohibited from speaking out against Ruinsfeld…
Here’s the articles:
888. ART. 88. CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS
Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
889. ART. 89 DISRESPECT TOWARD SUPERIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICER
Any person subject to this chapter who behaves with disrespect toward his superior commissioned officer shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
So why would they have said anything in uniform when they would lose everything they worked for? Now, as for those on the inside, they have NO CHOICE but to follow orders or risk all the years they put in for their commission…
BUSH IS AN IDIOT!!!
April 21st, 2006 at 3:10 pmIF these trolls post and we dont respond do they still get their money from the NRC??
April 21st, 2006 at 3:16 pmJust wondering since i dont want them to be able to pay for that frickin SUV they drive.