Right Wing Swiftboating Retired Generals: ‘Dangerous,’ ‘Encouraging the Enemy to Fight On’

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.