.Rumsfeld disputes critical ex-generals, defends Iraq
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and his top military leader are strongly rebutting recent criticism by retired generals of the Pentagon's planning for the Iraq war and demands that Rumsfeld resign.
In particular, Rumsfeld said he did not recall that retired Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold raised objections to the war planning when he worked in the Pentagon for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
''He never raised an issue publicly or privately when he was here that I know of,'' Rumsfeld said Tuesday. ''An awful lot of people around here were not shy about giving their views. ... But in terms of why he would come up with this now, I just can't speak to that.'' Rumsfeld said the criticism did not affect his ability to do his job.
Newbold, in the newsmagazine Time, said he was outspoken in his criticism before the war, saying ''the zealots' rationale for war made no sense.'' From 2000 until October 2002, Newbold was director of operations for the Joint Chiefs. The United States invaded Iraq in March 2003.
At least two other retired generals have raised similar objections in recent weeks about the administration's war policies, including Gen. Anthony Zinni, former commander of U.S. Middle East forces.
To date, President George W. Bush has rejected suggestions that Rumsfeld resign. The defense secretary has served in that job since shortly after Bush took office in 2001.
Gen. Peter Pace, current Joint Chiefs chairman and a Marine like Zinni, said military leaders, during dozens of prewar meetings, laid out a number of questions and concerns about whether enough troops and resources were being thrown into the invasion.
In the end, he said, ''I was very comfortable with the prewar planning. I am comfortable with the way it was executed.And I would go back, given the same facts and figures, and reach the same conclusion.'' Asked if the United States has the resources to fight the war in Iraq and another major conflict, perhaps a war in Iran, at the same time, Pace said about 2 million U.S. service members still are available outside the Gulf region.
''We have sufficient personnel, weapons, equipment, you name it, to handle any adversary that might come along,'' he said.
In a fundraising speech Tuesday in Des Moines, Iowa, Bush said he understands the war has meant difficult times for Americans, but the United States is not going to retreat.
''We're not going to be intimidated by thugs and assassins,'' Bush said. ''We will achieve victory in Iraq. And by achieving victory in Iraq, we will make it more secure for a generation of Americans. They hope that we lose our nerve. We will not lose our nerve.'' Meanwhile, the State Department invited cameras to record the first meeting between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iraq's first full-fledged post-invasion ambassador to Washington. Samir Sumaidaie, Samir Sumaidaie told Rice he is delighted to be the ''first ambassador since we got rid of the regime of Saddam Hussein with your help.'' Earlier Tuesday, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, said even as ground forces begin to leave Iraq, the Air Force will be needed to ferry troops and supplies, to perform surveillance and reconnaissance and to strike targets.
''I think the Air Force will be there like we were for the no-fly zone for a long time,'' Moseley told defense reporters. ''I don't know yet how many bases. We're looking at reducing the number of bases. We have 18 we are flying airplanes off of right now. I see that number coming down, but I don't see the air and space component leaving soon.'' As the fourth year of the Iraq war begins, nearly 21,000 Air Force personnel are in Iraq and Afghanistan, mostly in Iraq.
Overall there are about 132,000U.S. forces in Iraq. Military officials have expressed hope they can reduce the number below 100,000 by year's end.
In other remarks, Moseley said it is inappropriate to comment on any plans for military action against Iran. Asked if the Air Force could destroy nuclear targets buried deep in the ground there, he said it would depend on how deep the structure was and how it was built. The military has a variety of munitions that can penetrate certain levels of concrete, steel and sand, he said.
OhmyNews
Didn't someone just tell us "There's no "there" there.?
I don't know to have the secretary come out in this fashion and "bitch" about what the general said tells me there must be "something" there. I will have to read it all over and more carefully.
policies
In particular, Rumsfeld said he did not recall that retired Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold raised objections to the war planning when he worked in the Pentagon for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
''He never raised an issue publicly or privately when he was here that I know of,'' Rumsfeld said Tuesday. ''An awful lot of people around here were not shy about giving their views. ... But in terms of why he would come up with this now, I just can't speak to that.'' Rumsfeld said the criticism did not affect his ability to do his job.
Newbold, in the newsmagazine Time, said he was outspoken in his criticism before the war, saying ''the zealots' rationale for war made no sense.'' From 2000 until October 2002, Newbold was director of operations for the Joint Chiefs. The United States invaded Iraq in March 2003.
At least two other retired generals have raised similar objections in recent weeks about the administration's war policies, including Gen. Anthony Zinni, former commander of U.S. Middle East forces.
To date, President George W. Bush has rejected suggestions that Rumsfeld resign. The defense secretary has served in that job since shortly after Bush took office in 2001.
Gen. Peter Pace, current Joint Chiefs chairman and a Marine like Zinni, said military leaders, during dozens of prewar meetings, laid out a number of questions and concerns about whether enough troops and resources were being thrown into the invasion.
In the end, he said, ''I was very comfortable with the prewar planning. I am comfortable with the way it was executed.And I would go back, given the same facts and figures, and reach the same conclusion.'' Asked if the United States has the resources to fight the war in Iraq and another major conflict, perhaps a war in Iran, at the same time, Pace said about 2 million U.S. service members still are available outside the Gulf region.
''We have sufficient personnel, weapons, equipment, you name it, to handle any adversary that might come along,'' he said.
In a fundraising speech Tuesday in Des Moines, Iowa, Bush said he understands the war has meant difficult times for Americans, but the United States is not going to retreat.
''We're not going to be intimidated by thugs and assassins,'' Bush said. ''We will achieve victory in Iraq. And by achieving victory in Iraq, we will make it more secure for a generation of Americans. They hope that we lose our nerve. We will not lose our nerve.'' Meanwhile, the State Department invited cameras to record the first meeting between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iraq's first full-fledged post-invasion ambassador to Washington. Samir Sumaidaie, Samir Sumaidaie told Rice he is delighted to be the ''first ambassador since we got rid of the regime of Saddam Hussein with your help.'' Earlier Tuesday, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, said even as ground forces begin to leave Iraq, the Air Force will be needed to ferry troops and supplies, to perform surveillance and reconnaissance and to strike targets.
''I think the Air Force will be there like we were for the no-fly zone for a long time,'' Moseley told defense reporters. ''I don't know yet how many bases. We're looking at reducing the number of bases. We have 18 we are flying airplanes off of right now. I see that number coming down, but I don't see the air and space component leaving soon.'' As the fourth year of the Iraq war begins, nearly 21,000 Air Force personnel are in Iraq and Afghanistan, mostly in Iraq.
Overall there are about 132,000U.S. forces in Iraq. Military officials have expressed hope they can reduce the number below 100,000 by year's end.
In other remarks, Moseley said it is inappropriate to comment on any plans for military action against Iran. Asked if the Air Force could destroy nuclear targets buried deep in the ground there, he said it would depend on how deep the structure was and how it was built. The military has a variety of munitions that can penetrate certain levels of concrete, steel and sand, he said.
OhmyNews
Didn't someone just tell us "There's no "there" there.?
I don't know to have the secretary come out in this fashion and "bitch" about what the general said tells me there must be "something" there. I will have to read it all over and more carefully.
policies
posted by madtom at 8:44 PM
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