| Rumsfeld Faces Criticism over Iraq |
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Donald Henry Rumsfeld - serving as the 21st United States Secretary of Defense is facing calls to resign from several emeritus generals, some of whom were involved in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Describing Rumsfeld as a micromanager, a call by seven retired generals Mr. Rumsfeld to take responsibility for the failures in Iraq has initiated a verbal war in Washington between the Defense Secretary’s supporters and his critics.
The seven generals who have spoken out so far have narrated Mr. Rumsfeld a deaf man who did not listen to military leaders. They said that his alleged deafness to advice clashes with his political objectives. They also have described what happens to the careers of serving officers who dispute tactics with Mr. Rumsfeld.
Mr. Rumsfeld held fast to his opinion that the war could be swiftly won with far fewer troops using the latest technology sidelining Eric Shinseki, the army chief of staff, for telling Congress in 2003 that the Iraq invasion would require several hundred thousand troops.
The seven retired generals who said they believe Rumsfeld should resign, include Anthony Zinni (4-star, Commander, Central Command until 2000), Greg Newbold (3-star, J-3 Operations, the Joint Staff until 2002), John Batiste (2-star, Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division deployment to Iraq in 2004), Paul D. Eaton (2-star, Training of Iraqi forces in 2003-2004), Charles Swannack (2-star, Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division deployment to Iraq in 2003), John M. Riggs (3-star demoted to 2-star grade, Army transformation officer), and Paul van Riper (3-star, commanded Marine Corps Combat Development).
A one-page Pentagon memo was circulated late last week comprising the details about the defense secretary’s frequent contacts with numerous military and civilian advisers. This intensified the political rhetoric in the United States over whether Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign or not.
The Undated and unsigned Pentagon memo put onto paper, information that had been given orally to reporters on Friday. It is not strange for the Defense Department to circulate such information to analysts, military officials and others who might be reporting or commenting on a Pentagon policy.
On one hand the retired generals are demanding the removal of Mr. Rumsfeld, and contrary to this, President Bush responded to the criticism last Friday praising Mr. Rumsfeld’s leadership as "exactly what we need at this critical moment".
Rumsfeld snubbed these criticisms, stating that "out of thousands and thousands of admirals and generals, if every time two or three people disagreed we changed the secretary of defense of the United States, it would be like a merry-go-round." There are an estimated 3,100 to 6,300 retired military generals.
Honorably retired General Richard B. Myers who was appointed with Mr. Rumsfeld’s approval in 2001 and has emerged as one of his chief defenders, said Sunday that senior administration officials had been wrong to criticize the former Army chief publicly just before the invasion of Iraq for saying the mission could require a much larger force than was ultimately committed.
The inactive Gen. Richard, who has retired as the nation’s top military officer, said that generals who are speaking out against the defense secretary are improperly breaching military etiquette, which dictates that officers discuss complaints with the civilian leadership privately.
One among the most fervent defenders of Mr. Rumsfeld, on Sunday was Representative Duncan Hunter, a California Republican and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who said Mr. Rumsfeld had done a good job under tough circumstances.
Various Republican lawmakers also defended Mr. Rumsfeld and President Bush’s decision to keep him as secretary, while some Democrats revived calls that he should resign.
Insiders from the White House say that the determined faithfulness of President Bush towards his lieutenants is strengthened by a denial to listen to voices from outside his inner circle - no matter how qualified or well intentioned. President Bush said that Rumsfeld has my full support and praised the defense secretary for his leadership.
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