Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Generals want Rumsfeld to resign (Reuters)

Sono giorni di grande soddisfazione, non so per voi... 
In fondo che fossero degli arroganti incompetenti l' avevamo detto tre 
anni fa, ora lo dicono dei generali americani...
Am.
 
Generals want Rumsfeld to resign
By Steve Holland  Fri Apr 14, 8:40 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two more retired U.S. generals called for Defense 
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign on Thursday, claiming the chief 
architect of the Iraq war and subsequent American occupation should be 
held accountable for the chaos there.
As the high-ranking officers accused Rumsfeld of arrogance and ignoring 
his field commanders, the White House was forced to defend a man who has 
been a lightning rod for criticism over a war that has helped drive 
President George W. Bush's public approval ratings to new lows.
Retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni told CNN Rumsfeld should be held 
responsible for a series of blunders, starting with "throwing away 10 
years worth of planning, plans that had taken into account what we would 
face in an occupation of Iraq."
The spreading challenge to the Pentagon's civilian leadership included 
criticism from some recently retired senior officers directly involved 
in the Iraq war and its planning.
Six retired generals have now called for Rumsfeld to step down, 
including two who spoke out on Thursday.
"I really believe that we need a new secretary of defense because 
Secretary Rumsfeld carries way too much baggage with him," said retired 
Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack, who led the Army's 82nd Airborne Division in 
Iraq.
"Specifically, I feel he has micromanaged the generals who are leading 
our forces," he told CNN.
Retired Major Gen. John Riggs told National Public Radio that Rumsfeld 
had helped create an atmosphere of "arrogance" among the Pentagon's top 
civilian leadership.
"They only need the military advice when it satisfies their agenda. I 
think that's a mistake, and that's why I think he should resign," Riggs 
said.
But at the White House, the 73-year-old Rumsfeld drew unflinching 
support. "Yes, the president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very 
fine job during a challenging period," White House spokesman Scott 
McClellan told reporters.
Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq 
before his retirement, urged Rumsfeld on Wednesday to resign.
Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold and Army Maj. Gen. Paul 
Eaton have also spoken out against Rumsfeld.
The outcry came as opinion polls show eroding public support for the 
3-year-old Iraq war in which about 2,360 U.S. troops have died and Bush 
is struggling to bolster Americans' confidence in the war effort.
IGNORING THE CALLS
Rumsfeld has offered at least twice to resign, but each time Bush has 
turned him down.
Pentagon spokesman Eric Ruff said Rumsfeld is ignoring the calls for him 
to quit and they have not been a distraction.
"Has he talked to the White House? The answer is no, he's not. And two, 
the question of resignation: was he considering it? No."
Ruff added: "I don't know how many generals there are -- a couple 
thousand, at least. And they're going to have opinions."
Critics have accused Rumsfeld of bullying senior military officers and 
disregarding their views. They often cite how Rumsfeld dismissed 
then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki's opinion a month before the 
2003 invasion that occupying Iraq could require "several hundred 
thousand troops," not the smaller force Rumsfeld would send.
But retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Mike DeLong rejected the idea that new 
leadership was needed at the Pentagon.
"Dealing with Secretary Rumsfeld is like dealing with a CEO," he told 
CNN. "When you walk in to him, you've got to be prepared. You've got to 
know what you're talking about. If you don't, you're summarily 
dismissed. But that's the way it is, and he's effective."
The White House pointed to comments supportive of Rumsfeld from Marine 
Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and said 
criticism was to be expected at a time of war in both Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
"We are a nation at war and we are a nation that is going through a 
military transformation. Those are issues that tend to generate debate 
and disagreement and we recognize that," McClellan said.
(Additional reporting by David Morgan)

 anni fa, ora lo dicono dei generali americani...
Potevano svegliarsi anche prima... Dopotutto i militari neppure in urss 
avevano un buon rapporto con i comunisti al potere (perché i neocon sono 
  semplicemente Trozkisti all'americana)

anni fa, ora lo dicono dei generali americani...
E invece essere "generali americani" li rende automaticamente "saggi
competenti", vero *FESSO MONONEURONE*?
*LOL*
-Stefano