lucky number seven

Well, it took about 24 hours to go from six to seven retired generals calling for the head of Don Rumsfeld. Of course, considering the size and breed of dog former NATO commander Wesley Clark has in the hunt, it’s kind of a wonder he waited this long.

I believe secretary Rumsfeld hasn't done an adequate job. He should go.

Um, Wes, when you are not the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth guy in the pile on, I really think you’ve gotta come with something a little bigger than “hasn’t done and adequate job.”

But, never you mind, the Pentagon has something to say to you and your band of bothersome brothers. As reported in today’s New York Times, the DoD has spent the time/energy/staff on drafting/issuing/distributing/leaking talking points for our recently retired generals. The memo starts:

U.S. senior military leaders are involved to an unprecedented degree in every decision-making process in the Department of Defense.

Of course, it doesn’t say if that “unprecedented degree” is unprecedented because it is large or small, but I guess we’re supposed to think whatever it is, it’s good.

The fact sheet was sent out to provide people with the facts. We would be doing a disservice to the analysts and the American public if we didn't provide exactly what the facts are.

That was Defense Department spokesman Eric Ruff, and he’s right, how would we know the facts about Iraq if the Bush Administration didn’t leak them?

That said, this ”politically motivated” “charm offensive,” as one general called it (and not in a nice way), is, itself, apparently rather unprecedented:

It is not uncommon for the Pentagon to send such memorandums to this group of officers, whom they consider to be influential in shaping public opinion. But it is unusual for the Pentagon to issue guidance that can be used by retired generals to rebut the arguments of other retired generals.

What’s not unusual (during the last five years) is that a part of our taxpayer-financed government is exhausting resources on public relations rather than policy. Maybe it’s me, but I think Iraq is an all hands on deck situation right now—somebody (Donald) should be a bit more concerned with the record rate of US casualties in the last two weeks. . . .

Wait, this just in, Don of the Dead wants us to think that he does care about what the generals think—and he’s summoned all of them to a photo-op, um, meeting this Tuesday to express their ideas about Iraq. I’m sure that will be as productive a gathering as the January coffee klatch Bush engineered with former Secretaries of State and Defense.

There’s just no substitute for experience. . . assuming you learn from it.


screen grab courtesy of Al Rodgers