Generals defend Rumsfeld

Several retired generals who worked with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, including a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, yesterday decried calls for the secretary's resignation from other retired officers.

"I think what we see happening with retired general officers is bad for the military, bad for civil-military relations and bad for the country," retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs under Mr. Bush, said in an interview with The Washington Times. He said he would elaborate his views in an op-ed essay.

"I'm hurt," said retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael P. DeLong, who was deputy commander of U.S. Central Command during the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and briefed Mr. Rumsfeld at the Pentagon.

"When we have an administration that is currently at war, with a secretary of defense that has the confidence of the president and basically has done well -- no matter what grade you put on there, he has done well -- to call for his resignation right now is not good for the country," he said.

Six former generals have, one at a time, called on Mr. Rumsfeld to resign.

"The fact that two or three or four retired people have different views, I respect their views," he said, "but obviously 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 around here."

"I believe we need a fresh start in the Pentagon," retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the Army's 1st Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, told CNN cable network. "We need a leader who understands teamwork, a leader who knows how to build teams, a leader that does it without intimidation. You know, it speaks volumes that guys like me are speaking out."

What speaks volumes Major General is your quote and what it says about you. It is clear that you suffer from the William Jefferson Clinton syndrome. It's about you. It's always about you.

Your feelings must have been hurt. Did Mr. Rumsfield listen to your suggestions, but chose suggestions made by others instead? This must have hurt you terribly so. What right does Mr. Rumsfield have to listen, but ignore your ideas? You not only have a right to be heard, but you have the right to call the shots because, after all, your are Maj. Gen. John Batiste.

Sir, I salute you and your service to our country. I thank you. To John Batiste, the major general, I take off my hat. To civilian John Batiste, the retired major general who is undermining this administration and our efforts and playing into the hands of the left and the anti-Bush, the hate-Bush crowd and undermining the teamwork you espouse, I put my hat back on.