Rummy's Congress Problem

Not Iraq's congress, although that's a problem for Rummy too. Via the Washington Post:

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, underscoring lawmakers' concerns about the Iraq war's progress, said yesterday that he may invite testimony from retired generals who have called for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to resign.

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) said he will confer with colleagues before deciding whether to schedule a hearing that would feature defenders of Rumsfeld as well as retired officers who have stirred debate in recent days by saying the secretary should step down. "I commit to making a decision on this request in the near future," Warner said in a statement, adding that the panel has a busy schedule.

Concerned about the mounting criticism and a possible hearing, more than a dozen Republican senators rallied to Rumsfeld's defense yesterday. They treated him to a breakfast in the Capitol and praised him throughout the day.

The man fucks up a country, presides over a military disaster (tactical and strategic) and they buy him breakfast. They spent the day praising him. I mean, I know that God speaks to Bush, which, at best, makes him a prophet. No word on God speaking to Rumsfeld. Possibly The Almighty is trying to do so through a burning oil well and Rumsfeld, despite planning the war, isn't anywhere near it. An understandable mistake on God's part... Either way, should Republicans, voted into office on the basis of their Christian^tm credentials really be praising anybody? Does their base know that they're idolators?

These Rumsfeldians say that there are only a few retired Generals speaking out and that we should ignore them. (Like the man behind the curtain.) I don't remember hearing any retired Generals speaking out about mistakes during the First Gulf War or the Operations in Bosnia...

Those who have sharply criticized Rumsfeld's handling of the war, and urged that he be replaced, include retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq; retired Marine Lt. Gen. Paul K. Van Riper; retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, who was director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2000 to 2002; and retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Eaton, who oversaw the training of Iraqi soldiers in 2003 and 2004.

Many other high-ranking retired and active officers have defended Rumsfeld, as has President Bush. Still, military historians say, the level of wartime criticism is notable, and a Senate panel hearing would give the retired officers a new platform for their arguments.

These are the Generals that had the greatest insight into this war. The ones that dealt with the big picture. The ones that were on the ground trying to implement Rumsfeld's plans. They're not, as the Right would have you believe, trying to overthrow civilian leadership of the military, they're acting as good citizens. They're using the specialized knowledge and first hand experiences as Americans to better our country. They're doing this by speaking out against people that are damaging our institutions and our reputation.

They're sharing their opinions and knowledge with the people. That's what frightens the Republicans.

Don Rumsfeld Congress Congressional Hearings