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Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Ex-Generals criticize Bush and the war

Posted: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 11:30 AM by Mark Murray
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From NBC's Mark Murray
In a conference call with reporters today to announce the new ads they appear in that criticize the Iraq war, three retired military generals -- Wesley Clark, John Batiste, and Paul Eaton -- all had tough words for the Bush Administration and its handling of the war. Said Clark, "The fact is, this president never listened to the soldiers on the ground. The problem is not just a military problem. It is a political problem and a diplomatic problem."

Batiste added that Bush "ignores sound military advice and surrounds himself with like-minded subordinates." More: "There was a time when we could have pulled this out. Quite frankly, it is time to call a spade a spade."

And Eaton called the Bush Administration "incompetent," and said his participation in this ad campaign "is an effort to render competence to an Administration that needs it."

One of the ads has Bush saying that he listens to the commanders on the ground. But then Batiste chimes in: "Mr. President, you did not listen. You continue to pursue a failed strategy that is breaking our great Army and Marine Corps.  I left the army in protest in order to speak out. Mr. President, you have placed our national in peril. Our only hope is that Congress will act now to protect our fighting men and women."

These ads -- which are being run by VoteVets.org, which describes itself as a pro-military organization made up of 40,000 veterans and other supporters who oppose the Iraq war -- target GOP senators and congressmen up for re-election in 2008. They are: Sens. Susan Collins, John Sununu, John Warner, and Norm Coleman; and Reps. Mary Bono, Phil English, Randy Kuhl, Jim Walsh, Heather Wilson, Jo Ann Emerson, Tim Johnson, Mike Rogers, Fred Upton, and Mike Castle in their home districts.

Republicans opposed to VoteVets released an oppo-research document tying the group to Democrats and alleging that some of its past TV ads have been misleading.

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I guess for those that have served in the Reserves and the Guard are pieces of shit if we want to believe dogface soldier. I served 20 years active duty, lost part of my body in a war and I am considered unpatriotic by this person because I have challenged and call Bush the dunce in chief. As far as I am concerned those who lump me in the column of unpatriotic and have never served or dodged the draft and who had help to miss their obligation (Bush) are unpatriotic. As far as dogfaced soldier I hop that all soldiers come home safley and don't have to go through the VA system like some of us do. Dogface your education should have served you better because this country is not a dictatorship and also the people are free to speak their minds unlike the people in the Soviet Union in my day. You should know as well as I that the military in its current state can not continue the pace that it is on right now because we do not have the resources that we did when I was on active duty. We don't need to try to decide who has hurt the military because both Democrats and Republicans have been at the helm and the military has suffered. While it is noble that you have served more than 20 years it does give you the right to discredit others for their service. We have every right to challenge the dunce in chief and you should remember the oath of service that you have had to swear to especially the line "to protect the Constitution of the United States against foreign and domestic enemies". If the dunce in chief were destroying the very meaning of the Consitution then you have a moral obligation to protect it. So you need to be very careful at what you are saying because it could happen that the military may need to be called upon to protect the very being of this country. If you are solely sworn to never chide the dunce in chief then you need to use your education and really study the oath that you have had to swear to when you re-enlisted. I can almost bet that soldiers do and have said things about any Commander in Chief and if you don't think they do then you might be living in the same bubble as the dunce in chief. I commend you on your service and your dedication to continue to serve. By the way with your education you should be able to figure this out in the March issue of the VFW magazine 85% of respondents said that a surge would not provide us the stability to get out of Iraq. The magazine has a very large number of subscribers larger than are current force. You continue to serve with Honor and Integrity and so have many others before your time, with Honor and Integrity also comes the moral obligation to challenge orders when said orders seem morally questionable. May God Speed.
Expect the right wing spin machine to come out in full force to attack the integrity of these brave generals! Look at the list of all those associated with this administration who have resigned in disgust - or been replaced because they wouldn't cooperate with the Bushbots. Speaking truth to power insures character assassination by this bunch. Their tactics should have no credibility at this point, but sadly, there are plenty like Dogface who adamently defend this "commander-in-chief"and his policies. What will it take for Dogface to realize that Bush is a political creation...pure and simple? He has no concept of the sacrifice being asked of this military. Did you by any chance catch Bush dancing the cha cha last week while Baghdad was burning?
Dogface, you're the man!  These people don't get it and never will.  I got your 6...

NONCOM


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