Ex-Generals criticize Bush and the war
Posted: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 11:30 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Security
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.