retired generals revolt opened extraordinary debate among younger officers

[dajoki]

NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/washington/23military.html?ex=1146369600&en=6252fd3d3e57d123&ei=5009&partner=MSN_NYTHOME

Young Officers Join the Debate Over Rumsfeld

By THOM SHANKER and ERIC SCHMITT
Published: April 23, 2006

WASHINGTON, April 22 — The revolt by retired generals who publicly criticized Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has opened an extraordinary debate among younger officers, in military academies, in the armed services' staff colleges and even in command posts and mess halls in Iraq.

Junior and midlevel officers are discussing whether the war plans for Iraq reflected unvarnished military advice, whether the retired generals should have spoken out, whether active-duty generals will feel free to state their views in private sessions with the civilian leaders and, most divisive of all, whether Mr. Rumsfeld should resign.

<<snip>>

The discussions often flare with anger, particularly among many midlevel officers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and face the prospect of additional tours of duty.

"This is about the moral bankruptcy of general officers who lived through the Vietnam era yet refused to advise our civilian leadership properly," said one Army major in the Special Forces who has served two combat tours. "I can only hope that my generation does better someday."

An Army major who is an intelligence specialist said: "The history I will take away from this is that the current crop of generals failed to stand up and say, 'We cannot do this mission.' They confused the cultural can-do attitude with their responsibilities as leaders to delay the start of the war until we had an adequate force. I think the backlash against the general officers will be seen in the resignation of officers" who might otherwise have stayed in uniform.

[gordianot]

1. Good observation, and questions recommended.

[xray s]

2. All comments by military personnel should be prefaced by a disclaimer;

I do/do not believe we are living in the 'End Times' and the United States is involved in a war against Satan.

I do/do not believe the book series 'Left Behind' is a correct betrayal of the times we live in.

I do/do not believe in the Rapture.

I do/do not believe George Bush was chosen by God to lead us in this 'End Times' war, and George Bush can not make a mistake because he is chosen by God.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. What if they gave a war and no one came?

I think the backlash against the general officers will be seen in the resignation of officers" who might otherwise have stayed in uniform.

[stillcool]

4. ouch....

Lt. Gen. Gregory S. Newbold, the former operations officer for the Joint Chiefs, wrote, in Time magazine, "My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions — or bury the results."