"Those Generals Should be Prosecuted and then Shot"

[Stinky The Clown]

How soon until the nutters start saying that about the six-or-is-it-seven-or-is-it-eight generals who spoke out ... so far?

Support the Troops, my ass.

[CarbonDate]

1. I'm amazed Michael Savage hasn't already....

...he's usually right out front on a lot of this stuff.

[Kiteria]

2. They already are:

And, let's face it. Their coming out publically IS a unique experience and one wonders why they, A: Waited so long after retirement and, B: Why they didn't have the guts to do it will still on duty?

Something stinks. And it's not just the war.

[Ecumenist]

4. Kitera, they CAN'T during active duty....

they can be court martialed to say the least, not to mention losing everything financially....
Welcome to DU BTW:hi:

[Rick Myers]

5. Never been in the military, have you??

Enjoy the silence.

[wtmusic]

7. Nah, that's just the smell of a war that's been left out too long

and blind ignorance.

BTW, speaking out while they were in the service would have landed them in prison. Read the UCMJ sometime. :eyes:

[Sparkly]

8. "the guts to do it while still on duty" = rightwing talking point

:eyes:

[Stinky The Clown]

10. "Why they didn't have the guts to do it will still on duty?"

Do you have a clear understanding of the military, the code of conduct they follow and the UCMJ?

They are speaking out as much or more as surrogates for those on active duty as for themselves.

Jack Murtha is doing the same, actually.

It isn't a slam dunk, but for an active duty officer make staements like these generals did, there is a very good chance for them to be prosecuted.

And as for stink ...... :sniff snif: ...... maybe its my imagination ..... yanno?

[beam me up scottie]

11. Who wonders?

Something stinks all right.

:mad:

[wtmusic]

16. Yo Kiteria...where'd you go? We were just getting to know you..

Shucks, I'm going to miss him/her... :cry:

[CanuckAmok]

19. No, servicepeople are prohibited from discussing military policy...

...while enlisted. It is a court-martial offence.

What they are doing is rare, but not unique.... Check out USMC Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler's book "War is a Racket".

Butler was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal and two Congressional Medals of Honour. Butler was a Republican candidate for the Senate. In many ways, he was a model soldier and ideal statesman.

But, boy, did he speak his mind.

Here's an excerpt from his book:


"War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.

A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes. In the World War a mere handful garnered the profits of the conflict. At least 21,000 new millionaires and billionaires were made in the United States during the World War. That many admitted their huge blood gains in their income tax returns. How many other war millionaires falsified their tax returns no one knows.

How many of these war millionaires shouldered a rifle? How many of them dug a trench? How many of them knew what it meant to go hungry in a rat-infested dug-out? How many of them spent sleepless, frightened nights, ducking shells and shrapnel and machine gun bullets? How many of them parried a bayonet thrust of an enemy? How many of them were wounded or killed in battle? Out of war nations acquire additional territory, if they are victorious. They just take it. This newly acquired territory promptly is exploited by the few – the selfsame few who wrung dollars out of blood in the war. The general public shoulders the bill.

And what is this bill?

This bill renders a horrible accounting. Newly placed gravestones. Mangled bodies. Shattered minds. Broken hearts and homes. Economic instability. Depression and all its attendant miseries. Back-breaking taxation for generations and generations. For a great many years, as a soldier, I had a suspicion that war was a racket; not until I retired to civil life did I fully realize it. Now that I see the international war clouds gathering, as they are today, I must face it and speak out."

"War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.

I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else. If a nation comes over here to fight, then we'll fight. The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6 percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get 100 percent. Then the flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag.

I wouldn't go to war again as I have done to protect some lousy investment of the bankers. There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket.

There isn't a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. It has its "finger men" to point out enemies, its "muscle men" to destroy enemies, its "brain men" to plan war preparations, and a "Big Boss" Super-Nationalistic-Capitalism.

It may seem odd for me, a military man to adopt such a comparison. Truthfulness compels me to. I spent thirty- three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle- man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.

I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service.

I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.

During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."




What's incredible about this book, and the ideas within it, is that it was published in 1934!




For the record, this publication is in the public domain. It can be purchased in or ordered by most decent bookstores, or even downloaded in its entirety from the internet.

[Rick Myers]

21. Thank you for that post, my friend!!!

War IS a racket...

[Late Slip]

22. Chief racketeers - Cheney and Rumsfeld and

their neo-con buddies who thought Iraq would be a cakewalk and proving grounds for the latest and greatest in defense technology and their buddies who do the gun running.

[napi21]

32. It's a violation of the UCMJ and they could be court marshaled.

You have 2 options while on active duty. You can say YES SIR, and carry out your orders, or you can resign.

Yes, you are permitted to speak out to your superior, and sometimes very heated discussions take place, but after you present your case, you are told to carry out the orders, you are required to do so under the UCMJ.

I have no idea why the media doesn't want to say that...or maybe I do.

[neuvocat]

3. You'd have to start with something more basic

like "They're traitors!" and then go from there.

[No New War]

9. Agreed

You have to start with something along the lines of: "How unpatriotic to question our leadership in a time of war!"
Then you can start sending out the lynch-mob invites.

[Sparkly]

12. New propaganda in WaPo, hot off the press!!

They risk damaging the war in Iraq; and, "reasoned public debate" isn't understood by the enemy...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2577227

[Rick Myers]

15. Welcome to DU!!!

:hi:

[No New War]

30. Thank You

Thanks for the warm welcome, I've been lurking for a few weeks, and this seems like a great community. Glad to be here :)

[LittleClarkie]

6. Support the troops.

Unless of course they disagree with you. Then you shoot them.

Bastards.

[babylonsister]

13. Pipe down, Mr. Clown. It's about to get intense imo. Just

cover you and you family. Don't worry about the schrubco*; I think they are going down.

[kurth]

14. RETIRED soldiers are citizens who can say what they want

Look at all the retired generals who are whoring for Bush and his LIES.

[Amonester]

17. 99% of these (mostly) fine people would be alive, healthy, and

well today if the coward Deceiver-in-Chief hadn't sent them to their absolutely unnecessary DEATH...

Period US UK Other* Total Avg Days
5 225 6 2 233 1.86 125
4 715 13 18 746 2.35 318
3 579 25 27 631 2.92 216
2 718 27 58 803 1.89 424
1 140 33 0 173 4.02 43
Total 2377 104 105 2586 2.3 1126

They should communicate the fact that they are the targets of these criminal death threats to their pals who are still in the military and ask them to do something in order to arrest and prosecute the cabal of Warmongering Liars and War profiteers responsible for these obvious crimes (for What?? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$??)

That's what they should do to restore Justice.

[AussieDave]

18. You just KNOW what Freeperville is saying about this:

"To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
And one can now see why these cry baby idiots are shooting off their dumb, stupid mouths. The Army ones never got promoted so they are mad at the Sec of Defense. They should resign their commissions and give back their retired pay ASAP. They are proved to be anti-American scum. Thank goodness I never had to serve with these idiots during my 25 years.


5 posted on 04/14/2006 5:17:07 PM PDT by YOUGOTIT

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1615323/posts


More hilarity from the "Support Our Troops (until they're all dead)" crowd to come...........:sarcasm:

[beam me up scottie]

23. Uh,

so the GENERALS never got promoted?

I sincerely doubt this idiot served 25 years.

In the brig, maybe.

[DanCa]

20. Support the troops fire Rumsfeld (nt)

[AussieDave]

24. And the Swiftboating of the generals continues.........

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1615323/posts

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Those DemonRat Generals might as well be working for Bin Laden or Saddam. What a bunch of traitors.


24 posted on 04/14/2006 6:26:46 PM PDT by johna61
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies >

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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
As a 20 year retiree of the U.S. Navy (Fast Attack Submarines, Special Projects) and an enlisted puke, even I understand that the civilians (President, SecDef) make policy, it is the military's job to carry out that policy, provided that the orders are lawful. How stupid (more likely egotistical) are these idiot generals?


25 posted on 04/14/2006 6:37:06 PM PDT by 7mmMag@LeftCoast (The DNC and Rino's: they put the CON into congress everyday.)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies >

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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Since when is Rumsfeld commander in chief?
One guesses the MSM knows they can't get to Bush, so this is their alternative.

These fifth columnists must really be stupid if they think they'd have their jobs for long if we lose this war. They'd be among the first to have their throats cut.


26 posted on 04/14/2006 6:39:36 PM PDT by onedoug
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies >

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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Who are these "Generals?" As a former enlisted man, I am stunned, why not take the stars off and hand them in and then speak? Remember Gen Johnson (CSA) during Vietnam? The greatest moral failure...

Maj Gen Charles H Swannack Jr, Army- CG of the 82d Abn Div. Affairs with a woman not his wife "allegations" led to retirement.

Maj Gen John Riggs, Army- Improper conduct (contracting) Retirement

Maj Gen John Batiste, Army- Paul Wolfowitz top military aid, couldn't speak his mind? Getting third star but slipped away...President of Steel Company...money not war

Gen Anthony Zinni, Marines- Oh, USS Cole got hit where? Who approved that plan to port?

Lt Gen Gregory Newbold, Marines- "I'm looking forward to a job that doesn't have the intensity and lack the quality of life that this one has." What about the enlisted guys? Remember "the combat power of the Taliban has been eviscerated".

Maj Gen Paul Eaton, Army- David Hackworth wrote a critical column on Gen Eaton's leadership dealing with Rangers. He was not the man to train the Iraqi Army and had no idea of what he was doing. Look what that Iraqi Battalion did in its first firefight, guess that was SecDefs fault.


27 posted on 04/14/2006 6:46:45 PM PDT by RSM
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies >

[beam me up scottie]

25. Where are they getting this?

I doubt these parrots came up with it on their own.

[AussieDave]

26. It's either "pick an orifice" or the White House Press Office

Either way, it's crap...........

[beam me up scottie]

29. Oh, I'm sure they had a hand in it.

It stinks of their tactics.

[w13rd0]

27. You need look no further...

...than the most recent RNC "talking points" fax...

[beam me up scottie]

28. Dammit.

I'll have to listen to this shit tomorrow at work.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

31. Sir, No, Sir! -- .

I wish more would have spoke up during the Viet Nam war,my cousin might have been saved!In the 1960’s an anti-war movement emerged that altered the course of history. This movement didn’t take place on college campuses, but in barracks and on aircraft carriers. It flourished in army stockades, navy brigs and in the dingy towns that surround military bases. It penetrated elite military colleges like West Point. And it spread throughout the battlefields of Vietnam. It was a movement no one expected, least of all those in it. Hundreds went to prison and thousands into exile. And by 1971 it had, in the words of one colonel, infested the entire armed services. Yet today few people know about the GI movement against the war in Vietnam.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x891657#891657 Speak up and Save the Troops...
:patriot:

[AussieDave]

33. More Freeperville reaction - aren't they just adorable ???

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1614928/posts?q=1&&page=151

"To: jonrick46
I submit the democrats must have poll numbes showing GWBush is very popular otherwise they would have been attacking him directly.

They would not be doing this if the illegal alien thing was working either.

This is telegraphing democrat party desperation.


PS Has anyone seen Howard Dean? Is he still looking for Osama at DNC fundraisers?


165 posted on 04/14/2006 10:41:56 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)

* * * * * * * * * *
"Has anyone seen Howard Dean? Is he still looking for Osama at DNC fundraisers?" :rofl: :rofl:

Well at least Howard's looking for him - "GWBush" sure as hell ain't !!!!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

34. "PS Has anyone seen Howard Dean? Is he still looking for Osama at DNC ..."

.... fundraisers?"

Whaaaaaaaa?

[AussieDave]

35. It must be wonderful to live in La-La Land, where only good things happen

and one has one's own reality.........:wtf: