Regarding #70087 by don knutsen on 5/15 at 9:18 am

Yes, thank you.  I agree that for a member of the armed services to speak out against the Commander in Chief is simply not realistic given the Uniform Code of Conduct.  It also wouldn’t play well in general (no pun intended) for the military to openly argue with the civilian authorities - that’s a slippery slope we do not need.

But yes, Colin Powell is the ass who should be strung up for his abandonment of the people of this nation who he has clearly betrayed.  Here was a man for whom I could have possibly voted in a Presidential election at one time.  Instead, he has shown he has neither the courage or conviction to step forward and tell America what much of it already knows and believes:  the current junta (excuse me: administration) lied to us to get us into Iraq.  With such knowledge we could finally proceed to impeach W and the rest of his minions, but Powell doesn’t have the courage to be honest with us. 

For that I will never forgive him.

Re comment #70075 by Conrad K. Maisch.  Thanks for the reprint of “Masters of War.” Perhaps it’s that the music business has just gone too corporate, but it would be nice of today’s generation produced another Bob Dylan.

‘Forward, the global war on terror!’
Was there a man dismay’d ?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
The Bush administration had blunder’d:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Tour of duty 6 months now 15!

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley’d & thunder’d;
Storm’d at with shot and shell,
Blindly they stayed the course,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Halliburton’s got some beer and just as well.

Paraphrased from “The Charge Of The Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson memorializing events in the Battle of Balaclava - another ‘fools’ errand’ of faded empires and feckless politicians.

re: Conrad Maisch’s blog at the beginning of this…

I agree that it wouldv’e been alot better if these generals had made their statements prior to retiring, but I think, given the code of conduct of the military that would be unrealistic. The person who should’ve resigned to make a statement early on was Colin Powell...but he was “too much the loyal soldier” to bring himself to do that, even though he knew full well he was helping to spread the lies. Atleast these generals are coming out now, pointing out that bu$h wasn’t interested in the views of the experienced military leaders. Only in following the oil greed which is the world bu$h was raised in as a spoiled rich brat who has never been held to account. The failed buisness man in every venture, the governor who enjoyed his power in putting the most people to death in Texas, the would be soldier who used daddy’s connections to keep himself out of the war in vietnam. Bu$h’s twisted version of reality bears little resemblence to the real world. He will never admit to a mistake, he will never be interested in the truth, he is a sociopath who belongs behind bars for any number of crimes. He has without a doubt caused more destruction and death then any other ten inviduals in our overstretched penal system. I’d encourage everyone to writetheir representitives in favor of impeachemnt proceedings beginning as soon as is possible. Each day longer he and Cheney remain in office, the hole they are digging us into grows deeper.

Very rare is the general who will speak out publicly against the Commander in Chief, in this case Commander Cod Piece.  Generals are accountable to the decider guy, who is accountable only to his personal agenda. 
I do not blame the generals, I blame the system of no accountablity.

Masters of War (Bob Dylan) Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people’s blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You’ve thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain’t worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I’m young
You might say I’m unlearned
But there’s one thing I know
Though I’m younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death’ll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I’ll stand o’er your grave
‘Til I’m sure that you’re dead

Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

I have to agree with Conrad as well. Where was this public outcry before my brothers and I were sent into the meat grinder?

If I had to say something positive, I’m glad they are speaking out now as it is typically General Officer courtesy to not bash the current Commander-in-Chief.

So, I can’t say they did the absolute least they could do. That would be General Tommy Franks! :D

Gen. Eaton, Gen. Batiste and many other military men and women, veterans and citizens of all kinds are showing courage and honor in their positions on the continued occupation of Iraq.

The initial decision to invade Iraq, the way it has been conducted, the motivations and greed behind many of the activities involved appear to have been deceptive and dishonorable.

Gens. Eaton, Batiste and others are providing the good leadership that is so lacking in the Bush-Cheney administration. Take a look at:

“‘Strength, Honor, Compassion’ are words to live by in these times” (AmericanChronicle.com)

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle. asp?articleID=3351

Oho, Oho, Oho ! The Commander-In-Chief is the guy who was a draft dodger ! We feel sorry for all Generals !

conrad, i actually agree with you. i was about to post a comment; i love it when the professional war mongers disagree with the deciderer guy. too bad they didn’t speak up several years ago. you beat me to it conrad. as mark lenard, playing the evil romulan said to captain kirk;in another life i could have called you friend.

I really have a special place in my heart for all the people in the government and the military establishment who wait to retire before offering up their revelations of “Truth” . They represent a rare breed of scoundrel .
Their order of priorities seems to be :
1)Swallow and follow the current administration’s flawed policies until they are securely retired .
2)"Double Dipping” by receiving lucrative income from media interviews , speaking engagements and publishing contracts at the expense of lives lost and grand theft by selling the “truth” for millions of dollars after securely retiring instead of offering it freely in a timely fashion which would save lives and ultimately our country .
3)Ride off into the sunset or the political arena with their flawed sense of conscience intact .