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Cartoons

Luckovich - General Planning

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Posted on Apr 14, 2006

By Mike Luckovich

  • Check out a Buzz Flash editorial on this topic: “It is unprecedented for former military brass to rise up and denounce the secretary of defense in such scathing terms and call for his resignation.”
  • Or a veteran’s take: “We old vets understand better than most how gut-wrenching it must have been for these recently retired officers to go public… Under normal circumstances, such behavior smacks of treason.”


  • Generals Planning

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    Previous cartoon: Mr. Fish - Preparing for War

    Next cartoon: Powell - Rumsfeld on the Defensive

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    By GW Andersen, April 18, 2006 at 7:59 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Dear Mr. Giles (#7317)

    It is my understanding that in a time of war a military official is not allowed to speak out against the commander and chief.  In fact, they can be prosecuted for it.

    So, in reference to their cowardice, you are sadly mistaken.  By speaking out, even in retirement they risk a lot.  Bush or Rumsfeld could cut their pension, or wire tap their phone or worse yet accuse them of domestic terrorism for having an opinion contrary to the administrations.

    In the Cheney/Rumsfeld/Bush Administration dissent or disagreement from anyone is:

    *Seen as Unpatriotic
    *Seen as playing politics
    *Seen a s soft on Terrorism

    Because this administration has only one thing to hang its hat on (war) any criticism, even if it is not war related is lumped into “soft on terror”
    or “unpatriotic”.

    You are right on one point.  This is a corrupt administration.

    If anyone in this country thinks our men and women are dying for freedom, or liberty or even a good cause, they have been sucked into the spin of our current administration.

    Our men and women are dying for a political, Economic and spiritual ideology, nothing more.  I would rather pay $5 a gallon than sacrifice one more US military person so the
    Iraqis can be free.

    You can not hide behind words like liberty, freedom, justice for all, human dignity… when you are wire tapping US citizens, having people in your administration being indicted daily, torturing prisoners, and turning away those from church you deem unfit to be Christians.

    Final point:
    Sure, if you are a republican, (and it sounds like you are since you are hoping people will burn in hell) consider this: 

    Clinton may have screwed one person and lied about it.

    Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the whole clan have screwed countless Americans as well as innocent Iraqis and lied about it.

    Sincerly,

    “Proud to be an American, but currently embarrassed”

    Report this

    By Tony Giles, April 17, 2006 at 3:26 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Oh what brave men these recently retired generals are!  They remain silent in their bunkers, watching their men get killed and maimed, until their pensions are safely in hand, then they crawl out from the woodwork to criticise the corrupt government whose wicked and illegal war they so lately prosecuted without demur.  May they rot in hell!

    Report this

    By Leftist Conspiracy Nut, April 14, 2006 at 8:12 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    These generals (and all who serve in the armed forces) took an oath to “defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC”. I’d say they were just doing their duty trying to kick Rumsfeld out. Secret trials, concentration camps, torture, domestic spying, illegal wiretaps, falsified intelligence, lying to Congress, ... - when is this administration going to be impeached (better yet, arrested)?

    Report this

    By bill wolfe, April 14, 2006 at 5:01 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Good, but two steps behind the story, which is the pentagon and intelligence community’s attack and leaks, through Sey Hersh, on Neo-Con planning for Iran air strikes.

    Report this

    By Mark, April 14, 2006 at 3:08 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    The same thing happened with the Nazi political party and the German army in WWII.  In my opinion the Republicans have been and are going too far in the promotion of their ideology using every means possible.  They have no mandate to do so based on their popularity, must the same as the Nazi’s- who had limited public support despite how things appeared. The same way the Nazi’s were afraid on the reich is very similar to the way Americans won’t speak out for fear of being called traitors.  Isn’t it great when your government has more in common with Nazi’s than it does with the previous administration?

    Report this

    By roystr, April 14, 2006 at 1:02 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    isnt treason “going against the country”?
    saying the politician should go,and he is doing a crumby job,isnt against the country,but a politician.

    what am i missing? am i wrong? please explain.
    roy

    Report this

    By Jon B, April 14, 2006 at 9:33 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    How about a similar cartoon, former generals in standing conference. One addresses the group, “I told you to stop talking in the press. They’re going to figure out our coup plan against the Bush regime.”

    Report this

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