Disgusted with the leadership of the Iraq war, two retired generals say the GOP must go

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Oct. 25, 2006 | WASHINGTON -- Two retired senior Army generals, who served in Iraq and previously voted Republican, are now openly endorsing a Democratic takeover of Congress. The generals, and an active-duty senior military official, told Salon in separate interviews that they believe a Democratic victory will help reverse course from what they consider to be a disastrous Bush administration policy in Iraq. The two retired generals, Maj. Gen. John Batiste and Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, first openly criticized the handling of the war last spring, when they called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"The best thing that can happen right now is for one or both of our houses to go Democratic so we can have some oversight," Batiste, who led the Army's 1st Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, told Salon. Batiste describes himself as a "lifelong Republican." But now, he said, "It is time for a change."

Eaton, who was in charge of training the Iraqi military from 2003 to 2004, agrees that Democratic control of Congress could be the best way to wrest control from the Bush administration and steer the United States away from a gravely flawed strategy in Iraq. "The way out that I see is to hand the House and the Senate to the Democrats and get this thing turned around," Eaton explained, adding that such sentiment is growing among retired and active-duty military leaders. "Most of us see two more years of the same if the Republicans stay in power," he said. He also noted, "You could not have tortured me enough to vote for Mr. Kerry or Mr. Gore, but I'm not at all thrilled with who I did vote for."

An active-duty senior military official who also served in Iraq said that, among a surprising number of his otherwise "very conservative" colleagues, there is hope that Democrats will gain control of Congress. "I will tell you, in the circles I talk to, the only way to enable or enact change is to change the leadership," he said.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/10/25/generals/

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Can't hurt. Let's see what they can do. I'll be voting Democratic for Congress (Pallone) but probably Republican for Senate (Kean).

[I'm Gone 60]

Then why didn't these guys speak up when they were still active and resign in protest? Don't think much of people that don't have the balls to speak up when they could have done something and I question their motives.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Then why didn't these guys speak up when they were still active and resign in protest? Don't think much of people that don't have the balls to speak up when they could have done something and I question their motives.

I think some of them did, but were sidelined and/or fired/reassigned. Hardly a reward for honesty...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Two leading Republican senators, Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and John Warner of Virginia, called Sunday for a new strategy in Iraq, saying the situation in getting worse and leaving the United States with few options.

http://www.drudge.com/news/86523/hegel-war...w-iraq-strategy