posted April 14, 2006 07:59 PM
Bush: Rumsfeld 'exactly what is needed'
Statement of support follows chorus of criticism from generals
Friday, April 14, 2006; Posted: 6:25 p.m. EDT (22:25 GMT)
Donald Rumsfeld, this week with Gen. Peter Pace, has come under fire from retired senior officers.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Friday that embattled Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has his "full support and deepest appreciation."
"Earlier today I spoke with Don Rumsfeld about ongoing military operations in the Global War on Terror," Bush said in a written statement released by the White House. "I reiterated my strong support for his leadership during this historic and challenging time for our Nation."
Six retired generals, including three who commanded troops in Iraq under Rumsfeld's leadership, have publicly stated their criticism of Rumsfeld's leadership and called for his resignation.
Batiste was also interviewed on CBS's "Early Show" on Friday, and he had harsh words for Rumsfeld.
He said: "We went to war with a flawed plan that didn't account for the hard work to build the peace after we took down the regime. We also served under a secretary of defense who didn't understand leadership, who was abusive, who was arrogant, who didn't build a strong team. I think we need senior military leaders who understand the principles of war"
Former U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Anthony Zinni, former Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton and retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold also have called for Rumsfeld to step down.
Swannack is critical of Rumsfeld's management style.
"Specifically, I feel he has micromanaged the generals who are leading our forces there," Swannack said in the telephone interview.
"And I believe he has culpability associated with the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and, so, rather than admitting these mistakes, he continually justifies them to the press ... and that really disallows him from moving our strategy forward."
Swannack, who served more than 30 years in the Army, also criticized the way the war was being run before he retired.
In May 2004, while still on active duty, Swannack told the Washington Post that he thought the United States was losing strategically in Iraq.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/14/iraq.rumsfeld/index.html
Lindaland
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! 
posted March 20, 2006 05:07 AM
posted March 21, 2006 10:43 AM
posted March 21, 2006 10:50 AM
posted April 15, 2006 11:51 PM
