1000
The history of the retired generals with the active military is entangled. All the 'talking head' paid television generals could not provide any perspective without their 'internal active military' contacts. Their opinons are not valid simply because they 'provide' commercial salesmanship and not an advisory perspective. CNN promotes oil and military interests as well as Arab stockholders, their paid advisors will reflect those priorities.
A classic example of the relationship of the retired to the active military was revealed in the accident of the USS Greenville.
US Nuclear Sub Sinks Japanese Fishing Training Ship off of Diamond Head, O'ahu, Hawaii
http://gohawaii.about.com/library/weekly/aa021001a.htm
On 9 February 2001, while hosting a "Distinguished Visitor" cruise for several civilian guests, Greeneville conducted an Emergency Main Ballast Tank Blow, a dramatic maneuver that brings the boat to the surface so rapidly her bow rises high out of the water. Two of the civilian guests were at the submarine’s controls during this maneuver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Greeneville
WITH THAT TYPE OF entanglement the retired officers are as qualified to speak out as those on active duty.
Don Rumsfeld has been involved up to his eyeballs with inappropriate use of female interrogation officers as well as cruel and 'strange' techniques.
What Rumsfeld knew
Interviews with high-ranking military officials shed new light on the role Rumsfeld played in the harsh treatment of a Guantánamo detainee.
By Michael Scherer and Mark Benjamin / Salon
April 14, 2006 Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was personally involved in the late 2002 interrogation of a high-value al-Qaida detainee known in intelligence circles as "the 20th hijacker." He also communicated weekly with the man in charge of the interrogation, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, the controversial commander of the Guantánamo Bay detention center.
During the same period, detainee Mohammed al-Kahtani suffered from what Army investigators have called "degrading and abusive" treatment by soldiers who were following the interrogation plan Rumsfeld had approved. Kahtani was forced to stand naked in front of a female interrogator, was accused of being a homosexual, and was forced to wear women's underwear and to perform "dog tricks" on a leash. He received 18-to-20-hour interrogations during 48 of 54 days.
Little more than two years later, during an investigation into the mistreatment of prisoners at Guantánamo, Rumsfeld expressed puzzlement at the notion that his policies had caused the abuse. "He was going, 'My God, you know, did I authorize putting a bra and underwear on this guy's head?'" recalled Lt. Gen. Randall M. Schmidt, an investigator who interviewed Rumsfeld twice in early 2005.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6533
This country needs new leadership. Desperately.
I loved the 'threat' of potential dangers from al Qaeda if the retired generals continue to speak out. GIVE. ME. A. BREAK. This is an administration that has seen a growth of terrorist networks throughout the world due to their failures in Afghanistan in containing and destroying al Qaeda. How convenient to 'pull an Osama' out of your hat whenever the occassion serves the propaganda and Culture of Fear of this network and Bush.
NOT. ANY. MORE. We have retired generals willing to speak to the tactics of the military. Where is Osama bin Laden, Donny?
1020
This program is sick. They actually showed someone shooting themselves. Bunch of wackos.
... and more stuff ...
Here is a story no one is talking about either and should.
Lessons for Ethiopians from the downfall of US-supported dictators
http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=15055
April 14, 2006 — Given the image that major western leaders, financial institutions and NGO communities have had of Meles Zenawi as a progressive leader, and given the massive moral, financial and military support he has received from donor nations over the past fifteen years, the measures actively undertaken taken against him by the Ethiopian Diaspora - staging demonstrations, writing letters and articles, organizing candlelight vigils, engaging in lobbying activities as well as waging this war on the diplomatic front - are indispensable tools and forces towards achieving the intended goals: public awareness, helping to show the ugly face of the repressive regime of Meles Zenawi to western governments and the international community at large. While completely believing that the progression of current engagements of the Ethiopian Diaspora are a crucial element of our broader resistance to help free our people from prolonged economic poverty, political repression by successive regimes and uninterrupted, multiple tragedies, it is also vitally important to realize
SO MUCH FOR NATION BUILDING.
enough
