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Pentagon Releases Stats To Support Rumsfeld Claim Of Consulting Top Officers Email Print

By Tom Ball
04/19/2006 11:51:46 AM EST

According to the subscription only US News Bulletin, Bush's staunch defense of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is being buttressed by information being released by the Pentagon. In particular, the information is intended to support the point made by Rumsfeld in a recent interview that the 'criticisms of a few retired generals should not dictate policy or personnel decisions'. According to the data released:

  • There are currently 881 active duty general officers

  • There are more than 1,400 general officers if one includes the reserve and the National Guard

  • There are 8,000 if retired ones are included

    • Also, the Department of Defense released statistics showing that Rumsfeld 'frequently consults the active-duty brass'. By this count:

  • He met with the chiefs of the military services 29 times year-to-date

  • He met with the chiefs of the military services 110 times last year

  • He held meetings with the combat commanders 45 times this year and 163 times last year

    • They did not mention whether or not the Defense Secretary actually listened to what these officers had to say.

    Nevertheless, the intended point is that the percent of generals calling for Rumsfeld to step down out of the entire population of generals, retired or active, reserve or guard, totals only 0.0875%.

    That said, you would think it would be a simple task to bring a larger group from the remaining 99.9125% of generals that would act as equally passionate defenders of Rumsfeld.

    Such is not the case.

    Why?


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    Pentagon Releases Stats To Support Rumsfeld Claim Of Consulting Top Officers | 1 comment (1 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
    Mixed feelings (none / 0)
    The idea that Rumsfeld can find only one or two (very glum and unenthusiastic) defenders is certainly not good news for Donny, but I have mixed feelings about this whole affair.  During my extremely brief military stint in the late 70's, and during my mother's extremely long tour as a civil servant, one of the things I noted was how utterly apolitical both the military and government workers were encouraged to be.

    Anyone trying to so much as drive a car onto base with a bumpersticker that might be considered political was going to get stopped at the gate, and any enlisted person making a political pitch was likely to find themselves face down enjoying the benefits of "More PT, Sargeant, More PT!"

    I understand that the military, officers especially, have become more political over the years, and that Republicans have often used the apparent support of military officers to forward their own plans.  Doesn't mean I think it's a good idea -- even when it's to attack someone as odious as Rumsfeld.

    by Devilstower on 04/19/2006 03:20:12 PM EST

    Pentagon Releases Stats To Support Rumsfeld Claim Of Consulting Top Officers | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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