US Defense Secretary Sharply Criticized by Retired Generals

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Last weekend, despite the Easter holidays, there was a heated debate in the United States over whether Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld should resign. The scandal erupted after a group of retired American generals said that it was the Secretary of Defense who was responsible for the military failures of American troops in Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld himself said that he has no plans to resign. US President George W. Bush took his side.

The first to criticize Donald Rumsfeld were the former head of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Gregory Newbold, the former commander of the group of coalition forces for the preparation and training of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Major General Paul Eaton, and the former commander of the 1st Motorized Infantry Division of the Ground Forces. USA retired Major General Jon Batiste. They accused the head of the Pentagon of self-confidence, lack of professionalism and disregard for the advice of military experts. His former subordinates recalled that in 2003, Donald Rumsfeld fired the then chief of staff of the US Army, General Eric Shinseki, due to disagreement with the latter’s opinion that the war in Iraq would require “several hundred thousand soldiers.” The minister was convinced that much less was needed, but that is how many troops were subsequently sent to Iraq.

The highest-ranking American military man to speak out against the Secretary of Defense was General Anthony Zinni, the former head of the US Central Command. Speaking on CNN on Friday, he held the minister fully responsible for the current situation of the US military in Iraq. According to the retired military commander, before the start of the war, the Pentagon chief ignored all the advice given to him by his advisers regarding the course of the future military operation, which was the reason for the failure of the American military strategy. General Zinni, who several years ago served as President Bush's special envoy to the Middle East, also said that Donald Rumsfeld "threw away ten years of planning." Major General Charles Swonnak, who commanded the 82nd Division in Iraq, echoed his former boss. "I believe Secretary Rumsfeld should go because he has too much negative baggage behind him," he said.

On the same day, US President George W. Bush, despite the Easter holidays, found it necessary to respond to criticism of his closest ally. The President said that he did not understand the essence of the claims and noted that he was pleased with the work of the Minister of Defense. "I don't know why they express that opinion," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. At the same time, the press secretary said that George Bush is not going to meet with these retired military personnel. “The President believes that Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a good job during this difficult time in our country’s history,” Mr. McClellan said, recalling that Donald Rumsfeld “led the Department of Defense through two wars that resulted in the liberation of 25 million people in Afghanistan and 25 million people in Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld is also leading the transformation of the military so that we are better prepared to respond to the threats we face in the 21st century."

Over the weekend, the debate surrounding Donald Rumsfeld continued. Perhaps the only high-ranking military man who stood up for the Pentagon chief was the former chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers. “I don’t think it’s the job of the military, whether you’re in uniform or retired, to make those kinds of judgments,” he said. “I think it’s wrong.”

Former NATO commander Wesley Clark, who in 2004 sought nomination as a US presidential candidate from the Democratic Party, immediately responded to these words. “This is more than correct. This is their duty,” a former NATO general supported the rebel retirees.

MIKHAIL J-ZYGAR

Donald Rumsfeld Asked to Resign