The Price Of Giving Bad Advice (Marine MGEN (ret) calls for resignations)

Another call for resignations... says that otherwise Republicans will have to vote for Kerry just to get rid of the incompetents.

The Price Of Giving Bad Advice

By William A. Whitlow
Sunday, May 30, 2004; Page B07

As the war in Iraq drags on, conservative citizens, mostly Republican, face a growing dilemma in the November election.

In the face of growing evidence that the president was deceived and misguided about the cause and urgency for waging war on Saddam Hussein, it is time for those responsible to stand forth and accept accountability. True, the president is ultimately responsible for the actions of his vice president, his Cabinet and the executive departments. But it has become clear that the counsel the president received from the vice president, secretary of defense, deputy secretary of defense and senior uniformed leadership was severely flawed and uncorroborated. Whether the president was intentionally misled by neoconservatives or whether their advice was a result of pure incompetence remains to be seen. The fact is that he was misled sufficiently to require him to take bold action to restore his diminished credibility.

...

...It is time for the president to ask those responsible for the flawed Iraqi policy -- civilian and military -- to resign from public service. Absent such a change in the current administration, many of us will be forced to choose a presidential candidate whose domestic policies we may not like but who understands firsthand the effects of flawed policies and incompetent military strategies and who fully comprehends the price.

<i>The writer is a retired major general in the Marine Corps. He served as director of the expeditionary warfare division in the office of the deputy chief of naval operations. </i>

Just think of the consequence resulting from the firing of all who are responsible for misleading Bush. Bush will be there alone and truly in charge, Do we really want this?

because I find it thoroughly incomprehensible that the President of the US doesn't have enough of his own brains to make up his own mind.

I don't give a damn how much bad advice he got-- every President gets bad advice from some quarters. If he listens to the bad advice, it's his fault and no one else's.

I have a feeling that the Marines are landing on this disgraceful gang of war criminals and it won't be long before the s--t hits the fan.

When I was in the service in the late 1980s, polls showed that the military was the most respected and trustworthy part of the government. People tended to believe what generals said more than what politicians said. I doubt that has changed much, even in the last few months.

And the Marines have the reputation as the most straight-talking branch of all.

So far, this makes the 3rd retired Marine general harping on these policies I've seen to date.

I predict that active-duty brass are asking their retired friends to get these appointed Bozos out of the Pentagon ASAP.

I forgot General Hore,( I hope I spelled that right.)

wanted to hear? Wasn't it in actuality "go ye forth into all of the world and come up with/find the excuses I need for cover so I can do what I have long wanted to do to (like help fulfill the PNAC vision)?" Is this not the reality?

Marine Division/Expeditionary Force be killed and mained for this fiasco.

Loyalty is very strong in the Marines. To the Corps, not to Bushco.

This is a piss poor apology for bad leadership.

Doesn't the Commander in Chief have to have any innate ability or sound professional judgement? Or can any fool occupy or idiot occupy the white house as long as he gets "good advice."

This is one of those phony perspectives that substitutes breakdown in management style for intentional recklessness, malfeasance and corruption.

Blame everyone BUT the man in charge.