RE: US generals to quit...

[Rottenmac]

(Originally posted by 133724) I posted this on my blog, and decided to post it here as well. Im not a frequent poster, but I thought maybe, why not...?

I really dislike some people...Like the president. I mean when his own people won't listen to him, you know something is dreadfully wrong.

US generals ‘will quit’ if Bush orders Iran attack

Michael Smith and Sarah Baxter, Washington

SOME of America’s most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran, according to highly placed defence and intelligence sources.

Tension in the Gulf region has raised fears that an attack on Iran is becoming increasingly likely before President George Bush leaves office. The Sunday Times has learnt that up to five generals and admirals are willing to resign rather than approve what they consider would be a reckless attack.

“There are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran,” a source with close ties to British intelligence said. “There is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of people question whether such an attack would be effective or even possible.”

A British defence source confirmed that there were deep misgivings inside the Pentagon about a military strike. “All the generals are perfectly clear that they don’t have the military capacity to take Iran on in any meaningful fashion. Nobody wants to do it and it would be a matter of conscience for them.

“There are enough people who feel this would be an error of judgment too far for there to be resignations.”

A generals’ revolt on such a scale would be unprecedented. “American generals usually stay and fight until they get fired,” said a Pentagon source. Robert Gates, the defence secretary, has repeatedly warned against striking Iran and is believed to represent the view of his senior commanders.

So there it is... Commanders high up are in such dissonance over Iran, that they are willing to resign if the Iran agenda is pushed forward. I think it would be beneficial to everyone if these men had the strength of their convictions and did NOT resign over this. I think it would be a great leap forward if they stood up and said "No, sir. I am disobeying a direct order from the Commander-in-Cheif, and I will not order my men to die in a futile and deplorable exercise is futility."

I think it would be a shining example to the men and women on uniform if their commanders stood up to Bush and said, "Mister president, you are wrong to pursue this course, and I will not order my men to die, because I know it is wrong."

I know what I think does not jive, but with these generals threatening to quit over this, that would open the floodgates to a group of sycophantic, war-mongering, inexperienced commanders who are willing to do what the C-i-C says just to avoid court-martial and advance their position. I know I am out-of-step with many people, but if no-one has the mettle to stand up to this madman and his delusional crew and their policies, we will surely see a war with Iran where we are handed our asses, for no good reason. I, for one, do not want to see that happen.

[jody]

1. If that happens and that's a big IF, then some/many troops might refuse to fight.

I don't expect that to happen but I can dream! :tinfoilhat:

[formercia]

2. Unfortunately

Fearless Leader has planned for this eventuality and has officers in the wings that will take command and issue the orders to strike without question. We will soon see who the traitors and patriots are.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Ahh... now there's the rub

Are our Generals who quit in disgust, should this happen, abandoning our democracy? Who is in position to stop the tyranny?

[Rottenmac]

4. That is my point exactly.

I think if they truly believe in truth, honor, and all the things they signed up to defend, then they should be willing to sacrifice their 'careers' for those ideals.
If they think it is un-winnable and completely disagree, they should say so loudly and with great defiance. In front of the entire press corps as well, so that maybe, just maybe enough of an uproar is made that chimpy will have to back down, lick his wounds, and wait out his last <2 years.

Of course the conspiracy theorist in me would argue, the powers that be will just orchestrate something to justify attacking Iran.

[rasputin1952]

5. While it is not unheard of for Generals and Admirals to step down

on principled stances, it is remarkably rare for them to do this.

IT is pretty well understood that active duty Flag Officers will not "go against" what the CiC has drawn up. MacArthur is one who openly spoke against Truman, and he paid a price he was not really willing to pay. Smedley Butler on the other hand, saw his MArines being tossed into fights for big business, ie the Dole banana wars, and waited until he retired to lash out against the practice of military members being tossed into he fray for business. Even though Butler despised the practice, he had the presence of mind to return to civilian life before taking on big business.

Personally, I believe that bush knows his options are limited, he has had to draw from retired ranks to fill some of his positions because, remarkably, some Generals refused to move up into some of the positions they spend careers positioning themselves for. With few exceptions, I believe that the Flag Officers see bush as an idiot, and they are pretty well sick of seeing their troops being sacrificed for a plan that was flawed from the beginning.

[Edweird]

6. I agree 100%. To simply walk out enables disaster.

This whole situation is a disaster. Refusing orders and refusing to step down may be the most effective way to shut chimpy down. But what happens after that? I don't know. But it can't be good.

[Pavulon]

7. You guys do not understand

an active duty officer can not refuse a legal order. It is not the boy scouts. You can attack the legality here and speculate but no active duty officer will refuse to execute an order that is legal. He can resign his commission or carry out the order. No other option exists.

The military should not make policy. It sets strategic and tactical goals and carries out missions. It does not dabble in politics.

We have civilians in charge of the military. We are not a 3rd world shithole, the military does not have the right to refuse or hand pick which orders to execute. It is a dangerous precedent.

Quitting is their only option.

It is up to the government (civilians) to fix this fucking mess. Not the military. Turn the money off if that is appropriate.

Relying on unsourced proclamations of career military quitting in a time of war is unwise.

[many a good man]

8. Exceptional times call for exceptional actions

The military pledges allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, not to the Commander-in-Chief. When a president clearly oversteps his constitutional authority it is the duty and obligation of the military to disobey.

[n2doc]

9. true. when the military does what it wants and takes over it is called a coup d'etat

And, with all of our problems already, we don't want to move in that direction at all. Resignation is honorable.

[druidity33]

10. well then...

if as you say, "an active duty officer can not refuse a legal order"... what about an illegal order? And what then of Lt Watada's contention that he had every right to not deploy?


:shrug: