Retired Generals Slam Bush About Iraq War

The generals currently conducting the Iraqi war under the dubious guidance of Bush may not be able to speak out about the war, but some retired generals are having no trouble doing so.

Retired Major General John Batiste told reporters yesterday, "I am outraged, as are the majority of Americans. I'm a lifelong Republican, but it's past time for change. Our strategy in Iraq today is more of the same, a slow grind to nowhere which totally ignores the reality of Iraq and the lessons of history. Our president ignores sound military advice and surrounds himself with like-minded and compliant subordinates."

These are not the words of a liberal, but a Republican and distinguished military man. And he is not the only one. Retired Major General Paul Eaton joins him in this view. They have combined to make some ads for VoteVets.org. The ads are part of an effort to convince moderate Republicans to come to their senses and stop supporting Bush's disastrous war.

Bush has said he listens to his military commanders, but Generals Batiste and Eaton disagree with that. They think as former Supreme NATO Commander Wesley Clark does when he says, "The fact is, the president has never listened to the soldiers on the ground effectively. This administration is not listening to the troops and is not supporting them."

The truth is that Bush listens to no one. His only interest is to try and not go down in history as the worst president ever, and he's willing to sacrifice the lives of thousands of Americans and Iraqis to do so.

The American people have already abandoned Bush and his failed policies, and now the soldiers are beginning to do so. It is time for the Democrats to stop playing games with timetables and vetos, and demand an end to the war this year.

Democrats should de-authorize the war, cut off the funds, and demand our troops be returned home to their families NOW!