by Dan Creamer

Created on: January 13, 2007   Last Updated: June 21, 2007

It is interesting to me how the media keeps missing the point regarding the recent spate of retired generals voicing their opinions about Donald Rumsfeld and his ability to lead. One almost has to wonder if it is intentional on their part. Can so many seemingly literate, knowledgeable, supposedly politically astute and inquiring minds really be so obtuse?

While on active duty, the future career development of every flag officer is directly in the hands of not only their immediate chain of command but also the secretary of defense. He gets not just a vote up or down on promotions but the only vote that really matters. Therefore, if you are a two star wannabe with dreams of a third star you do not rock the boat hard enough to tip yourself out. Of all the retired generals who have voiced opinions about the lack of civilian leadership only one retired rather then accept another star and acquiesce to a situation he deemed intolerable. The rest waited until they were safely retired with all of the rank, pay, benefits and honors they could acquire.

Some in the media opine that maybe these generals have either political aspirations' or are trying to curry favor with others who do, maybe for future appointments. It is disheartening enough to know that our military leaders with one exception were too cowardly because of self-interest to honor their oaths. It matters little if it was for a better retirement or future opportunities or both.

I assure you that the enlisted man who is being medevac'd from the battlefield could care less about the motivation of his leaders. It will not be until some time in the future that he will have the luxury of contemplating, the abstract political intrigue that led to his life altering wounds. He goes to war trusting his leadership to make all the decisions about when, where, why and against whom. He trusts them to formulate a winning plan that has a coherent timeline and exit strategy. He hopes and prays for his and his friends' survival and he bets his life on the veracity and honor of his leaders.

Those leaders are not some nameless, faceless, lost in the mist of bureaucracy group of people known only as "them or they"! In this case, they are President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and a whole host of military and civilian leaders who by failing to plan, planned to fail. They collectively neglected to confront the reality of war before committing the young men and woman entrusted to their

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