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General Discontent
May 09, 2007 9:01 AM
In an act of defiance perhaps not seen since President Truman fired Gen. Douglas MacArthur, today the anti-war veterans group VoteVets.org, which has been influential with Capitol Hill Democrats, is launching a half-million-dollar TV ad campaign featuring Maj Gen John Batiste (Ret.), former commanding general of the first infantry division in Iraq.
The ad begins with a clip President George W. Bush saying "I have always said that I will listen to the requests of our commanders on the ground."
Batiste then appears, saying, "Mr. President, you did not listen. You continue to pursue a failed strategy that is breaking our great Army and Marine Corps. I left the Army in protest in order to speak out. Mr. President, you have placed our nation in peril. Our only hope is that Congress will act now to protect our fighting men and women."
The ads are targeted at Republican members of Congress seen to be wavering in their support for the war. Those targeted include GOP Senators Susan Collins (Maine), John Sununu (NH), John Warner (Virginia), and Norm Coleman (Minnesota), and GOP Representatives Mary Bono (Calif.), Phil English (Penn.), Randy Kuhl (NY), Jim Walsh (NY), Jo Ann Emerson (Missouri), Tim Johnson (Illinois), Mike Rogers (Michigan), Fred Upton (Michigan), and Mike Castle (Del.)
The ads conclude with Batiste saying, depending on the congressperson targeted, "Senator Collins, protect America, not George Bush."
Major General Paul Eaton (Ret.) and Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.) will also appear in ads.
Meanwhile, at the VFW headquarters in DC later today, according to the ARMY TIMES, an "Appeal for Courage" petition signed by 2,700 current and former service members supporting continued U.S. combat operations in Iraq will be given to House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC.
"The petition was organized by two U.S. service members serving in Iraq, Navy Lt. Jason Nichols, serving in Baghdad, and Minnesota National Guard Staff Sgt. David Thul, who is conducting convoy operations in Iraq with the 34th Infantry Division," the newspaper reports.
What do you think?
-- jpt
May 9, 2007 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (279)
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R O N P A U L 2008
BRING SANITY BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE COUNTRY
Posted by: Me | May 11, 2007 2:28:59 AM
Rabbit, quote your specific sources. Who are these "international observers"? What specific GAO report detailed the fraud & abuse you state.
How can you assert this line, "The fact that US elections are now completely undermined, that they are rigged and blatantly even, is known to the whole world." Well, maybe you're narrow view of the world, but there are many others that disagree with your as yet unsubstantiated allegations.
Posted by: rj | May 11, 2007 12:43:05 AM
What is the point of this group? To advocate the pull out of Iraq, before a stable government can form, like South Vietnam? Google how many South Vietnamese died in the Killing Fields.
Why not put effort into killing the terrorists (Al Qaeda in Iraq)?
Posted by: rj | May 11, 2007 12:28:30 AM
George Bush was NOT elected in the sense that Ahmadi Nejad was elected. ie: By a clear majority vote in a democratic and transparent election. International observers confirmed this.
Ironically the international observers concluded that the US elections were not honest or transparent. The GAO investigations have also quantified the election fraud, it isn't in doubt. The fact that US elections are now completely undermined, that they are rigged and blatantly even, is known to the whole world. The only ones denying it are those who still delude themselves into thinking their guys are in power.
If you want fair and honest elections you will not find them in the USA, but you can go to Venezuala, another victim of US slander and threats, and see a country whose democratoc elctions got top marks, again according to the same international observers who maintain the US system is fraudulent.
Posted by: Rabbit | May 10, 2007 10:27:34 PM
Nice try Tim! (I am repeating this from a posting a few days ago.) You may not want to acknowledge it, but George W. Bush WAS ELECTED President of the United States in 2000 and, AGAIN, in 2006. If anyone tried to steal the 2000 election it was the mainstream media in their attempt to delay calling the early Bush victories and overhyping the early Gore victories. They held off calling states for Bush that they knew he would win by double digits. And the networks called Gore the winner of Florida an hour BEFORE the polls on the panhandle were closed. About an hour later, the networks reversed the call and announced Bush the winner. All of that was an attempt to discourage Republican voters in states where the polls were still open and suppress their votes. It worked, but fortunately not enough! Then Vice President Gore decided to cherry-pick a handful of counties for recounting, hoping to find enough votes to overturn the election. He failed! Several media teams recounted the votes and they all verified that George W. Bush, did in fact, win Florida and the national election.
Posted by: James Danley | May 10, 2007 9:19:01 PM
Bill Jones wrote way too much, as he exposed how stupid he really is!
Posted by: dan | May 10, 2007 7:22:34 PM
National Public Radio began airing the protest of Army Officers against the Iraq War.
Pres. Bush's lies are brought into the daylight by the U.S. Troops.
It's time to demand the RESIGNATION of President Bush.
Adam of CA
Posted by: Adam Young | May 10, 2007 4:55:56 PM
People seem to forget that Bush was re-elected after taking our country to war over non-existent WMD's in Iraq. The red states should be allowed to succeed from the union.
Posted by: The Liberal | May 10, 2007 1:50:10 PM
Why just now? These Retired Generals should have spoken long time ago like opposed the war before it got started. Why just now?
Do these people wants to get notice and are up for something for themselves or just have nothing to do?
Just cut off the war funding and get the GI's home. Let GW & Dick fight their own war. Maybe send the Bush Twins and Cheneys kids.
Posted by: marc | May 10, 2007 10:24:18 AM
I find it interesting in the past half hour while reading the comments on here to see how some have completely disappeared or have been edited.
What happened to free speech?
There is none and ABC is part of the problem. 96%+ is controlled by 7 families, possibly even less now.
As the old saying goes:
M=m3
MANIPULATION = MONEY x MEDIA x MANPOWER
The main point is that the Bush-Cheney Crime, Drug and Fraud Dictatorship need to be tried for war crimes and dealt with.
Posted by: Teh | May 10, 2007 10:02:24 AM
For thos who compare the Iraq situation to Vietnam, we would of won that war if libs did not tie the hands of the troops. and when we pulled out over 2 million people were slaughtered.
The 9/11 commission that te socialist hold up stated that the terrorists were at war with us during Clinton pathetic presidency and nothing was done. Which led up to 9/11.
Why don't we wait until we see a mushroom cloud before we do anything. I mean the libs waited to take out Hitler after he killed more then 12 million people.
As far as the General resigning in protest, he was up for retirement. If he did not like it he would of resigned years ago. And remember Clark ran for the socialist party in 2006. They are looking for book deals.
When the socialist's (Democrats) call our troops Nazis, terrorist in the middle of night I do not think that is supporting our troops and any ex military man that can support that party did not join the military for honor but to use it.
Posted by: spock | May 10, 2007 9:29:10 AM
As a military family I say its about time Generals! Where were you for our troops?
Bring them home NOW...
Posted by: PrissyPatriot | May 10, 2007 9:08:57 AM
What these generals are doing is effectively attempting to undermine the basic premise of our Constitution - civilan supremacy over the military. Giving advice to our civilian leadership is indeed their responsibilty. Resigning in protest when they don't like the decisions made is something else. I believe the word is coups.
Posted by: Mark Stauffer | May 10, 2007 6:55:23 AM
Gen Batiste, Is one of the good guys, you need to find more service personel willing to speak out, because they are there. Back in 1971, I served as the EOT Officer for the first Div in Korea and I would like to pass information on abut some of craziness that went on then that I am sure is happing today. How do I go about it. Captain Edward Wall INF (RET)
Posted by: Edward Wall | May 10, 2007 4:16:53 AM
I'll tell you 1 more thing that's wrong with this country. The GD MEDIA. And what it >>>doesn't<<<< tell Us!
Hey you know what? I served with HONOR!
And I understand what My fellows think they are fighting for. But they are being MISLEAD! By the Policy being made by their Representives.
here we have our Brave men & Women off fighting for freedom and liberty for people in Iraq and Afghanistan! While our government sells it away with treaties to foreign IMF bankers and CFR Policy makers. That are exploiting this country for evey penny they can suck out of it, as they ruin it. And Turn This beautiful great country, full of very decent people. Into a third world nation! For a few peoples benefit.
And I'm friggen sick of IT! I'm sick of seeing My Fellow brothers in arms used for target practice for an ungreatful nation Like Iraq. As Their leaders create crap policy that does nothing to relieve them of their burdens.
These people who are running things. Will not be happy until they draft every able man/women in america that would stand up to tyranny in America against corruption and get them killed fighting for nought in the middle-east.
The the propaganda of fighting the War on terrorism is BS! Especially when that War on terrorism(And the peopel propgating it) now calls US Border Patrol agents, criminals for doing their JOBS! That calls GOOD Cops who do their jobs with respect to their neighbors, terrorists. I could go on. But why? people in this country will learn the truth eventually. At their own detriment! I'm done!
Posted by: Tim | May 10, 2007 1:44:37 AM
BS! Bush was Not re-elected. He wasn't elected the first time either.(Can you say election tampering, proven, but nothing done about it?)
Amyone with half a brain, and 1/10 the knowledge of our founding fathers knows this.
The problem is what is being sold to this country as being truth. Which it is NOT!
Our education system is a Failure.
Posted by: Tim | May 10, 2007 1:29:59 AM
i definitely think the general has a right to voice his opinion he quit his carrier in protest so he must have believed in the cause the president is a lying dirt bag who does not care about the poor and the middle class only his elitist friends and his killing Americans without giving citizens a good reason for this war and now he intends to attack Iraq bush and chenney are evil and heartless men that see nothing but money and they think its their divine right to kill our men and women and put us further into debt president bush does not care what the people think and demand from him as a president which is a fair lawful system and straight forward information concerning our country not lies and story they made up over dinner to feed us so they get what they want they serve the devil and that is really the truth.
Posted by: carlos | May 10, 2007 1:27:55 AM
There are many people in the red states that still believe Saddam was behind 9/11 and that usable WMD's were found in Iraq. The Bush Administration does not even make those claims.
Posted by: The Angry Blue Stater | May 10, 2007 1:21:43 AM
Our country is in dire straits. In many aspects. Poor leadership. Selfish programs that benefit a few.
This so called War. We will never be able to leave. Because if and when we do. These places will revert back to what they were before. You cannot change a country with force by military thuggery. Especially when there's no real change to be expected from those who occupy. Just poor policy that is intended to create poor results. To justify more money spending on a Black hole.
I've stopped kidding Myself months ago.
9/11? Inside Job. Our economy? Forsale to the nearest Communist elitist banker or broker. Foreign of course!
Justice in America? Only if there are prosecutors willing enough, higher ups that Know what real US Constitutionalism and Bill of Rights stands for. That have the nuts to trial some would be corrupted politician/foreign corrupted Visa holder or Here in America with their Polictical Amnesty. At their own detriment of course!
CAFTA, NAFTA, ATFA, NAU? It's all been signed! This is NOT The United States of America anymore. This is some kind of JOKE Big Business thinks it can get away with!
Bush/Cheney/Rice,etc.? They ain't anybody! Just someones Puppet.
Wake up America. While you still have time.........because you're almost out.
Posted by: Tim | May 10, 2007 1:16:12 AM
It is easy to blame the Bush Administration for the mess in Iraq. People seemed to forget that Bush was re-elected after taking our country to war over non-existent WMD's in Iraq. The red states should be allowed to succeed from union. The mass stupidity and amnesia that exists in the red states is a tremendous burden to America.
Posted by: The Angry Blue Stater | May 10, 2007 1:03:42 AM
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