Ret. Generals' Ads Protest Bush Iraq Plan

Campaign Says Republicans May Not Be Re-Elected If They Back Administration's War Policies

(AP)  Three retired generals challenged a dozen members of Congress in a new ad campaign Wednesday, saying the politicians can't expect to win re-election if they support President Bush's policies in Iraq.

“I am outraged, as are the majority of Americans. I'm a lifelong Republican, but it's past time for change,” retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste told reporters.

“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,” Batiste said. “Our president ignores sound military advice and surrounds himself with like-minded and compliant subordinates.”

Batiste and Paul Eaton, also a retired major general, are featured in the ads by VoteVets.org. They challenge the president's argument that he listens to his commanders on the ground in Iraq and say the president's Iraq policies endanger U.S. security.

“The fact is, the president has never listened to the soldiers on the ground effectively,” said retired NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark, who ran for president in 2004. “This administration is not listening to the troops and is not supporting them.”

Other veterans promoted the campaign at a news conference in Manchester, the start of a six-state publicity tour targeting Republican Sens. John Sununu of New Hampshire, Susan Collins of Maine, Norm Coleman of Minnesota and John Warner of Virginia, plus nine House members.

Many in the group, including Sununu, have criticized various aspects of administration policy, but all have opposed legislation to establish a timetable for withdrawing American troops.

“Telling members of al Qaeda, militias or insurgent groups the date we will begin and end troop withdrawals is irresponsible,” Sununu said.

Separately in Manchester, about a dozen peace activists staged a sit-in at Sununu's office to oppose the war. They read the names of 22 New Hampshire troops who died in Iraq. They also stood around a pile of shoes. Attached to each pair was the name of an Iraqi killed in the conflict. Outside, about 30 protesters waved signs.

When VoteVets.org ran ads in February, Sununu said critics of the war have every right to speak out, “but no group or individual should claim to speak for all the patriotic Americans serving in Iraq and around the world in our armed forces.”

The House members targeted by the new ads are Mary Bono of California, Phil English of Pennsylvania, Randy Kuhl and James Walsh of New York, Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri, Timothy Johnson of Illinois, Mike Rogers and Fred Upton of Michigan and Michael Castle of Delaware.

English's spokeswoman, Julia Wanzco, fired back.

“The congressman has long stated that he is for a political settlement not a surge, and at the end of the day, these ads are more about cheap Democratic political stunts than about solving the actual problem,” she said.

[pakaal]

%u201CI am outraged, as are the majority of Americans. I'm a lifelong Republican, but it's past time for change,%u201D retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste told reporters.

So is this why CBS kicked Batiste off their "Advisory board"? Because he had an opinion? Or was it because he had an opinion CBS "News" didn't like?

Considering pro-Bush and anti-Democrat views are aired by other CBS employees such as military analyst Michael O'Hanlon and former White House communications director Nicole Wallace with impugnity, one has to wonder if by saying "we're trying to avoid appearing biased" they're actually saying "we want to appease the Right". I know CBS went through Hell for Dan Rather's VERY public mistake, but bending in the other direction doesn't improve their chances of appearing unbiased.

Seriously CBS, please ignore the fringe elements who talk about this unproveable "liberal meida bias" and stick to providing accurate reporting, and wherever possible, 'without fear or favor.'

[vincan-2009]

I am so thankful that these retired generals are speaking up. I am just so pleased about everyone who is standing up to the bullys in the whitehouse. They harshly slamed down anyone or anything they didn't like at first, but now it is a volcano of the truth and they can't stop it from rolling right over them.

[realpatriot1]

This was a courageous act by a brave american. What thanks did he get frm CBS? They fired him as an analyst.

I guess they don't want the unvarnished truth from the field. So much for military analysis.

As usual the administration and its buddies in the Corporate-owned main stream media covers up for the weasels and sticks it to the public. If he lead cheers for the War he would still have the job.

CBS is as cowardly as ABC is for not releasing Cheney's name from the D.C. madam's phone records.

[jbb333]

I have just read that CBS has fired Gen. Baptiste for speaking out against the Iraq War.

I will be following up on this newstory to see if it's true. I will also be following up to see if this comment gets posted.

IF IT IS TRUE THAT CBS FIRED GEN. BAPTISTE, PLEASE JOIN THE REST OF US IN PROTESTING CBS!!!

CSI is one of my favorite tv program of all time, but CSI isn't worth allowing America's free press to become a lap dog for George W. Bush's failed policies in Iraq.

CBS, if this is true, you should be ashamed to call yourselves journalists.

[shingles1]

CBS fires Gen. Batiste over VoteVets ad.

Iraq veteran Gen. John Batiste "has been asked to leave his position as a consultant to CBS News" over a new VoteVets ad criticizing the Iraq war.

[kansas1946]

I am outraged, as are the majority of Americans. I'm a lifelong Republican, but it's past time for change.%u201D

Retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste
***********************
Hmmm....another one of those Democratic traitors. They don't know anything about war, and just want to cut and run. Those liberal losers.

[shingles1]

Hmm.
Comments are being funny.
I'll try it again.

Iraq veteran Gen. John Batiste "has been asked to leave his position as a consultant to CBS News" over a new VoteVets ad criticizing the Iraq war.

[pocomark]

big deal,when are you going to tell us how many genrals support the President?

[kansas1946]

I am outraged, as are the majority of Americans. I'm a lifelong Republican, but it's past time for change.%u201D

Retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste
***********************
Hmmm....another one of those Democratic traitors. They don't know anything about war, and just want to cut and run. Those liberal losers.

[neilallen1]

Too bad you generals didn't speak up before the war like Gen. Eric Shinseki, maybe we could have prevented this mess.