Some Serious Soul Searching
This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.
There's a half a dozen former generals who say Donald Rumsfeld should be fired.
The White House still likes Rummy. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs is standing by his boss. And a half dozen generals — well, it's not exactly an anvil chorus.
But, it's hard not to be at least intrigued by the reasons they want the Defense secretary out. One says the war was unnecessary in the first place. Another says Rumsfeld is incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically. Another says he doesn't just micromanage the war — reference MacNamara in Vietnam — he nano-manages it.
Some Rumsfeld supporters insist that Rumsfeld's greatest strength is his steadfastness. His resolve. His will to win. No one questions that. But, a general I spoke with saw it differently and said Rumsfeld was abusive and arrogant.
I'm certain these generals did some serious soul searching before going public with their complaints. How do we not take them seriously?
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on manyCBS Radio News affiliates across the country.