That’s not strictly true. Several generals objected to the initial Pentagon plan and called for many more troops to secure Iraq in the all important initial weeks after the invasion. These generals were sidelined, or pushed into retirement in favour of Rumsfelds small footprint invasion.

You get the generals you create. If you promote the yes men and fire the dissenters, sooner or later you get a bunch of yes men.

Not to mention the obvious (or at least it should be) fact that generals tend to get their position not because they are great leaders of men, but because they are good political players, and are good at playing the DoD budget game.

Harry Reid is a joke. His antics are turning him into a point and laugh politician. How is anyone supposed to take him serious when he spews this kind of garbage out. It’s his own reputation he is destroying, I say carry on. 19% approval rating speaks for itself.

The same is true of you and tribe. Like dogs that catch Frisbees you wait crouched for the Frisbee to be thrown, i.e. a liberal to say something–anything, and you chase it hoping to catch it in mid-air and bring it back trotting to your master.

Just remember it H.R. McMaster that wrote “Dereliction of Duty” and when history settles down it will be as poignant of Iraq as it was of Viet Nam.

So you’re not insulting a group when you insult it’s leadership?

What a load of BS.

“I’m sure Peter Pace wouldn’t feel compelled to hide behind soldiers when someone criticizes him—why do you feel compelled to make the ludicrous claim that somehow criticizing the commanders is the same as attacking the soldiers on the ground?”

Here’s the thing: If folks support the “chickenhawk” argument, and say that only those who have served in the military are justified to command the military, then it follows that only those who serve are justified to criticize.

And I don’t think Sen Reid has served in the military.

Yes, I agree. Insulting people is simply childish and shouldn’t be accepted in polite society. Criticism is, of course, acceptable.

An example of criticism : “You are incompetent, I don’t trust you to report facts accurately”

An example of an insult : “You are a ninny”

I assume that I would be banned pretty quickly if I called you an idiot.

Beyond that, this was anything but a “baseless criticism.” Pace is a public official doing a highly public job — and doing a pretty terrible job at it, if we’re going to measure by results instead of sticking our heads in the sand. At what point are out elected leaders allowed express an opinion on the appointed military commanders? When the war is over?

Rick’s point was that it’s irresponsible for elected leaders to be levelling baseless criticism at American military commanders during a time of war. Unless of course you agree that our esteemed leaders should insult the troops as a way of scoring cheap political points, like Senators Lurch and Turb… err, Durbin did.

Try to avoid reading too much into things - you’re liable to hurt yourself.