Chuck Hagel: I've lost confidence in Rumsfeld

[CatWoman]

Sen. Chuck Hagel said Monday he shares the lack of confidence in Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld separately voiced by six retired generals.

“The concern I’ve had is, at a very dangerous time, (the) secretary of defense does not command the respect and confidence of our men and women in uniform,” Hagel said.

“There is a real question about his capacity to lead at this critical time,” he said. “I have had many conversations with military leaders about their concern about what’s happening at the Pentagon and with our force structure.” Hagel first expressed lack of confidence in Rumsfeld a year ago.

Concerns expressed by the six generals, four of whom served under Rumsfeld, should be taken seriously, the Nebraska Republican said.

Hagel was questioned about the issue during a conference call from Washington in which he briefed reporters about his trip last week to India and Pakistan. The public criticisms voiced by the generals probably are unprecedented in modern times, Hagel said.

Hagel, who warned against a precipitate U.S. military attack on Iraq without broad international support and careful planning for the aftermath, said President Bush “needs to make the call” about Rumsfeld.

Responding to criticism from the generals, Bush has expressed his continued confidence in his defense secretary.

“The president has that responsibility,” Hagel said. “He’s not asked for my advice on Iraq.”

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/04/17/local/doc44442561a463f148134467.txt

[RedEarth]

1. Hagel must hate America.... all he's doing is giving comfort to the enemy

with these kind of statements.....damn freedom-hater!!!!

[opihimoimoi]

7. Is Hagel Campaigning? Trying to clean his Act?

[neoblues]

2. Well, DUH, Mr. Hagel.... Since when has Bush ever asked...

asked for, or even accepted quality advice--on any subject, least of all IRAQ...

[gratuitous]

3. Responsibility, Sen. Hagel? What does that mean?

What does it mean, really, for Sen. Hagel to say that it's Bush's responsibility for the conduct of the war in Iraq? Who is holding Bush accountable? Who's keeping track of things? Not Hagel, that's for sure. Like Pilate, Hagel makes a pious statement, then publicly washes his hands: Bush has not asked for Hagel's advice on Iraq. Therefore, you can't blame ol' Chuck for things going wrong. And Chuck isn't too interested in holding Bush accountable, either.

Sorry Sen. Hagel. Simply saying that you've lost confidence in Rumsfeld isn't enough. It isn't enough by half. Until you're willing to make this a public issue, and rally support for your position, your mealy-mouthed loss of confidence means nothing. In fact, it means less than nothing.

For shame.

[justice1]

4. Absolutely

He would have more credibility if he backed up what he said.

[gratuitous]

5. One point I missed

Hagel has the power to convene a hearing and issue subpoenas, something denied to the minority party. You just know that days, months, or even years from now, when someone is raising some uncomfortable questions for Chuck about what he did to stop the rising tide of fascism, he’ll point to this lame statement as proof of some kind of bona fide effort to derail the corrupt Bush administration. But he could have called hearings, he could have subpoenaed witnesses and gathered testimony under oath. But he’s satisfied with this limp response, and I guess he’s hoping that history will be satisfied with it, as well.

[Supersedeas]

6. Hagel must be indecisive or must NOT know what's right for 'Merika