Retired Officials Say Bush Must Go

[DoYouEverWonder]

June 13, 2004

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-na-diplo13jun13,1,1142936.story?coll=la-home-headlines

WASHINGTON ? A group of 26 former senior diplomats and military officials, several appointed to key positions by Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, plans to issue a joint statement this week arguing that President George W. Bush has damaged America's national security and should be defeated in November.

The group, which calls itself Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, will explicitly condemn Bush's foreign policy, according to several of those who signed the document.

"It is clear that the statement calls for the defeat of the administration," said William C. Harrop, the ambassador to Israel under President Bush's father and one of the group's principal organizers.

Those signing the document, which will be released in Washington on Wednesday, include 20 former U.S. ambassadors, appointed by presidents of both parties, to countries including Israel, the former Soviet Union and Saudi Arabia.

more...

[Piperay]

1. Hah, more bad news

for chimp, he just can't seem to win for the losing. :evilgrin:

[Proud2BAmurkin]

38. THWAP!

Poor * can't buy a break

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

2. Ron Reagan's eulogy is the clarion call to all Reaganites

to come to their senses.

[Kinkistyle]

3. Scientists, Diplomats, Generals, Intelligence Agents

In other words, anyone with more than half a brain and exposure to the International community realizes that Bush is a monumental failur and a danger to the world. Which should lead one to realize what almost 50% of the U.S. is like.

[bushwakker]

4. Bush threatens our survival

that's the message

[Mokito]

45. "Bush threatens our survival"...as a nation AND as a species!

[daleo]

5. Ideally he (and his mob) should be impeached and imprisoned

But most of us will settle for defeated in an election.

[Ironpost]

7. I for one will settle for defeat at the ballot box

I personally want to see the whole cabal at the Hague, Excuse me.

[leesa]

26. If we do settle for that, like we did with Iran-Contra, they will be back.

[Joanne98]

41. That's true

Because people did not have the courage to deal with this gang of criminals the first time they came back to feed on our country and the world like a colony of vampires. We have to demand they be totally destroyed. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. I want all the money they stolen back too. There's a trillion dollars missing from the DOD. I want to know where it went. The right-wing needs to be de-funded. Let's seize their assets.

[DinahMoeHum]

42. ". . .the way you hurt rich people is by turning them into poor people."

- the Eddie Murphy character in the movie "Trading Places"

:evilgrin:

[bluestateguy]

6. The signatories

The signatories

While not explicitly endorsing Sen. John F. Kerry for president, 26 former diplomats and military officials, including many who served in Republican administrations, have a signed a statement calling for the defeat of President Bush in November. Their names and some of the posts they have held are:
Avis T. Bohlen — assistant secretary of State for arms control, 1999-2002; deputy assistant secretary of State for European affairs 1989-1991.

Retired Adm. William J. Crowe Jr. — chairman, President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Committee, 1993-94; ambassador to Britain, 1993-97; chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1985-89.

Jeffrey S. Davidow — ambassador to Mexico, 1998-2002; assistant secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, 1996

William A. DePree — ambassador to Bangladesh, 1987-1990.

Donald B. Easum — ambassador to Nigeria, 1975-79.

Charles W. Freeman Jr. — assistant secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs, 1993-94; ambassador to Saudi Arabia, 1989-1992.

William C. Harrop — ambassador to Israel, 1991-93; ambassador to Zaire, 1987-1991.

Arthur A. Hartman — ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1981-87; ambassador to France, 1977-1981.

Retired Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar — commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, overseeing forces in the Middle East, 1991-94; deputy chief of staff, Marine Corps, 1990-94.

H. Allen Holmes — assistant secretary of Defense for special operations, 1993-99; assistant secretary of State for politico-military affairs, 1986-89.

Robert V. Keeley — ambassador to Greece, 1985-89; ambassador to Zimbabwe, 1980-84.

Samuel W. Lewis — director of State Department policy and planning, 1993-94; ambassador to Israel, 1977-1985.

Princeton N. Lyman — assistant secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, 1995-98; ambassador to South Africa, 1992-95.

Jack F. Matlock Jr. — ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1987-1991; director for European and Soviet Affairs, National Security Council, 1983-86; ambassador to Czechoslovakia, 1981-83.

Donald F. McHenry — ambassador to the United Nations, 1979-1981.

[trof]

9. More info:

News Advisory:

Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, a group of retired ambassadors and senior military officers, will hold a Morning Newsmaker news conference Wednesday, June 16, at 8 a.m. EDT at the National Press Club (Zenger Room), 13th floor, 529 14th St., N.W., Washington, D.C.

The topic will be "The Need for Change in U.S. Foreign and Defense Policy."

The group includes former ambassadors Jeffrey Davidow, William DePree, Charles Freeman Jr., William Harrop, Arthur Hartman, H. Allen Holmes, Samuel Lewis, Princeton Lyman, Jack Matlock Jr., Donald McHenry, Richard Murphy, David Newsom, Phyllis Oakley, John Reinhardt, Ronald Spiers, Nicholas Veliotes and Alexander Watson; and Adm. William Crowe, Gen. Joseph Hoar and Adm. Stansfield Turner.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=104-06072004

[playahata1]

53. I wonder if C-SPAN will cover this.

n/t

[JoFerret]

8. Convenient get-together last week

at the National Cathedral focus group. Wonderful.

[Judi Lynn]

10. What remarkable news. No small event. n/t

[Webster Green]

11. ChimpCo Inc will issue a statement saying that they are all crazy..

...disgruntled ex employees.

I Don't think it will fly.

How do you like you're toast, smirky?

[union_maid]

12. This is wonderful but scary

I never remember anything like this happening in my lifetime. It means that we're not exaggerating and that it's not about poltical beliefs in the usual sense. It means that if Bush is re-selected we're in just as deep doo-doo as we suspect we are. Do you think that if he is re-selected there's a chance of a military coup? I sure never thought I'd find myself hoping for one of those....

[BadGimp]

25. precisely

good observation!

[goforit]

44. Fear not!!!......We have to change no matter what!!!!

You have a choice whether Bush is in office or not!!!!

We have to stand no matter what!!!

Living in their fascist image is not living at all!!!

They will destroy humanity including their own!!!

[Tellurian]

13. Wonderful Movement..

The new meme: "BUSH MUST GO!"

[Generator]

57. Well it so happens I just saw that as a bumpersticker

yesterday!

It's about flipping time some with some clout and experience in foreign policy state the obvious.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

14. I see an another ex CENTOOM CINC on the list

Also, I recall Davidows name, too...

[readmylips]

15. Best Article I read this Morning.....

Chit! I'm smiling from sea to shinning sea. I was searching to see if someone had already posted this article. Hope you keep it upfront for others to read all day.

Amen. God Bless Ron Raegan Jr. He told it like it is to those fake christians.

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. It's no longer a matter of if

it's a matter of when and how.

I do hope that we have a peaceful transition of power. The US has done it before, we can do it again. The thing I fear the most, is what the neocons will pull next to try to stay in power. They are desperate and very dangerous at the moment. Sort of like an animal with rabies. You just can't even try to predict what they will do.

[Eloriel]

22. I'm worried about the transition of power at all --

These people aren't going to give up so easily, I worry. Others are worried too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1780890#1781801

[Cooley Hurd]

32. If they lose in November (that is, if we're even allowed to vote AT ALL)

...you can be certain the repigs will file lawsuits in every state that Bush loses. If that fails, then something HUGE (read: MIHOP) will happen in January, right before Kerry's inauguration (necessitating the imposition of martial law)...

There's no way they'll go quietly into the night... no way!

[KittyWampus]

37. Junior & Co. May Be Removed From The LEVERS Of Power

whilst still occupying their Governmental Chairs.

A fellow DU'er posted several days ago that Top Brass was told to disregard Nixon's orders towards his final days.

Considering the way the CIA seems to be in opposition to the main core of the Administration... this may happen agin with Junior.

[wryter2000]

30. Dang

I couldn't bear to watch any more of the Reagasm and didn't hear what Ron Reagan had to say.

[mike1963]

16. Yikes...

:kick: :D

[Hotler]

18. Do you think the country will listen????

When hundreds of economist took out a full page ad denouncing shrubs economic agenda the media and talking heads swept it under the rug and they were called unpatriotic. I think it's GREAT news, but will the sheeple listen.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

20. Timing is everything, and to be honest, their timing was awful....

...I guarantee that it would have gotten a lot more attention if it had been released over the next couple of months.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

19. Save this article and the document that will come out on Wednesday...

...because this will be the first time in U. S. history that a group consisting of former ambassadors and military commanders have taken such a position against the current occupant of the White House.

IMHO, for them to be willing to go public with a formal document, they MUST have the support of a very large faction of CURRENT ambassadors and military commanders. And we've seen glimpses of that recently when several senior military commanders were quoted as being highly critical of Rummy and the NeoCon strategies.

This is VERY big, IMHO. It's starting to get crowded on the anti-NeoCon side.

[MasonJar]

21. What exciting news! Thanks for the heads up. I hope there is

security in numbers. Do you think the press will kill it quickly? I remember the press ignored the press conferences of the 9/11 widow who is suing Bush and the FBI translator. Citizens out there have no clue what is happening. Our press is presenting the truth grudgingly, if at all. There is a lot of collusion to ruin the earth/world. America is too rich, too selfish, too self-centered and too powerful. If we do NOT defeat Bush, there must be a coup; otherwise it could be the end of civilization as we know it.

[jaysunb]

28. This story was

the lead headline on the front page of the LA Times....it can't and won't be ignored.

[teryang]

23. Bush is asserting the divine right of kings

...the nobles are in open revolt trying to save the magna carta. This is how the issue of our time was defined by a Newsweek editor this morning on CSPAN. I'm paraphasing of course.

[Tansy_Gold]

27. Divine right of King George

http://www.startribune.com/stories/561/4824483.html

Minneapolis Star-Tribune editorial on the secrecy over the DoJ torture memos:

<snip>

. . . but now attention needs to refocus on what is arguably the most egregious attempt ever to redefine the power of the presidency, to, in effect, make the president a king in time of war.

<end snip>

(I didn't look in Editorials yet for this, so my apologies if it's a dupe.)

[teryang]

31. "The president's power is thus absolute."

<The reasoning in the reports is not only wrong and immoral on the issue of torture, it seeks also to toss overboard the U.S. Constitution's division of powers among the three branches of government. As one observer said, the U.S. Constitution doesn't make the president a king, but these documents do.>

http://www.startribune.com/stories/561/4824483.html

Great editorial. Thanks. This is exactly what the Newsweek editor was addressing.

[dbt]

24. With all respect, I will believe this when I see it.

Let's all check back in late Wednesday and see if the steak is as good as the sizzle, what say?

:freak:
dbt

[Cooley Hurd]

29. Admiral Crowe did a guest shot on "Cheers..."

http://www.tvland.com/shows/cheers/episodes/episodes7.jhtml

# 163 - "Hot Rocks"
Rebecca and Sam are invited to attend a gala celebrating the 200th anniversary of the U.S.S. Constitution. Rebecca loses the $32,000 loaned to her for the event.
Guest Star: Admiral William J. Crowe of Joint Chief of Staff.

Just a bit of trivia...

[Tight_rope]

33. Looks like the Pit-bull has turned on it's master!

The right-wings have finally had enough. Could it be that they now realize that they too may never be able to travel and explore the world with their wife and children freely, without being captured, tortured and killed just for being an American.

So Duyba has made enemies of friends! Yahooooo!!!!

Duyba sure has fucked up.:spank:

Way to go Duyba!:toast:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

34. So, are these people tree hugging commie traitors as well? eom

[NewYorkerfromMass]

35. I love the freeper rationalizations for this

They just refuse to recognize the tide pulling against them:

Gen. Zinni is just about the last of the breed of Marine who places mission above politics and winning battles above the internecine struggle for appropriations for new gee-whiz weapons that have little efficiency against a non-state enemy in a low intensity conflict. Zinni is cast in the mold of "Chesty" Puller vis-a-vis the Marine toady we see at TV briefings regurgitating the Rumsfled misapplication of fighting doctrine.

He's allowing himself to be used, which is the same as being a tool against Bush. He also made reference to his good friend "Shinseki" as a role model for the Kosovo conflict and how it should be conducted in the Mid East.

Like I said, he's the "useful idiot"... he was a great Marine, probably a great Marine General but has been 'retired' and is bitter and getting used by the libs to bash Bush.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1152742/posts

[maggrwaggr]

36. does anyone really think people like Wolf Blitzer will report this?

fuck no. Nobody's gonna hear about this.

[Doosh]

39. Diplomats and Military Officials

a bi partisan group, many are either reaganites or appointed by H.W. I'd like to see them spin "disgruntled employees" now!

[supernova]

40. Oh, thanks for this

This is terrific. When career diplomats and intellgience officers want the boss to go because he interfers with their work, it's time to do something.

[goforit]

43. CNN JUST REPORTED THIS STORY!!!CNN....OMG!!!

Can you believe the repug station would report this????

An organized effort finally!!!!

Time for the real America to stand tall!!!!!!

With or without Kerry!!!

[dArKeR]

46. Retired Envoys, Brass Slam Bush - CBS

Angered by Bush administration policies they contend endanger national security, 26 retired U.S. diplomats and military officers are urging Americans to vote President Bush out of office in November.

The group, which calls itself Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, does not explicitly endorse Democrat John Kerry for president in its campaign, which will start officially Wednesday at a Washington news conference.

Among the group are 20 ambassadors, appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents, other former State Department officials and military leaders whose careers span three decades.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/05/politics/main621243.shtml

[Pallas180]

49. I smell the CIA and that retired CIA/spook group encouraging this -

it was reported a couple of months ago they had been writing letters
and urging current CIA to come forward and "deepthroat".

Well Halleluja. They realize they owe allegiance to the country called America , not bushville.

[oasis]

47. He's aboslutely the worst "leader of the free world" ever. And not elected

to boot.

[OnionPatch]

48. This was on the front page

of the LA Times today.

So glad to hear that there are at least a few people of authority with some common sense. I was starting to think we lived in a Banana Republic after all. Now, how are the Cons going to spin this? They're ALL crazy? Out of the loop? For cryin' out loud, how small IS this loop of theirs?

[Pallas180]

50. We do live in a banana republic. That's now been proven. Question is

is it going to get better or worse?

[Pallas180]

51. At least we now know why two generals retired in the middle of the

Iraq war. They didn't want to be tried for rumsfeld/dimson's war crimes.

[jpgray]

52. Is there precedent for this kind of thing?

This seems remarkable, especially with Reagan era folks--they are condemning their own former colleagues/partners-in-crime, in a sense.

[Bhaisahab]

54. Check out the freeper outrage to this good news! :)

"Bunch of out of the loop malcontents."
posted on 06/13/2004 2:57:54 PM PDT by boomop1

================
"just watch how much more press they get when compared to the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth :-("
posted on 06/13/2004 3:01:04 PM PDT by pookie18

================

"It is a misleading title. The title should be Dipolmats and Military Commanders for Terrorism."
posted on 06/13/2004 3:05:58 PM PDT by AngieGOP

================
"Really pisses me off that my tax money is going for their pensions."
posted on 06/13/2004 5:34:51 PM PDT by McGavin999

================
"I think VP Cheney had it correct - just like with Wilson and Clarke - 'they were out of the loop'. 'Nuff said!"
posted on 06/13/2004 7:49:28 PM PDT by CyberAnt

================
the whining continues here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1152927/posts

[Disturbed]

55. Opinions of freepers aka BushCult

Those morons' opinions mean little or nothing. They are the hard core dimwits just like their shallow, brain damaged leader, who is acctually only a puppet of the Neocons. What matters are the so-called swing voters.

Conservatives have been biting their lips and refraining for speaking out for a long time but they are now seeing America being tarnished and the deficit is plain insane! When BushCo attempted top smear the CIA, they sealed their downfall. Tenet may have played along but the rank and file are fuming and they will keep leaking the documents that will bring BushCo down.

[John_H]

56. I'm sure Aaron, Judy, JPaula and Tweety will lead with this story

right?