While the press salivates over some former US generals who call for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, former President Gerald Ford gave them an earful. In stark contrast to Jimmy Carter’s appeasement-like whining, Ford breathed some fresh air into the debate.
Its already a bit after the fact, because President Bush pretty much impaled those vampires with a stake through the heart when he stated that only he will make that decision, but I got a kick out of Ford’s unexpected combativeness.
In a letter released today Ford wrote, “Allowing retired generals to dictate our country’s policies and its leadership would be a dangerous precedent that would severely undermine our country’s long tradition of civilian control of the military”.
Bullseye!!! Ford in 2008? Well, OK the guy is 92 years old, but why wasn’t he this sharp in the seventies?
47 comments:
wisdom comes with age, unfortunately so does dementia as my daughter pointed out to me yesterday...i seem to recall.
you're not going to like this:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060422/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear
Its like a fine wine, my dear.
Thanks for the link about Russia warning the US not to oppose Iran's nuclear ambitions, but I gave up long ago in this battle.
The Left and Europe will sabatoge any effort to stop Iran from arming itself with nuclear weapons. When Germany publicly warned the US not to use military force against Iran I knew from that moment Iran will be successful in obtaining nuclear weapons.
The political reality is that Europe has thrown away any deterent to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
We need to secure Iraq and Afghanistan first, then deal with the mess Europe created later.
or cheese...
How many stories did we see in the lamestream media reporting "retired" President comes out in favor of Rumsfeld.
By my last count there were over 1200 stories declaring the revolt of those SIX generals.
I'd say one ex-Prez is trumps six generals (unless it's Carter).
President Ford often shot from the hip. His election was fairly close and he had the Nixonian cross to carry. Carter was helped by John Anderson who siphoned votes away from Ford.
Ford let the Democrats run all over him and abandoned South Vietnam when the North invaded again. Its true that Watergate had the Republicans on the ropes for a while, but he really blew it.
Maybe he is older and wiser now, or he just has the luxury of not being under the pressure that he had when in office.
fern - i've invited "da weazl" over - please don't hold it against me - i think i'm allergic to rodents.
And to put things into perspective there are over 8 thousand retired US generals (so I was told).
i have a friend who is a retired lt. colonel...wow 8 thousand - alive, linkster?
Nanc,
Well, there a few still left from WWII, you know it's been a few years since then and they tend to retire earlier than other mortals.
Actually I checked on line and this site claims 4700 retired generals: http://www.slate.com/id/2139847/
Still not all of them opened their traps to criticize Rummy.
If I was a Liberal and the roles were reversed I would be screaming about the "slippery slope" that could eventually lead to a military coup.
Fortunately, for my Liberal friends I dont recklessly exaggerate.
linkster - i'm convinced that you cannot please all the people all the time - now if the rest of the people could be convinced.
fern - thankfully for your conservative friends you don't recklessly exaggerate. morning to you. loads of great news at white house & world news today.
Its good to see you are scanning the book shelves like a top notch librarian for the blog community. You are always on the job.
well, except for when i'm not.
I never thought of Gerald Ford as the brightest bulb on the porch, but he's right about this one. Wisdom from age? maybe. Or, maybe just common sense.
i'm with aow on the common sense issue - it far outweighs wisdom. wisdom comes only AFTER common sense is engaged - we must be one step ahead of the game, fern.
fern, do you remember a rightwingprof from mbc? check out this post - be sure to wear your rose-colored glasses:
http://rightwingnation.com/index.php/2006/04/24/1343/
I dont remember RightwingProf, but I checked out his site. Its good reading and he has some good links in his articles.
That nasty pic looks like a Zombietime operation. Classic leftwing lunacy.
Cheers
He looks great.....for 92.
People never really appreciated the job he did after Nixon's resignation. He held the executive office together at a time when it was very vulnerable.
i believe the prof is somebody we know, fern. yep, i'm investigating and i'm pretty sure i'm getting close to the answer...he's trying to punk me...
O.T. - tony snow just announced as new w.h. press secretary. a good guy and a musician.
Tony Snow is the man for the job because he has a strong sense of individuality. I cant think of a better place to put someone who shares Bush's ideology but has also been critical of the Prez. Now he will have to defend the Prez instead of criticize him. Its brilliant!
The extreme Left has been trying to spin on his appointment, but they cant come up with anything of substance. I would have posted on it, but I have been really busy lately and I also have been working on another post that has been taking up any of my free time.
well, you've been missed in the blog community. beamish has been absent too - computer problems. you two rock the rest of our worlds when we don't see you out and about.
Ahhh hog wash. You got ducky to keep you company.
stop being so coy...
do you think you may up for a rumble? i'm sending you something very soon - perhaps tomorrow morning...
I will be completely absorbed with work until next week, but if you send me something I will be able to think it over so when I address it I may even have something intelligent to say!
We have a conference of infernal doom this weekend. Hopefully I will get a breather on Sunday, otherwise I will be buried until mid-next week.
Of course I will check the comments to see whats going on...
just when you think the muzzies cannot possibly get any more nebulous and idiotic, comes this:
http://democracyfrontline.org/news/?p=524
i feel for nike when they lose every swimming event they enter!
do i ever have a surprise for you, fern. you are not going to believe it!
The blue smurf is very cute. I wanna snuggle with a burka gurl!!!
Your surprises are always interesting. Whats up?
well, don't get caught up in that little dangly thing on the cap - you could get lost and well, i don't know if i could handle that.
p.s. - orangeducks has a new, lengthy article at autonomist.
Now isnt that a Nanc?
You dont even need to answer a question with a question.
A statement does just fine for you...
then you're going to love this, my - aha - surprise for you:
http://longrange.blogspot.com/
Now isnt that a nice surprise?
Enjoy
thank you, fern - i couldn't have done it without your pushing me out of the nest - too bad it took you the better part of six months! there will be a surprise at long range late this evening.
fern - what's been going on in san diego today with the uno de mayo? let us know - aow has a great post going on this subject.
while you were busy today, our madze has made a very important announcement and i'll not tell you of it. you must go see for yourself!
get rid of the wheelchair next to my word verification!
I dont know what that wheelchair is for.
Good for MZ, but it is going to drive him further into the bottle.
Cinco de Mayo is nothing special for me. Hell, I dont really care about holidays unless I get the day off.
baby bottle - bwaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!
i was talking about UNO de mayo - what's up - you in love again?
p.s. if warren approves a post i've made you figure into the picture and i hope you'll attend. i may surprise you fern.
here's your surprise, fern:
http://longrange.blogspot.com/
thank you for putting up with me all these months and encouraging me to take up my own blogmantle. you really are one of the best.
Ha haaaa I thought you made a typo thats why I wrote Cinco de Mayo. Anyways, May Day went down like any other day. There was an economic boycott planned by Immigrant Rights activists, but it was a complete failure (as always).
Thats a nice blog entry you made a Long Range. I look forward to lots more...
thank you - that means much coming from you.
Hey, you get what you deserve.
(and in your case its good)
then i'm back for a second helping! the brown one infiltrated my post, but i'm leaving it up for warren to see.
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