Can Rummy keep his job? (04/15/06)

The list keeps growing longer.

Every week, it seems, another general steps forward to question the leadership of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

These aren’t partisan politicians. They’re career military men, guys who believe Rumsfeld’s policies and arrogance have unnecessarily put American troops at risk and are undermining the country’s strength.

The latest is retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste.

He’s a former division commander in Iraq and worked closely with former Deputy Defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who is described as the primary architect for the invasion of Iraq.

In an interview this week with The Los Angeles Times, Batiste not only was critical of Rumsfeld but called for his resignation. His voice joins a growing military chorus of critics.

By The Times’ tally, it includes Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory S. Newbold, former director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Eaton, head of training Iraqi forces in 2003; and Marine Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, the former head of U.S. Central Command. These are credible guys with experience on the ground in the Middle East.

Rumsfeld has dismissed the criticism. He tends to dismiss all criticism, regardless of its merit and regardless of where it comes from.

But most Americans aren’t so dismissive.

And as the credible chorus grows and the cost of the administration’s mistakes in the conduct of the war in Iraq piles up, one has to wonder why this guy still has a job. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]