BBC: Editorial opens fire on Rumsfeld; (Snow:"shabby piece of work")

[rodeodance]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6120856.stm

BBC NEWS
Editorial opens fire on Rumsfeld
Four US military journals have called for Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to quit, accusing him of losing control of the situation in Iraq.

An editorial published on Monday said Mr Rumsfeld has lost the respect of senior officers and ordinary troops.
..............

The White House has criticised the editorial, published ahead of mid-term elections across the US.

Spokesman Tony Snow described the editorial - published in the Army Times, Air Force Times, the Navy Times and the Marine Corps Times - as a "shabby piece of work".


..........

The editorial said that the call for Mr Rumsfeld to quit was not timed to coincide with US mid-term elections.

.................
Mr Snow said the reported comments put the interviewees "at war" with comments they had made to Mr Bush in previous years.

In responses to the Vanity Fair article, several of those interviewed said they felt their comments were taken out of context - and had not expected them to be published until after the elections.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6120856.stm

Published: 2006/11/06 14:19:39 GMT

© BBC MMVI

[blackhorse]

1. Snow is babbling.

These papers are widely viewed as authoritative on military matters. If the editors chose to oppose Rumsfeld, it is because they're certain their opposition will find many supporters among the military.

BH

[dipsydoodle]

2. If the cap fits

wear it. Time for retribution. At the risk of sounding smug I do love our media over here. Any freepers reading this - stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

[krispos42]

3. Ah, the Snowjob again.

The White House spokesman dismissed the assertion that the editorial was not timed to influence Tuesday's mid-term elections.

Mr Snow accused the editorial writers of "grandstanding", adding: "If they didn't want to influence the election, they could have published it Wednesday."

Um, yeah. Sure. Just like the Saddam trial verdict. And WHEN exactly is the Ethics Committee report on Foley and Hastart et. al. due out now? And let's not forget that the warrantless wiretapping story was held by the NY Times for over a year, even though it could have been told well before the 2004 election.

Look, the Republican's handling of the war is a relevent topic of debate in this election. So Snow can go stuff it.

[JerseygirlCT]

4. Why does he hate our troops?

Geez, Kerry makes a lame joke about the President, and is excoriated for dissing the troops. Snow can dismiss a serious group of opinions from the military papers, and ... nothing?

[PermanentRevolution]

5. Aww, poor widdle Snowy...

"Mr Snow said the reported comments put the interviewees "at war" with comments they had made to Mr Bush in previous years."

Yeah... that's called "Changing your mind."

Or quite possibly "Telling the guy who can fire you what he wants to hear."

[gratuitous]

6. "Shabby," Tony?

And based on your extensive military experience and career, could you please explain to the American people just what is "shabby" about this editorial?

Ooooh, listen! Crickets!

[coalition_unwilling]

7. Maybe he could explain what is "shabby" after he explains what

is "noble" about the conflict that has caused the deaths of over 650,000 Iraqis and over 2,800 U.S. troops?

[rodeodance]

10. please do not ask him to do that--he will just parrot bush about freedom

[yellowcanine]

8. Tony Snow is a "shabby piece of work".

[rodeodance]

9. Snow accused the editorial writers of "grandstanding", adding:

They summed up the current situation in blunt language: "Rumsfeld has lost credibility with uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large.

"His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. Donald Rumsfeld must go."

The White House spokesman dismissed the assertion that the editorial was not timed to influence Tuesday's mid-term elections.

Mr Snow accused the editorial writers of "grandstanding", adding: "If they didn't want to influence the election, they could have published it Wednesday." ..............