Reply #18: ABC story: Ex-General: Rumsfeld Violated Principles of War Planning [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-General: Rumsfeld Violated Principles of War Planning
John Batiste is One of Six Ex-Generals Calling for Rumsfeld's Resignation

April 14, 2006— Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste says he is calling for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation because he believes the defense secretary violated the principles of war planning when deciding to invade Iraq, and as a leader he needs to be accountable for that action.

"We went to war with a flawed war plan," Batiste told "Good Morning America." "We certainly had the troops necessary to win the fight to take down Saddam Hussein, but we in no way considered the hard work to win the peace. There were 10 years of good, deliberate war planning that was essentially ignored."

Although the president approved the plan, Batiste said his criticism was focused on the defense secretary.

Batiste is one of six retired generals demanding Rumsfeld step down, breaking a long tradition of the military steering clear of politics.
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http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1842182&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312