News & Politics - Ex-Diplomats and Military leaders want Bush out of White House

sick little jag · 06-13-2004, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Ex-Diplomats, Military Leaders Oppose Bush

WASHINGTON (AP) - 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.

The Bush-Cheney campaign said Sunday it would have no response until the group formally issues its statement at the 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.

Prominent members include retired Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East during the administration of Bush's father; retired Adm. William J. Crowe Jr., ambassador to Britain under President Clinton and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Reagan; and Jack F. Matlock Jr., a member of the National Security Council under Reagan and ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1987 to 1991.

``We agreed that we had just lost confidence in the ability of the Bush administration to advocate for American interests or to provide the kind of leadership that we think is essential,'' said William C. Harrop, the first President Bush's ambassador to Israel, and earlier to four African countries.

``The group does not endorse Kerry, although it more or less goes without saying in the statement,'' Harrop said Sunday in a telephone interview.

Harrop said he listed himself as an independent for years for career purposes but usually has voted Republican.

The former ambassador said diplomats and military officials normally avoid making political statements, especially in an election year.

``Some of us are not that comfortable with it, but we just feel very strongly that the country needs new leadership,'' Harrop said.

He said the group was disillusioned by Bush's handling of the war in Iraq and a list of other subjects, including the Middle East, environmental conservation, AIDS policy, ethnic and religious conflict and weapons proliferation.

article found here

migamoo · 06-13-2004, 09:22 PM

Well at least these are not common everyday people. And even though may not be politicans per se, they at least have some knowledge of presidential administrations. Personally, I think everyone should want Bush out of office and fight for it, but I know that's not going to happen. I'm just glad some people are going to be getting their voices heard.

Ashley

SuperDeluxe · 06-14-2004, 06:38 AM

Well I for one don't want Bush out of the presidency. we need a strong leader in times of conflict. I don't get that from Kerry, one bit. Now if it was a time for peace, then I might be more for Kerry.

StellaSlight · 06-14-2004, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SuperDeluxe
we need a strong leader in times of conflict.

And you got one who created conflicts.
After almost four years of presidency, one can't really say that Bush's war against terror has borne its fruits. There's still terrorism, and the world is more dangerous than ever. But sure, Bush is a great leader...

*Lauren · 06-14-2004, 04:05 PM

Sorry Stella, but while I think Bush should be out of office, I don't think he's created all the conflicts. Iraq, yes to a certain degree, but the original outcome was a good one. Afghanistan he didn't create.

Plus, the war on terror (stupid, stupid name) was never going to be won in three years.

SuperDeluxe · 06-14-2004, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StellaSlight
And you got one who created conflicts.
After almost four years of presidency, one can't really say that Bush's war against terror has borne its fruits. There's still terrorism, and the world is more dangerous than ever. But sure, Bush is a great leader...

9/11 had been coming for awhile..as had other conflicts (afghanistan and Iraq)

While it is true that the war on terror has not been won, I didn think I would see the war end in my lifetime anyways. This sucker is going to take decades, if not more.

sick little jag · 06-14-2004, 05:55 PM

I think that Bush has created conflicts with other countries, but not in the literal sense as with Iraq and Afgahnistan.

Bush's attitude of "you're either with us or against us" and his crude foreign policy is really alienating us from countries that are supposed to be our allies. I think that is what these diplomats and military leaders are worried about. It's not smart what he's been doing. I don't see how anyone can call that smart leadership.

JohannafromIHJ · 06-15-2004, 03:48 AM

I certainly don't think Bush is a strong leader. A strong leader doesn't ignore questions about his/her leaders. A strong leader doesn't take that many damn days off. A strong leader would be able to admit when he/she is wrong and unite people instead of divide them. True, Kerry may not be that leader, but Bush sure as hell isn't, so why not give the other guy a chance? I realise that he's not the typical American stereotype of a President, seeing as how he's got a strong wife instead of a smiling doll and all that, but still.

StellaSlight · 06-15-2004, 05:04 AM

I use the term 'created' because he made up all the conflict in Iraq, and if it hadn't been for him, the US would not have gone to Iraq. He made up all the threat Iraq was (WMD, my friends, WMD). He made up all the proofs. And now he's made up the lame humanitarian excuse for the war ('we wanted to free Iraq from Saddam').
And while the outcome was sort of positive, with Saddam down, the country is now leaning toward another conflict : the civil war. The chaotic battelfield that Iraq has turned into is just plain sad, and I blame the Bush administration for it.
And sick little jag made a point when brought up the conflicts he created between nations to achieve his goal in Iraq.

As for the time the war on terror will last... War on terror has existed way before Bush came into office, and way before the US were attacked. That's what Americans don't seem to understand.
The war might not be won in three years, as it might not in thirty years, but Bush did, in three years of presidenby, nothing but worsen the situation. Terrorism existed before, but Bush managed to unite all the muslim countries against him, and convince a big majority of that population that the US are the evil power, and that the terrorists could be right about them, after all.
Bush is not a great leader; he's a stupid, dangerous man, whose actions and decisions did more disservice to his country than any good.

*Ledi* · 06-15-2004, 07:18 AM

I don't understand how ANYONE can still want Bush to be the president. Really.. I don't get it. Even if Kerry is going to be such a crappy president.. as long as its not Bush.. because look at what he has created. I'd seriously be scared to go anywhere in the states right now because of everything going on. Who knows, some terrorists might plan on blowing up the place where I'm going to be at and I don't want to take any risks. Wonder how you can all live under this sort of threat... I figure it'd be hard for me, so I'd want the person who made everything worse, to go the hell away.

mh67511 · 06-15-2004, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by *Ledi*
I'd seriously be scared to go anywhere in the states right now because of everything going on. Who knows, some terrorists might plan on blowing up the place where I'm going to be at and I don't want to take any risks.

Seriously? It's really not that bad here. We haven't had a terrorist attack here since 9/11.

I personally don't think about it at all really. The odds of dying in a terrorist attack are so slim. Sure someone might be trying to blow up this mall, but they're probably not.

Now if I DO die in a terrorist attack, which again most likely wont happen, then my death will receive national attention and possibly my family would receive lots of money from the government (if they're still doing that).

ros2nz · 06-17-2004, 07:28 PM

[QUOTE]The war might not be won in three years, as it might not in thirty years, but Bush did, in three years of presidenby, nothing but worsen the situation.

Agreed. The situation from a security POV is blatant - Americans were safer 4 years ago. Al Quaeda has been there since the CIA powered OBL. It didn't attack before. If nothing else, Bush should've taken a better thought-out plan after the attacks, something that would've genuinely helped the 'war on terror' instead of making a bigger target than it is.

SuperDeluxe · 06-18-2004, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by *Ledi*
. I'd seriously be scared to go anywhere in the states right now because of everything going on. Who knows, some terrorists might plan on blowing up the place where I'm going to be at and I don't want to take any risks. Wonder how you can all live under this sort of threat... I figure it'd be hard for me, so I'd want the person who made everything worse, to go the hell away.

I suppose you do not live in America? Because no one I know is scared of going places in the united states

Walloo · 06-18-2004, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Lauren:
Afghanistan he didn't create.

No but his father did.

Quote:

SuperDeluxe
as had other conflicts (afghanistan and Iraq)

Of course those wars had been coming since a long time, the Bushes clan is planning them since so long...

Quote:

StellaSlight:
He made up all the proofs.

He didnt make up any proofs, he just didnt give any lol

Quote:

mh67511:
Now if I DO die in a terrorist attack, which again most likely wont happen, then my death will receive national attention and possibly my family would receive lots of money from the government (if they're still doing that).

Well, be willing to die in a terrorist act for praising and money...Im sure its not the case of those who actually died from terrorist acts. Its just a weird logic....

Quote:

SuprDeluxe:
no one I know is scared of going places in the united states

Im sure the people you know represents a small number out of the whole US population. I guess people being from the East are scared of hate crimes, coz Im sure people has and take this war of (dont know how you call it) in ways that just stupidity can understand.


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