2 Generals(Wesley CLARK & Claudia KENNEDY) return fire at W

[kpete]

General Wesley Clark and Lt. General Claudia Kennedy Criticize Bush Administration's Failure to Protect Our Troops, Says DNC

1/10/2006 4:40:00 PM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk

Contact: Kimberly Hunter of the Democratic National Committee, 202-863-8106 or [e-mail]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In his remarks to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, President Bush talked about the continuing need to ensure the protection of Iraqi civilians. President Bush should be making a similar effort to protect American troops who are fighting to keep us safe.

According to an internal government report obtained by the New York Times, "80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor." The Times went on to note that, "such armor has been available since 2003," but the Pentagon declined to supply it to the troops despite "calls from the field for additional protection." (New York Times, 1/7/06)

General Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, issued the following statement:

"This study is but the latest example of the Administration's appalling disregard for the welfare and safety of our troops. President Bush's rhetoric doesn't match the actions of his Administration, and unnecessary combat fatalities are the result.

"This is a clear case where Congressional investigation is warranted. When were the needs for additional protection first expressed? Who knew what and when? And, why weren't the necessary steps taken to protect our soldiers? The American people deserve no less than full accountability and assurances that going forward our troops will not face unnecessary risks or danger caused by lack of resources, oversight or commitment from Washington."

Lt. General Claudia Kennedy, the first and only woman to achieve the rank of three-star general in the United States Army, issued the following statement:

"Since the beginning of the Iraq War, the Bush Administration has failed to keep our troops safe. They have not made sure they have all the resources they need to get the job done. It is unconscionable that numerous soldiers' and Marines' lives could have been saved if the Pentagon and the President had supplied them with armor that they already had. Our troops and their families deserve better. We need to immediately equip men and women in combat with every resource available, to keep them safe and help them defeat the enemy."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=59106
via:http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/1/10/175339/011

[medeak]

1. thought you meant they were attacking Wesley Clark! n/t

[Cha]

2. This is Excellent News!

Thanks, General Clark and General Kennedy! :patriot: :patriot:


I wonder how those generals in Iraq can support bushtoid knowing what they know about the questionable safety of their soldiers?

[BikeWriter]

3. K&R!

[Adelante]

4. Good statement issued by DNC

I'm glad General Clark is calling for a Congressional investigation into this.

Good god almighty. :cry:

According to an internal government report obtained by the New York Times, "80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor." The Times went on to note that, "such armor has been available since 2003," but the Pentagon declined to supply it to the troops despite "calls from the field for additional protection." (New York Times, 1/7/06)

[bostonbabs]

6. billions "missing" ,millions for Iraqi"reporters", Halliburton waste

....but Fuck the soldiers. The shame of it is staggering.

[bostonbabs]

5. kick

[butterfly77]

7. Will they say that they are against the troops?

Will they say they are against their government and are traitors?

[incapsulated]

8. K&R

It is horrible that this story isn't getting more attention from the MSM.

[judy from nj]

9. This is a great statement

This story really was upsetting. I don't know how the Bushies can live with themselves. Wes is right. The Republicans care about weapons systems and the Democrats care about people.

[druidity33]

10. interestingly enough...

I read an article in the 1/8 Springfield Republican by a Ryan Lenz (AP) entitled "GIs in Iraq not sold on body armor". Apparently i'm not savvy enough to find the link because i just spent 10 minutes trying and i figured it would be faster to type out a few quotes... i'll look more for the link later, after child is asleep.

"US soldiers in the field were not all supportive of the Pentagon study which found that improved body armor saves lives, with some troops arguing yesterday that more armor would hinder combat effectiveness"

<snip>

"But many soldiers say they feel encumbered by the weight and restricted by the fabric that does not move as they do."

<snip>

"Both the Army and the Marine Corps have weighed the expected payoff in additional safety from extra armor against the measurable loss of combat effectiveness from too much armor."

Apparently Lenz is embedded with the 101st Airborne 3rd Brigade. Interesting thing is when i tried googling this particular article i kept seeing links for another article he wrote about soldiers and their families buying their own body armor? Is this story a plant? I can't tell whether it's biased or another side of this coin... that being said, i'm sure if we gave soldiers the option to have BA, they would take it, when and on what missions they choose to wear it on would be their choice.

Impeach for Peace!


...little bathroom magnets...

[Gloria]

12. Last night as I switched channels I saw some Lt. Col. arguing

against an unknown...the Lt. Col. was trying to justify the lack of body armor...

[druidity33]

14. any idea

what channel you might have been oon? Or maybe what unit the Lt. Col was from? In the article i cite, the only quotes are from a Second Lt. and a Captain... this seems like it's the start of the Rethug defense of underequipping. I hope Obama doesn't fall for it as he was just in Iraq and i'm sure he'll only see what they want him to, and only meet who they want him to...


...little bathroom magnets...

[AnnieBW]

11. Go Claudia!!!

I've always looked up to her. It's a shame that she was forced out because she accused her boss of sexual harassment.

[DemReadingDU]

13. K&R

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. Go Wes! The man is BRILLIANT!

K & R

WTG, Wes!

[barbtries]

16. this should

be on the front page of every paper in the nation. is it?