General who led US military in turbulent times steps down

WASHINGTON (AFP) - General Richard Myers retires Friday after quietly leading the US military as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff through its most turbulent period since the Vietnam War.

From the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, the unassuming air force general has been at the center of decision-making at virtually every turn as the US military retaliated in Afghanistan, invaded Iraq, and now struggles against a tenacious insurgency.

But to outside observers, Myers' impact has been difficult to discern, overshadowed by a domineering defense secretary and the regional commanders who actually laid the battle plans and led US forces.

"When you make the chairman of the Joint Chiefs someone who has to be on board, and who really can't defend, and who has to be just pushing whatever the secretary's position happens to be makes it very hard for any of his subordinates to express their opinions honestly too," he (Kagan) said.

edited to clarify the last paragraph (emphasis mine)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050930/ts_afp/usmilitarymyers_050930061718

Buh bye, General. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

"

.."When you make the chairman of the Joint Chiefs someone who has to be on board, and who really can't defend, and who has to be just pushing whatever the secretary's position happens to be makes it very hard for any of his subordinates to express their opinions honestly too," he said.

:crazy:

When asked about the impending civil war in Iraq, he said something like, "No one is talking about civil war!"

I am sure he was expecting lots of applause for his last interview.

..remaing Abu Ghraib photos and videos which are supposed to be vile, and which will show that rather than the actions being simply a few "rogue" soldiers/sadists, that torture was not just accepted by the US military, but was EXPECTED....

Myers fell on his sword pure and simple...

I believe the junta is trying it's best to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear....These pictures could be the end of George and Dick's Excellent Iraqi Adventure....

thanks for your disgust and anger.

Everything happens for a reason.

Are they kidding?

Has this guy ever seen a camera he didn't jump in front of?

Good riddance, General Myers, you lying son of a bitch!

"Given time, given the number of prisoners now that we're interrogating, I'm confident that we're going to find weapons of mass destruction."

Gen. Richard Myers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
NBC Today Show interview
May 26, 2003





Mods - posted in full, our tax dollars pay for this propaganda.

http://www.dod.gov/news/Sep2005/20050930_2888.html

Myers Leaves Top Military Post Confident of Iraq Strategy

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2005 – Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers started his last day on the job today reflecting on the war on terror that's dominated his term as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and affirming his belief that the United States "will be successful in Iraq."

Myers, who retires today as the top military officer and with four decades of service, said during CBS's "The Early Show" that he's always been "very realistic" about the situation in Iraq and has never viewed it through rose-colored glasses.

"It's a huge undertaking," he said, noting that the coalition in Iraq is working together to achieve "something that's never been done in this world before."

Speaking on NBC's "Today" show, Myers said, "We have made great progress in Iraq in a task that is very, very difficult (and) never been attempted before to bring peace, stability and democracy to a key country, a key country between Sunni and Shiia Islam in the Middle East."

"And we're making progress," he said. "We've had elections. We're going to have a constitutional referendum here in October. We're going to have elections in December. We've got Iraqi security forces coming online."

Overall, Myers said on the Early Show, "I don't think anybody who looks at this can say that we haven't made progress."

Myers dismissed media characterizations, based on Sept. 29 hearings on Capitol Hill, that the Iraqi security forces are less capable now than three months ago.

"Absolutely not," the chairman said of that assessment. "Just one example: a year ago we had essentially no Iraqi army battalions ready to fight anybody. Today we have 86 that are in the fight, that are out there fighting."

Myers called continued success in Iraq critical to long-term stability in the Middle East and the world, particularly because Iraq is "such a central battlefield for al Qaeda."

"And if we can bring peace, stability and democracy to that region, to Iraq," he said, "it will change, not only security there, but security of the men and women here in the United States and our children and our grandchildren."

Looking back, Myers readily admits that some mistakes have been made along the way and that he wishes some things had been handled differently.

But, he said, he's convinced that "our strategy overall is on track," that progress is steadily taking place, and that the coalition will succeed over the insurgents.

"I think they are alienating themselves from the Iraqi public and from moderate Muslims around the world," the chairman said of the terrorists carrying out "atrocious acts of barbarism (and) killing innocent men, women and children."

"Their strategy is failing," Myers said. "Ours, in fact, is winning. And we will be successful in Iraq."

http://defenselink.mil/bios/myers_bio.html">Biography: Gen. Richard B. Myers, USAF

He's a big enough asshole, he deserves it.

and what's more, he makes me squirm with nausea every time I see him on the tube--that's how I know it's the real thing.

So it goes w/the Bush administration

All those foot soldiers there against their will and past their withdrawal dates, and this man just slips out the side door slick as shit?

That sucks.

probably another one of these air force guys, bunch of brain-washed pseudo-christians like we've been seeing at the academy. All bush boys the lot.

I can only hope he would stand his ground with Rumsferatu, but who knows.

here is a link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1817770&mesg_id=1817770

he was

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
=================================
sounds like a fun job.

                         (
                        (  ) (
                         )    )
            |||||||     (  ( (
           ( O   O )        )
    ____oOO___(_)___OOo____(
   (_______________________)
              JOINT 

...before the rest of those photos are released.

A man that was for himself ONLY. Myers couldn't make Rumsfeld look good on his best best.