Boehner: Let's not blame Iraq woes on Rumsfeld... Blame them on the Generals instead

House Majority Leader John Boehner's call for critics to lay off Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld because the generals are responsible for the conduct of the war in Iraq has sparked outrage among Democrats.

In an interview Wednesday on CNN, Boehner said, "Let's not blame what's happening in Iraq on Rumsfeld."

CNN's Wolf Blitzer replied, "But he's in charge of the military."

"The fact is, the generals on the ground are in charge, and he works closely with them and the president," Boehner, an Ohio Republican, said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/01/shifting.blame/

...it would still be Rumsfeld's responsibility, since he (or the prez following his advice) should have replaced any "to blame" generals.

But Rummy doesn't force out generals for obeying him, just for opposing him.

one.

:-)

Democratic leaders acted quickly to describe Boehner's comments as derisive.

Both Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Boehner was blaming U.S. generals for failings in Iraq. Both immediately demanded a mea culpa from the powerful Republican.

"After the Bush administration's numerous failures in Iraq, to blame our brave troops is just wrong," Dean said in a statement. "Once again, Republican leadership is pointing fingers rather than taking responsibility for their failures."

Reid said Boehner "ought to be ashamed."

"He's blaming our troops for failures in Iraq. If he wants to cast blame, he can start by looking in the mirror, because he and his congressional Republican colleagues have rubber-stamped the Bush administration's failed policy for nearly four years," Reid said in a statement.

In response, Boehner spokesman Kevin Madden said the Democrats' criticism was "an obvious and weak attempt" to deflect criticism from Kerry.

So many here enjoy trashing Dems are reacting to GOP/Mediawhore spin rather than force another talking point or issue.

IT's really pathetic that this is the only thread on this topic this morning and yet many threads on Kerry are still emerging.

Getting our military in over its head for personal financial gain, then abandoning them. Boehner and his friends should be exiled.