General Revolt

First it was one, then two, then four, and Thursday it became six: recently retired generals of the U.S. armed forces who are publicly calling for Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to resign or be fired for his conduct of the Iraq war.

Their indictments emphasize different aspects, but the overall pattern is clear. As Reuters reports: The spreading challenge to the Pentagon's civilian leadership included criticism from some recently retired senior officers directly involved in the Iraq war and its planning.

Retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni told CNN Rumsfeld should be held responsible for a series of blunders, starting with "throwing away 10 years worth of planning, plans that had taken into account what we would face in an occupation of Iraq."

Retired Major Gen. John Riggs told National Public Radio that Rumsfeld had helped create an atmosphere of "arrogance" among the Pentagon's top civilian leadership. "They only need the military advice when it satisfies their agenda. I think that's a mistake, and that's why I think he should resign," Riggs said.

And according to the New York Times , at least one--Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold of the Marine Corps-- says the whole war, beginning with the American invasion was unnecessary.

But generally, these scathing critiques don't even address the lies that convinced Congress and much of the American people that the war was warranted. Nor does any of these officers criticize the soldiers in the field. In fact, it is what the soldiers in the field have had to endure because of arrogance in Washington that prompted them to speak.

There are other reasons. As the Times said, they are looking to the future. "Are the floodgates opening?" asked one retired Army general, who drew a connection between the complaints and the fact that President Bush's second term ends in less than three years. "The tide is changing, and folks are seeing the end of this administration."

But they may also be looking at the already repeating pattern in this administration that sounds like the drumbeat to war with Iran. This is a vote of no confidence in the leaders of such a mission.