Friday, July 18, 2003

His first day on the job, new CENTCOM chief to soldiers: "Zip it!"

Craig Gordon of Newsday:

"If Donald Rumsfeld were here, I'd ask him for his resignation," one disgruntled soldier said on ABC's "Good Morning America" show. Asked by a reporter what his message would be for Rumsfeld, another said: "I would ask him why we are still here. I don't have any clue as to why we are still in Iraq."

Abizaid said he personally was "saddened" to hear disparaging comments by professional soldiers and noted that they probably violated the military code of conduct and could draw reprimands. But he said he knew soldiers were simply expressing frustration at being in the middle of a dangerous and difficult situation.

Permission to speak freely, sir?