Here's Patrick Murphy's release on the subject:
PATRICK MURPHY JOINS HIS FORMER COMMANDER IN CALLING FOR RUMSFELD’S RESIGNATION
“We need a change in personnel, and we also need a change in policy.”
Levittown, PA – April 23, 2006 – Iraq War veteran and Democratic congressional candidate Patrick Murphy today joined his former commanding officer, Retired Major General Charles Swannack of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, and 5 other senior generals in calling for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld while continuing to call for a change in administration policy on Iraq. As a Captain in the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division, Murphy served under General Swannack during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Murphy also served with Swannack in Bosnia for four months in 2002
“President Bush listened to Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld instead of military leadership in executing a plan that took ten years to develop. The rush to war in Iraq without a plan to win the peace was irresponsible, and now our servicemen and women are paying the price,” Murphy said.
“We need not just a change in personnel, we need a change in policy,” Murphy added.
“There are only two senior generals who commanded forces on the ground in Iraq who are now retired and free to speak their minds,” Murphy said. “Both of them agree that Donald Rumsfeld must go,” Murphy said. “Rumsfeld should go and so should the current Bush policy on Iraq.”
In addition to General Swannack, Retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste – who led the 1st Infantry Division in northern Iraq in 2004-2005 – called for Rumsfeld's resignation during an interview last Wednesday on CNN. Former U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Anthony Zinni, former Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, and retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold also have called for Rumsfeld to step down.
In December, Murphy unveiled a three-stage plan to bring home troops from Iraq responsibly. He has been endorsed by Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman John Murtha, a longtime Pentagon supporter and a top congressional defense expert who galvanized opposition to Bush policies in Iraq when he called for troops to begin coming home before the end of 2006.