As smears go, this example from the far-right Washington Times, by way of Greg Sargent, is just sad.
Members of Washington’s military and defense establishment are expressing trepidation about Sen. Barack Obama, as the Illinois senator comes closer to winning the Democratic presidential nomination and leads in national polls to become commander in chief. […]
Still, the mostly conservative retired officers, industry executives and current defense officials interviewed by The Washington Times cite Mr. Obama’s lack of experience in national security. They also point to his determination to pull American combat units from Iraq at a time when a troop surge has reduced violence, damaged al Qaeda and allowed the Iraqi government to progress toward Sunni-Shia-Kurd reconciliation.
“We’re very concerned about his apparent lack of understanding on the threat of radical Islam to the United States,” said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, who is pro-Iraq war and a Fox News analyst. “A lot of retired senior officers feel the same way.”
Really? “A lot”? Given that the Washington Times, a project of cult-leader Sun Myung Moon, suggests military concerns about Obama are widespread, we should probably take a closer look at who, exactly, has these fears.
The article quoted exactly one — one — Obama critic in the military by name, which doesn’t exactly speak to widespread fears. And who is retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney?
In 2006, it was McInerney who insisted that Russian Special Forces entered Iraq before the invasion and moved Saddam’s WMD to Syria.
In 2002, McInerney assured Americans the war in Iraq “will be a war that is shorter than” the 1991 Gulf War, which lasted 42 days.
In 2005, McInerney insisted that terrorists no longer feel the need to attack inside the United States because we have “leftists in America who have aided and abetted the enemy more than Tokyo Rose did in World War II.”
The man is a sad, right-wing, unhinged activist. That the Washington Times could only quote one retired military official, and they dug up McInerney to smear Obama, suggests Obama is in pretty good shape.
As for the stable members of the military, retired Air Force Gen. Merrill A. McPeak, who campaigned for Bob Dole in 1996 and George W. Bush in 2000, recently concluded that Obama is “what the joint chiefs want to see — somebody they can rely and depend on.”
McPeak told the Times, “I think Obama is going to be an outstanding commander in chief, not just an ordinary commander in chief. He has the potential to be one of the all-time greats. I think the senior military will learn that about him starting from the first minute he occupies the Oval Office.”
He doesn’t sound especially “fearful.”
No Trackbacks To “Is the military ‘fearful’ about the presidential election?“
To boycott sushi in almost any US restaurant is to boycott MOON.
He owns it all… check it out….
I can do without the raw fish….
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I M P E A C H
C H E N E Y
F I R S T !!!
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Ah, they is just worried Obama will keep his promise of withdrawing troops. No way that will happen, and they know it. Right now, from what the military experts have said on CNN and Faux, the plan is for 100,000 troops until 2016. That won’t change unless Blackwater is going to be Iraq’s new army.
the WT is a conservative rag. Why bother with what they have to say? Do you ever expect them to be objective and sincere?
They’re only worried the Gravy Train is over.
Both parties overspend on defense, but Democrats less so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSerzbcwC0Q
Generals and majors always seem so unhappy unless they got a war. XTC
That’s funny because I’ve always heard that Ron Paul and Barack Obama got the most donations from military men and women than any other candidates. Ron Paul on the Republican side and Barack Obama on the Democratic side. So screw the lying liars at the Washington Times and other Mainstream Media propaganda sites.
So not caring
Those Generals and other officers know full well that all ground forces are depleted. Sure, they could provide a token force of some sort but if something really comes up around the globe there simply is not the man power to counter it. Air and naval forces will be of little use. Obama may not have the military experience that those officers would like to see but then again, those officers apparently don’t have the strategic foresight that I would like to see so its about even.
Let’s hear them interview some of the actual troops….
Sounds like the MIC is fearful. That’s just one more reason to vote for Obama in my book.
George Bush had a lot of experience in national security after flying around Texas in a Nat. Guard trainer during the Viet Nam war. He probably spent a lot of time sitting back, watching drug planes and illegal immigrants sweep across the Texas border. Yep, lotsa national security experience.
And when the time came for the man whose only military experience was flying around the country in a jet fighter to decide if jet fighters should be sent to shoot down US civilian aircraft on September 11, he sat there and read “The Pet Goat.”
Does anyone really believe we can do any worse than we already have?
Joe O. @ 9:
Most of the generals left in the military are the yes men that had to go along with the illegal invasion or lose there jobs.
The viagra poppers won’t vote for a real woman who can handle the presidency better than the poor excuse for a man that they kiss butt for the military ought to be afraid. obama will have more undisclosed locations than cheney. And the shrew of a wife of his will have her baseball bat his balls for him.
Oh I’m ssssoooooo glad the Joint Chief’s want Obama because we all know what is good for the Joint Chiefs is good for the American people. I think we are setting ourselves up for a MAJOR LET DOWN if we think anyone who comes from this ROTTEN system will be the one to fix it. But you guys are free to dream, for now anyway.
If Mr. Obama gets past Hillary — and I devoutly believe and hope he will — we ain’t seen nothing yet! The Republicans will pull out all the stops, including their politicized Justice Department, to see the the vote is mishandled. We will hear plenty from the likes of the unhinged McInerney, above, about their cracked understanding of “national security,” as well as their cracker-jack-box “patriotism,” as exemplified by the cheap flag pins they all wear, and the idiotic conflation of Al-Qaeda with Iraq, and their idiotic mantra about “victory in Iraq,” which they cannot define convincingly. Fortunately, I believe Mr. Obama and his team are going to be equal to this challenge and will prove to be very great, though not sanctimonious, patriots into the bargain.
Bush Sr’s doomsday cult RAG proliferating propaganda?
nawwwwwwwwwww….can’t be!
Osama bin Laden would vote for Obama…
You’ve lost it, Marge.
Keeping in mind most of the senior military leadership are the result of a presidential administration that favors pro-administration rhetoric over realistic results, its not surprising that the senior mil leadership is concerned. That being said, the rank and file are just day-by-daying it, and I doubt they are ‘worried’.
Defense Industry Hack: We’re very concerned about Obama’s potential to end wasteful military spending and turning off the cash faucet that the Bush/Cheney industrial complex has poured into our already overflowing pockets. We’re concerned that he’ll divert wasteful military spending to healthcare and help the American people.
Honestly, STFU.
Samo Umer @ 17:
Stupid is what stupid says.
I don’t understand the threat either. Maybe they should explain it, rather than refer to it in veiled references. Or is providing information to Americans a violation of security precautions? In that case, they are asking us to take them on faith. Bush and the military are not God. I need proof because they have lied far too often about really critical issues for me to trust them on anything. Someone should inform them that Senator Obama is not stupid. Perhaps 2 + 2 add up to 4 for him, not 5 or 7 or 31 like it seems to add up for Bush.
Are these voices implying that a President Obama would:
-implement de-Bathification
-Install Paul Bremmer to “oversee” reconstruction
-pay “Curve-Ball” millions for manipulative intelligence
-not properly armor our troops
-Give arms and money to enemy militias on a “promise”
-round up civilians thus fostering anti-Americanism and new enemies
-lose track of billions of reconstruction dollars
-sanction torture, increasing its use on Americans overseas?
These are the voices that call questioning the current administration treachery, but will be trying to undermine any Democrat’s attempts to sort-out this mess.
Fortunately, our active military will support a President Obama, and it is their tireless work and patriotism that will bring the new administration its successes.
Marge @ 14:
Hillary lost Marge. Get over it. And it isn’t because she’s female. I’m starting to think the hatred you have for Obama is racist.
Marge @ 14:
When you say ‘real woman’ you mean the real way she stood there and accepted heaps of humiliation because of Bill? I’d have respected her if she left him and went out on her own, made her own way instead of riding a MAN’s coattails.
Samo Umer @ 17:
Being a CIA agent, maybe he has.
Marge @ 14:
What kind of drugs is this one on?
Samo Umer @ 17:
And you have the inside track on that fact? Or merely parroting the ad homonym meme spewed by the Fascist Reich Wing?
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Get the troops out, leave the Generals. Let them fight the War by themselves.
Ron @ 21:
It’s funny, I remember Osama Bin Laden say he preferred Bush over Kerry in 2004 because both Bush and Bin Laden were both from the same economic class. Rich beyond all friggin’ reason.
ConcernedCanuck @ 24:
She just hates men. All men.
Wingnuts, you are the Wile E. Coyotes with the little umbrellas. Prepare to receive huge boulders you tried to hurl at Obama and Clinton. Meep meep!!
Orangutan. @ 7:
I’m with you! Screw those lying liars all of ‘em!!!
Ron @ 31:
No she’s proven that she hates BLACK MEN. Not men. Obviously she didn’t see Shrillary in all her glory last night. Eek. No wonder Bill strays. I can’t imagine listening to that one bitch at you for 60 minutes.
“McCrazy vs Obama”
Better known as “Nutjob Roll Call” - just keep track of those coming out “strongly in favor” of McMealymouth
Saint Augustine @ 27:
I think it’s just a serious case of gentleman’s relish withdrawal.
Blue Lensman @ 35:
That wouldn’t be a surprise. They’d endorse McDeadAlreadyButNobodyCheckedLately in a Mcheartbeat.
Another delegate switched to Obama.
Marge @ 14:
C’mon honey, we all know who the real woman is. Mary Bailey is running…
Homer @ 39:
Hahahahaha……wonder where all the “fake” women running are? “Remember a vote for me is a vote for my fake breasts”
HDon @ 29:
Yes!!!! That’s an excellent idea… Generals, whaddaya say?! If the answer isn’t “We’re on our way!” then STFU!
Samo Umer @ 17:
Wrong. He’d vote for Bush again and again. His organization has never been more popular and strong thanks to YOUR dumb ass President. Go back to Malkin’s site with your worthless, baseless, idiotic burps. Bitch ass troll.
Rachel Maddow coverd this on her AAR show last night. I love me some Rachel.
and yes, this sums it up nicely:
versus
excellent reporting! washington times should publish an addendum. i know, not gonna happen. but a boy can dream, can’t he?
=ck
ConcernedCanuck @ 3:
I’m interested: why do you think that is? The public has made their wishes on this matter crystal fucking clear. If Obama doesn’t get us out of Iraq he will be a one-term President. We ARE NOT HELPING over there.
Maybe the military leaders should have wet the bed when the king of inexperience, stupidity and sheer vacuousness, George Walker Bush, was running for President.
Then they wouldn’t have had to have their legacies besmirched by this clusterfuck of a war that the idiot son stuck them in.
I liked the end of the article from the military industrial official, who’s worried that Obama will cut military funding to finance health care.
That was funny.
Puts me in mind of a high school taunt “Everybody hates you!” Who’s everybody? Who’s “a lot” ? You got a turd in your pocket? And no I don’t mean rove.
The only people ’scared’ are the corporate criminal butt puppets who are facing an 800lb rabid gorilla karma fairy. They aren’t scared of terrorists. The ‘terrorists’ are just another customer. They’re scared of the people actually taking their country back. That scares them more than anything else ever could.