Letter: Generals out of line to ask Rumsfeld to resign

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 | 7:23 a.m.

While I am not a fan of Donald Rumsfeld, I also believe that whether he remains the defense secretary or departs said office, such a decision is not within the purview of the retired officers' corps. The key term is "retired." While these gentlemen had the right and certainly the duty and responsibility to voice their opinions as to military operations and strategy while they were on active duty, their civilian status no longer allows them to influence such decisions.

Certainly their knowledge of military issues goes far beyond this ex-Navy officer's military ken. However, current decisions as to how and where our armed forces operate, along with ancillary budget decisions associated with such operations, are subject to the present commander in chief, his Cabinet and Congress - not aging, retired and past military officers.

If anything, their objections and opinions are detrimental to the current mission. The Constitution is quite specific in this area. The military is subject to the control of the civilian authority and the civilian authority is the president. Only the president can ask a Cabinet officer to resign.

Those healthy retirement checks our past officers are receiving monthly are not paychecks for active duty. That is the key - they are no longer on active duty - they are the past and they have no right to use their past status to change the present. The truth be told, they didn't even have that right when they wore the uniform.

J. L. Kane, Las Vegas