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Letter: Retired generals are duty-bound to speak

Sunday, April 23, 2006 | 7:25 a.m.

An April 19 letter in the Sun by J.L. Kane says the retired generals are out of line to call for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld.

Kane correctly argues that the military is under the civilian control of the president, but Kane's understanding of "retired" is wanting. When these generals were active, they gave advice and then followed orders.

Now that they are retired civilians, they have the right to speak out with some authority to protect the troops.

Perhaps there are different rules for Republican administrations. General Douglas MacArthur was fired by President Truman for disobeying a direct order in the Korean War. MacArthur's action risked a land war with China.

The Republicans were outraged by the firing of the general. They wanted to impeach the president and they asked MacArthur to run for president on the Republican ticket. Mac Arthur refused. He said his public career was over and he would now just fade away. He was never heard from again. Now who was out of line - Douglas MacArthur or the retired civilian generals who are speaking out?

Jerry Bitts, Las Vegas

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