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Editorial: Let the generals be heard

Monday, May 1, 2006 | 7:26 a.m.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said last week he may invite the eight retired generals who have called for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to appear before the Armed Services Committee, which he chairs.

According to the Washington Post, Warner said he will confer with colleagues before making a final decision. To be fair, any hearing featuring the retired generals would also include generals who support Rumsfeld.

We hope Warner schedules the hearing. A common thread among generals is loyalty to their superiors during and after their service. For eight to speak out against a sitting defense secretary is extraordinary, to say the least. What has been heard from them so far, however, amounts to just sound bites.

For example, retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold said "... the commitment of our forces (to the Iraq war) was done with a casualness and swagger ..." We believe it would be very insightful for the American people to hear Newbold expound on that criticism.

All generals who have called for Rumsfeld's resignation should be given the opportunity to testify and defend their criticisms - at length and on the record.

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