Dana
>Former U.S. envoys want Bush voted out
>
>26 ex-diplomats, military officers join in crusade
>Say U.S. president hurting American security interests
>
>HARRY DUNPHY
>ASSOCIATED PRESS
>
>WASHINGTON�A group of 26 retired U.S. diplomats and military officers
>said yesterday that President George W. Bush should be voted out of
>office in November for damaging U.S. national security interests and
>America's standing in the international community.
>
>"Today we see that structure crumbling under an administration blinded
>by ideology and a callous indifference to the world around it," said
>Phyllis Oakley, former assistant secretary of state for intelligence and
>
>research. "Never before have so many of us felt the need for a major
>change in the direction of our foreign policy."
>
>Retired Gen. Merrill A. "Tony" McPeak, former air force chief of staff,
>said Bush anticipated a rosy reception after a military victory in Iraq
>but "we were totally unprepared for the post-combat occupation. So we
>see here unfolding before us a total disaster."
>
>Charles Freeman, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the first
>Persian Gulf war, said the administration's handling of wider relations
>with the Islamic world was particularly damaging to U.S. interests.
>The group, which calls itself Diplomats and Military Commanders for
>Change, did not explicitly endorse Democrat John Kerry for president in
>its statement. But one of its members said Sunday "it goes more or less
>without saying."
>
>The Bush campaign said at least 20 members of the group have been
>involved in partisan political activities in the past.
>"It is not surprising that John Kerry has the support of a group of
>people who share his belief that the threat of terror is exaggerated,"
>Bush spokesperson Steve Schmidt said. "This is a group that shares John
>Kerry's pre-Sept. 11 world view and supports John Kerry's failed ideas
>for treating terrorism as a matter mainly for law-enforcement and
>intelligence."
>
>Among the group are 20 ambassadors, appointed by presidents of both
>parties, other former U.S. State Department officials and military
>leaders whose careers span three decades.
>
>Prominent members include retired Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, commander
>of U.S. forces in the Middle East during the administration of Bush's
>father; retired Adm. William J. Crowe Jr., ambassador to Britain under
>president Bill Clinton and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under
>president Ronald Reagan; and retired Adm. Stansfield Turner, former head
>
>of the Central Intelligence Agency.
>
>---
>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.706 / Virus Database: 462 - Release Date: 6/14/2004
[Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings] [Donations and Support]
