"Yer doin' a great job, Rummy!"

Despite Condoleeza Rice's claim that there have been no strategic mistakes made in Iraq, the recent chorus of calls for Rumsfeld's resignation by high-ranking, retired generals leads us to a different conclusion.

Rumsfeld has blown several strategic decisions that have produced the current quagmire in Iraq: He pushed the invasion campaign with too few troops, failing to secure critical munitions and installations; he failed to secure the country when Saddam's government was toppled, allowing the destruction of critical resources; he failed to occupy the country with enough troops to establish security and order; he failed to anticipate and adequately prepare for the insurrection. Currently, his philosophy of minimal troops levels is allowing our progress in Afghanistan to dissolve as the country devolves into greater violence.

Face it, Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush have no experience in or respect for the military. Our generals have been educated in military theory and the experiences of past war. They have trained in preparing for and executing war. Their opinions should not have been ignored in the planning for Iraq and they should not be ignored today.