General Clark just released his latest podcast; and speaks passionately in defense of the Generals who recently called for the resignation of Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.  Clark shares some of his professional experiences working with Generals Anthony Zinni, John Batiste, Charles Swannack, and John Riggs and defends their integrity and right to dissent.  He recognizes that each must have wrestled, personally, with their own conscience before personally deciding that "speaking out' was the right thing to do, especially when they believe that our national security is at stake.

(cross-posted at "glad you asked")

what if they had a war and nobody came?

in his recent post "does the debate over iran matter?", constitutional law litigator glenn greenwald points out that there is frankly nothing — no law, no political body — that might stand in the way should bush decide to launch the attack, whether conventional or nuclear, that he has been threatening over the past weeks.

bush's attorneys have argued that even if the president lacks the congressional authority for such an attack — a position that they do not concede — he does have the inherent constitutional authority under article ii to exercise, unilaterally, any force he deems necessary in the conduct of his global war on terror:

we conclude that the constitution vests the president with the plenary authority, as commander in chief and the sole organ of the nation in its foreign relations, to use military force abroad — especially in response to grave national emergencies created by sudden, unforeseen attacks on the people and territory of the united states.

— "yoo memorandum", september 25, 2001

If any number of egregious errors of Rumsfeld et. al., as reported by the Generals of our nation's military forces, could possibly make the administration's defenders change their mind, I'd like to know how much more it would take than these critics:

• Major General John Batiste, commander of a division in Iraq - "I believe we need a fresh part in the Pentagon."
  
• Marine Lt. General Gregory Newbold, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff - "We need fresh ideas and fresh faces. That means, as a first step, replacing Rumsfeld .."
  
• Army Major General Paul Eaton, overseer of training of Iraqi troops - "Rumsfeld must step down."
  
• General Charles Swannack, Commander 82nd Airborne - "We need a new secretary of defense."
  
• Marine General Anthony Zinni, CENTCOM commander - Asked who should step down "The Secretary of defense to begin with."
  
• Major General Jon Riggs - ">"They only need the military advice when it satisfies their agenda. I think that's a mistake, and that's why I think he should resign."
  
• Army General Eric Shinseki
  

How many General does it take to call for Secretary Rumsfeld to do the honorable thing and resign? Seven very senior retired Generals so far (Anthony Zinni, John Riggs, Paul Eaton, Gregory Newbold, John Batiste, Charles Swannack and Wesley Clarke) have called for his resignation in no uncertain terms. They included the former head of CentCom,retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, and the chief of operations at the Pentagon,retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold. They included generals that fought in Iraq:Retired Army Major Gen. John Riggs, Retired Gen. Charles Swannack and retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste.

These new powerful voices are added to that of General Wesley Clarke who in 2004 said on Meet the Press that it would be patriot for Rumsfeld to resign to take accountability for Iraq.