Rumsfeld rebellion grows yet again

The extraordinary “Revolt of the Generals” continued Wednesday with a fourth high-ranking senior military leader calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation.

Retired two-star Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the Big Red One – the Army’s 1st Infantry Division – in Iraq until November, said Rumsfeld must go for ignoring and intimidating career officers.

“You know, it speaks volumes that guys like me are speaking out from retirement about the leadership climate in the Department of Defense,” Batiste told CNN.

“I believe we need a fresh start in the Pentagon. We need a leader who understands teamwork, a leader who knows how to build teams, a leader that does it without intimidation,” said Batiste, a West Point graduate who also served in the previous Gulf War and is now president of Klein Steel Service in Rochester, N.Y.

“When decisions are made without taking into account sound military recommendations, sound military decision-making, sound planning – then we’re bound to make mistakes,” he said.

The unusual drumbeat of criticism from top generals comes as public support for the war continues to slide.

Batiste was adding his voice to a chorus already made up of retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, former head of U.S. Central Command; retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, who oversaw training of Iraqi forces; and retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, former director of operations for the Joint Chiefs, who blasted the “timid” officers who didn’t stand up to administration “zealots.”

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, defended his boss Tuesday.

“This country is exceptionally well served by the man standing on my left,” Pace said in a joint appearance with Rumsfeld, who shrugged off the criticism as not “new or surprising.”