Top U.S. general blasts ex-officers for attacking Obama

Well if Mr. Obama did spill the beans that is a negative on him. Depends on what he spilled the beans about though... And since these guys are EX military they are now CITIZENS and can say what they like.

Keep on dreaming dude. Once you serve in the US military, and if you have enough SECRETS, which you are SWORN to protect, guess what?? The US military will come down on you hard, or the FBI, CIA, etc..so these guys are just a bunch of a$$holes, why?? Hey, MR. OBAMA had the brains and courage to KILL, order to KILL OSAMA BIN LADIN, did old idiot George W BUSH?? NO!! He sat on his hands started a war with IRAQ?? A country that had NOTHING to do with 9/11!! Instead of going after the SAUDIS!! The SAUDI ARABIANS were the ones who screwed America on 9/11, NOT IRAQIS!! Oh, sure, Bush could play dumb, that good old boy from Texas, what is the difference between Saudi and Iraq...etc...but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ talks, and the lives of young and not so young Americans in the US military is cheap, let that BLACK GOLD keep on flowing, and keep feeding us BS that the weapons of mass destruction etc...from IRAQ??? etc..etc..etc...

These former officers are downright lying because almost every one of their allegations has been debunked.

They are abusing their prior military service for political gain. Being retired doesn't allow them to do this because they're obviously using their military background.

This is very, very bad. A complete lack of unprofessionalism.

They are no longer soldiers right? So why do they have to be bound by being non partisan? You would think being veterans gives them the right to speak.

Each plays his or her own political games and striking the not accordingly. The outcome of this saga is the division that starts to crack up among military persons, for it is very unhealthy for America. As stated, America is divided more than ever. Forwarding this type of scenario will not make U.S.A. better, rather is becoming weaker. Wondering, who is going to claim the credit this time? Words are cheap and the numbers do not lie. Cheers.

This is very, very bad. A complete lack of unprofessionalism.

Respect and professionalim flows both ways. If the President did divulge sensative information to make himself look better that would be a terrible breach of trust and it would be perfectly acceptable for retired members of the military to voice their concerns about it on behalf of their brothers in arms that may have been put in harms way as a result.

The idea that a retired soldier or officer should be silent on an issue they care deeply about just because you don't like the sound of it is ridiculous.

Personally I find some of the comments made by OPSEC members to be blatently partison hogwash but the organization as a whole appears to be earnest in their concern for the security of sensative information.

I wonder how many currently-serving high-ranked officers are quietly contemplating an Argentinian-style coup if Obama gets re-elected. It'd make a good movie, too.

Typo: I meant "note".

"And since these guys are EX military they are now CITIZENS and can say what they like"

"You would think being veterans gives them the right to speak" . "Personally I find some of the comments made by OPSEC members to be blatently partison hogwash but the organization as a whole appears to be earnest in their concern for the security of sensative information."

First of all, this isn't an government agency for security. It's official name is "Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund" and is classified as a 501 organization, which can keep their donors secret and whose express purpose is to spread lies about Pres. Obama. and national security. While I won't dispute their right to free speech, these guys are hiding behind a national security facade and are ONLY politically motivated. You can check them out on Wikipedia.

I wonder how many currently-serving high-ranked officers are quietly contemplating an Argentinian-style coup if Obama gets re-elected. It'd make a good movie, too.

I take it you haven't seen the presidential gattling gun that pops out of top of several of the SUV's that accompany him? They're quite impressive.

You can check them out on Wikipedia.

Information is scant.

"Information is scant."

TheQuestion: They are all Republican political operatives.

Here's a good article about their claims:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/17/opinion/bergen-obama-swift-boat/index.html

U.S. military chief General Martin Dempsey denounced ex-officers Tuesday for waging a campaign against President

Barack Obama, arguing that soldiers had a duty to stay above the political fray

Sorry General Dempsey, when they became "ex-officers" all restrictions on their right to Free Speach went away, they now have the same rights as any other citizen to speak their mind.

Sorry General Dempsey, when they became "ex-officers" all restrictions on their right to Free Speach went away, they now have the same rights as any other citizen to speak their mind.

It's not about rights but more about code of conduct. Ex-military men still follow some code of conduct to protect the integrity and respect of their military. Or as another example, ex-Presidents of the US, once they're no longer President and become civilians, they follow a code of conduct to not overly criticize whoever is currently in Office. Doing otherwise is frowned upon and considered beneath them.

If Obama is guilty of spilling sensitive national security details to help secure his re-election, can he be sentenced to prison?

@Serrano

If Obama is guilty of spilling sensitive national security details to help secure his re-election, can he be sentenced to prison?

Well, there must surely be some way for God-fearin' white folk to do away with the black Muslim devil-spawn Kenyan. Yee-Haa Jethro!!

"If Obama is guilty of spilling sensitive national security details to help secure his re-election, can he be sentenced to prison?"

Come now my boy, you guys cheered on Bush Co when they outed a CIA agent in revenge for telling the truth and the subsequent cover-up, "trial" and pardon....

This is Swift Boat revisited. No Vietnam war record to sully fro Obama mind, I wonder if the Democrats will bring up Romney's 'Nam draft dodge while living it up in a French palace.....heh.

Madverts - It is interesting how you seem to be so concerned about an "outed" CIA agent but apparently have not taken the time to actually learn the facts that were disclosed from the investigation. The leak came from Richard Armitage in the State Department, not the White House. And there was no pardon. Get your facts straight, please or go back to your video games.

Suzu,

Which facts are you claiming I have wrong exactly? Other than Scooter who received a commuted sentence which was more or less a pardon in my opinion. If you think justice was done then you're the one who should do some research into that criminal administration.

My comments were directed at the poster above asking if Obama should be going to jail, when he and I both know what his comments were back in the day about the Plame scandal.

U.S. military chief General Martin Dempsey denounced ex-officers Tuesday for waging a campaign against President Barack Obama, arguing that soldiers had a duty to stay above the political fray.

Right call done by General Dempsey. All soldiers have to stay above the political fray.

globalwatcher, but they are no longer soldiers but civilians. So you are saying once a soldier always a soldier? Covered by the UCMJ? Really makes a person want to join.

Yes, Yuri.

These ex military OFFICERS who once had an access to security should remain silent when our active duty soldiers are still fighting in combat zone. It is all security reasons.

I have a very good friend-ex General who was directly reporting to President Truman still keeps his lips tighly shut to tell the truth. That's a code of ethics still practiced among high ranking officers.

Interesting, globalwatcher. To be sure, many Japanese would be quite interested in the secrets that your "good friend-ex General" knows about Truman. Would it rewrite history? Would it threaten the US/Japan relationship? The US bases in Japan? Should the Japanese celebrate his patriotism or be concerned about the secrets being kept from the US's most trusted ally in Asia? And wasn't it Hilliary, Obama Secretary of State, who claimed that dissent was patriotic when Bush was in office? It seems that defining such terms and actions, like history, belong to the the current winners.

global watcher, you are referring to classified material, the general was referring to politics. "arguing that soldiers had a duty to stay above the political fray." He also said "The military had a unique role that required political neutrality". So lets try this again, ex soldiers have to remain politically neutral? Perhaps it is just for the lower ranks and Generals like Eisenhower are exempt? This is really confusing for me.

saidaniAug. 23, 2012 - 05:13AM JST

Would it rewrite history?

No he will never write. He is still in physically fit with blessed sharp mind as always. I admire him a lot as he blends well with everyone else. Nobody know that he was once in position of power having casual dinner with imperial families of Japan. I have seen some of these photos. I truly respect his humility and love for Japan.

globalwatcher - YuriOtani is correct. Ex-military should not divulge classified information they had access to when they were active, that is what OPSEC (Operational Security) is. Ex-military giving thier opinion or speaking up about leaks is not a breach of OPSEC, that is maintaining OPSEC. General Dempsey should keep his loser mouth shut, he was APPOINTED by the president. So you honestly think he's going to agree with ANYBODY that says anything against the person that gave him is high ranking position? He doesn't think backing the person that appointed him is partisan politics?

Elbuda Mexicano - You have no idea what they hell you are talking about. Again, OPSEC is OPERATIONAL SECURITY. These guys are trying to tell secrets, they are saying that Obama is the one releasing secret information for his own political gain. You wonder why Bin Laden wasn't killed during Bush's presidency? Good question! The answer is that he spent 8 years rebuilding HUMINT. Clinton DECIMATED the intelligence community. And after Bush rebuilt it, Obama got to reap the rewards. End of story. And judging by that lame picture of Obama and Co watching the operation, Obama's invitation to the viewing was an afterthought. Look at it. He's sitting off to the side, he didn't even have a seat at the table. This was the most important operation of the War on Terror, and he's just sitting off to the side? Oh yeah, he did it all! Guess he forgot all about that we made his "you didn't build that" speech.

I do agree with you that Saudi Arabia should be considered an enemy. And there's no doubt that thier oil is the reason they are "allies." But I have no issue with going after Iraq. We KNOW Saddam had WMDs, he used them on the Kurds. What's you arguement for this? They already used them all and didn't have any left?

I meant, "These guys are NOT trying tell secrets", above.

The video that these ex-special operations members made has almost three million views on YouTube.

The distrust of President Obama evidently runs very,very deep in America's armed forces.