Posted and updated by Mark Silva
Tony Snow, the normally genial White House spokesman, came out swinging today at a criticism that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid allegedly leveled at Marine Gen. Peter Pace, outgoing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.
“Incompetent’’ – that’s what Reid had allegedly said of Pace, according to a report today from Politico.com citing its its own sources.
“Outrageous… slander’’ – that’s what Snow said today, acknowledging that he couldn’t vouch for the veracity of the report, but the White House isn’t happy about it, and, if it’s true, the White House is demanding an apology from Reid.
No apology from Reid (D-Nev.), who said he has told Pace "to his face'' that he is unhappy with the job he has done in Iraq, and also said this later today:
"I believe that General Pace would not be -- if he had come forward to be reappointed the chairman of the Joints Chiefs, it wouldn't have happened, and I'm not going to get into what I said or didn't say. There is a long list of people including Senators Levin and Reed and others who have talked about General Pace long before I did. I think we should just drop it. The fact is, he's not going to be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, for which I'm happy.''
RNC Chairman Mike Duncan weighed in with his own response for Reid today:
"Harry Reid doesn’t understand that there are some lines you just don’t cross. There is room for him to express reasonable disagreement about our path forward in Iraq. But to attack our military is unacceptable. To attack General Petraeus, the man actually leading our troops on the ground, is reprehensible. And to call the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, someone who has served our nation for his entire adult life with honor and distinction, ‘incompetent’ is beyond the pale. Harry Reid once said ‘This war is lost.’ What he’s really lost, apparently, is any semblance of respect he might have once had for the best and bravest armed forces in the world.”
With the White House withdrawing Pace for reconfirmation in the face of congressional opposition, the Bush administration clearly is sensitive about losing its top military commander.
But Snow’s sensitivity bordered on hair-trigger anger today, probably reflecting the depth of discontent among his bosses who send him out each day to meet the press – and reporters at the daily briefing readily took Snow to task for lashing out at a comment from Reid which may or may not have been made.
“We are a little bit concerned about some reports on the Internet that Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid, in a conversation with liberal bloggers, had referred to General Pete Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, as incompetent, and apparently -- again, according to the reports -- had said disparaging things also about General David Petraeus,’’ Snow said.
“We certainly hope it's not true,'' Snow said, "because at a time of war, for a leader of a party that says it supports the military, it seems outrageous to be issuing slanders toward the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and also the man who's responsible for the bulk of military operations in Iraq.
“Indeed, Sen. Reid has at some point declared the war lost and also has declared the surge a failure even though it has not yet been fully enacted. I don't know if it's true or not. If it is true, I certainly hope he does apologize.’’
Politco.com, the new online and hard-copy report on Washington politics, reported today that Reid had called Pace "incompetent" during an interview on Tuesday with a group of liberal bloggers – a comment which Politico explains had not been previously reported.
“Reid made similar disparaging remarks about Army Gen. David Petraeus,’’ the top U.S. commander in Iraq, according to Politico’s sources familiar with that interview.
Why not wait to find out if Reid’s comment is reported correctly before launching a “pre-emptive strike,’’ the WH press secretary was asked?
“Well, I just think it's appropriate to comment on it,’’ Snow said.
Whether or not it’s true, he was asked?
“Well, do you trust the Politico?’’ Snow, a journalist at heart, replied. “I don't know. I'll give -- we'll give a call.’’
This is the same press secretary always refusing to comment on hypotheticals?
“Well,’’ Snow said, “you got me.’’
"This,'' said Jim Manley, spokesman for Reid, "is coming from the same guy that said yesterday that increased violence in Iraq was a sign of success. Americans are looking for candor about the situation in Iraq.''
How about that apology from Reid? Manley laughed.
Reid addressed the issue at his own press conference.
"First of all, with General Pace, there's a long line of people who have indicated in various ways that General Pace was not the person to be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,'' Reid said. "That's why the name was pulled.
"Peter Pace , I talked to him in my conference room, just him and I, and I told him how I felt, that he had not done a very good job in speaking out for some obvious things that weren't going right in Iraq. I told him that to his face.
"Now, with General Petraeus, which you didn't ask the question, but I will answer it, I have high regard for General Petraeus. When I was in Iraq, he was responsible for training the Iraqi troops. He told us it was going great. As we've looked back, it didn't go so well.
"He is a highly decorated veteran. I was a little disappointed, to say the least, today reading USA Today newspaper where he's saying things are going fine, kids are playing soccer. And I don't know what other examples he gave. The truth is, you look at another newspaper and look at a different page of USA Today, the bloodiest three months of the war has been since the surge took place.
"So I am waiting to see if General Petraeus can be a little more candid with us,'' he said.
Is Petraeus incompetent, Reid was asked.
"Not as far as I'm concerned,'' the majority leader said.
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Comments
If Pace is so good at his job, why is he leaving?
Posted by: Cheryl | June 14, 2007 1:39 PM
Like the typical Loony Left he is, Dingy Harry "those here illegally are undocumented AMERICANS" Reid is an embarrassment as a human, to the state of Nevada, to the U.S. Senate, to the United States, and even to his rudderless, morally bankrupt, unAmerican party, the Democrats!
Posted by: John D | June 14, 2007 1:43 PM
I fully agree with Senator Reid.
Pace has been nothing more than a bigoted, strategic disaster maker.
I'm also sure that following all of these "fine" Pace accomplishments the W. administration will give him a Medal of Honor.
"Heckova job" Petie!
Posted by: John E | June 14, 2007 1:45 PM
I hear Ried is a mormon.
I wonder how that affects his leadership?
Posted by: JD | June 14, 2007 1:50 PM
Slandering a military commander in time of war is inexcusable, especially for the leader of a political party. What is the matter with people like Harry Reid that they would put partisan politics above simple decency?
Posted by: Shaka | June 14, 2007 1:50 PM
Mark,
When do we find out if Scooter is going to prison for Treason?
Posted by: John E | June 14, 2007 1:59 PM
Calling him "incompetent" was impolitic and Reid is at fault for not being more thoughtful.
Still, Pace bears at least some substantial responsibility for Iraq and Afghanistan going so poorly.
This situation calls to mind a scene in "The Breakfast Club." The bookish, honor roll Anthony Michael Hall character confesses that he got an F on a shop project to build a lamp. The lamp didn't work.
The troublemaker/burnout character, played by Judd Nelson, then calls Hall stupid.
Hall responds, incredulously: "You're calling me stupid because the lamp didn't work?"
Nelson replies: "No, I'm calling you a genius because your lamp didn't work."
Results mean something. Pace may not be incompetent, but he's obviously got very little to crow about in light of his failings. Reid's statement was wrong, but the underlying sentiment was completely correct.
How many American troops' death warrants is Tony Snow writing tonite? June's not been a good month so far, so maybe 3 or 4?
Posted by: a blinkin | June 14, 2007 2:14 PM
ablinkin, you're being too generous to our dear Gen. Pace. Mr. Reid merely spoke the truth. Harsh words are justified for a cowardly little man like Pace. He's willing to send our troops off to die so that Chimpy can leave this mess to the next president. When you are in charge of a fiasco and keep repeating patently obvious spin and outright lies, you've lost the ability to be an effective manager. Unfortunately, the real incompetent is his immediate boss, the Chimp in Chief. Nevertheless, what kind of a commander or manager knowingly sends people into harms way just so that his boss looks good?
Posted by: weinerdog43 | June 14, 2007 2:24 PM
(Sigh) I am a 70 year old piano teacher living in a tiny town on the west coast, and I could tell that Pace was incompetent the first time I heard him speak.
Petraeus was touted as brilliant - but after reading a portion of a military manuel he wrote that was released to the press just before "the surge"- it was obvious that he was incompetent too!
My ex-husband was an officer in the military many years ago, and the thing that was painfully obvious was that (in many cases) promotion came to those who could handle it the least. In other words they were NOT promoted because they were intelligent or brilliant, but because they were compliant and good followers.
On the other hand, MANY were 'passed over' because they were too smart or too savvy. Maybe they showed some creativity or pushed back when they observed problems.
Reid is right on! and Snow is a 'toady'.
Posted by: Judith Terry | June 14, 2007 2:28 PM
If Peter Pace has done such an exceptional job, why is he resigning?? Why isn't Defense Secretary Gates standing by him??Pace was a tool. There has been much discontent within the DOD regarding Pace. He is partially responsible for the complete diaster Iraq has become (with no end in sight). He was incapable of answering any questions regarding Iraq. When he did answer, he was not being truthful.
And John D., your hero, the illiterate and illegitimate Dubya Bush is an embarassment as a human to the White House, the Office of President, and the law abiding citizens of the United States. He is a disgrace to this country and the world.
Keep on listening to Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. You are in good hands with them.
Posted by: Doug R. | June 14, 2007 2:28 PM
Give em hell Harry. If the truth hurts, so be it. Snowjob is just not use to reality, having been around Fox Noise all those years. Harry Reid is trying to save lives, not get more soldiers killed.
Harry Reid is a Great American Hero.
Posted by: Raving Loon | June 14, 2007 2:38 PM
The good news is Pace was called incompetent. The bad new is this ill-conceived, immoral, unnecessary, insane, disastrous war has made everybody associated with it incompetent.
Posted by: GW | June 14, 2007 3:17 PM
Where the hell does the Bush Administration get off "demanding" an apology from anyone? Bush has deluded himself into believing that he reigns over a monarchy. Your lies and inadequacies are crumbling around you.
Posted by: Mrs. Jesus | June 14, 2007 3:29 PM
If Pace is so competent, why does Dubya need a War Czar?
If it's treason to dis a general in time of war, how does Dubya get away with dumping Pace?
Posted by: Doug Zook | June 14, 2007 3:52 PM
Maybe we should let Harry Reid see what kind of a job he could do? It's a cinch he is a "no-nothing" as a senator
Posted by: Bud | June 14, 2007 4:07 PM
Guess I never realized Reid was a military man with such vast knowledge of war. He doesn't seem to grasp today's reality!
Posted by: Mary | June 14, 2007 4:20 PM
"Land deal" Harry Reid is not fit to shine General Pace's shoes.
And didn't Reid vote to confirm Gen. Pace as Chief of Staff a couple months ago? Evidently Reid thought pretty well of Gen. Pace not so long ago.
Posted by: Bruce | June 14, 2007 4:22 PM
Let's take a step back for a second. The tit for tat over Pace and Reid and many other things is small compared to how the Democrats have been traitors. Why do I call them traitors?
Because it's one thing to disagree with policy and it is patriotic to fight for what is best for the country, but I see nothing from Reid or the other Democrats that help anyone but themselves! The Democrats ignore all of the issues of the Mideast (and many other things) and they expect us to think they are sincere! Disagree with the war, fine. Undermine it and get people killed is bad and is exactly what any opponent would do. The Democrats words and deeds are identical to our enemies. I think the evidence is clear that most of the Democratic leadership are traitors and that they are scum.
Think of any organization where the members, employees, etc. attack the leadership with only their own interests in mind. These people would be fired or pushed out.
It boils down to the Democratic leadership is not sincere and they only care about themselves. We all suffer. If even you don't like Bush, the alternative of a bunch of traitors is worse! And the dirty little secret is if the Democrats win the Presidency, they won't pull out the troops because even they really know it would be crazy and we would have bigger problems on our hands. So the Democrats are lying to everyone. It's just that some if us can see it and call them for what they are.
Posted by: Al | June 14, 2007 4:24 PM
Years ago this may have seemed like this was out of place to say this. Now, after the republicans have demonized and called everyone unpatriotic that didn't agree with this blunder of a war, I say give em hell Harry. Republicans are the ones who brought personal politics to DC thanks to low life Rove. Besides, anyone who thinks we have done a good job in Iraq must be an idiot.
Posted by: bill r. | June 14, 2007 4:26 PM
(kind)Bud and (hail)Mary:
You don't have to be a chicken to judge eggs. If you've been reading the papers the last 6 years, you'd know that Pace has been presiding over not one but two botched wars. You don't need to be a general to see that he's not particularly good at his job.
Posted by: a blinkin | June 14, 2007 4:31 PM
"He doesn't seem to grasp today's reality!"
Posted by: Mary | June 14, 2007 4:20 PM
Mary,
You mean today's reality that the PM of Iraq admitted there is a civil war? You know the Swamp post that is being avoided like it was the plague by the right wing Swampsters.
Posted by: jethro | June 14, 2007 4:34 PM
Guess I never realized Reid was a military man with such vast knowledge of war. He doesn't seem to grasp today's reality!
Posted by: Mary | June 14, 2007 4:20 PM
You're right Mary...It would take a military man to say this war is going well. A grasp on todays reality? Please....
Posted by: bill r. | June 14, 2007 4:42 PM
"Harry Reid is a Great American Hero."
Are you serious?
Is this the "Mormon Lobby" speaking Loon?
Posted by: JD | June 14, 2007 4:44 PM
Turns out Tony Snow was not telling the truth. Harry Reid said nothing about the general.
Posted by: Cheryl | June 14, 2007 4:47 PM
Way to ramble June. Your post should be rolled in a flag and saluted while we eat hotdogs and watch fireworks. While it is a great sample of partisan rhetoric,it contains little fact.
Posted by: bill r. | June 14, 2007 4:54 PM
Yeah Reid voted for Pace.
And the American people voted for Dubya in 2004. (Gore won the popular vote in 2000) But what'd happen if Dubya were up for election tomorrow?
Posted by: Doug Zook | June 14, 2007 5:01 PM
Cheryl, once again I understand reading, understanding and comprehension are not traits one normally associates with the Loony Left Ilk, but Snow was telling the truth. His comments were based on a report by politico.com, which stands by its story.
Posted by: John D | June 14, 2007 5:17 PM
Has anyone noticed that we have been getting our asses kicked for almost five years by a bunch of irregulars. Our military leadership had been a disaster. The went along to get along with poor tactics,no strategy, and the war crimes of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. We are in worse shape now than ever in this debacle. Why would the leadership be immune to criticism? They lacked courage and judgement. Case will probably get that medal, but he is a disgrace as a general officer.
Posted by: c. perry | June 14, 2007 5:19 PM
"So the Democrats are lying to everyone. It's just that some if us can see it and call them for what they are."
Posted by: Al | June 14, 2007 4:24 PM
So, Al, I suppose the Bush, Chenney, Rove, Libby and Gonzalez lies are not lies. What do you that supposedly can see lies and call them what they are say about the crap coming out of the Whitehouse almost weekly?
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | June 14, 2007 5:44 PM
Oh God! (Groan!) This will
lead to old 19% Approval
Democrat Senate Majority
Misleader Horrible Harry
Reid and Nutty Nancy Jet
Set Pelosi Issuing Another
"Non Binding Resolution"
that States Tony Snow is
As Totally Incompetent As
President George "My
Government" W Bush and That
Psycho Draft Dodger Cheney
and Declares Reid & Pelosi
are Democrat Political
Geniuses And Sainted By
The Pope and Democratic
National Committee!
Posted by: Sandra | June 14, 2007 5:45 PM
You got something against people of different religious choice than yours, little JD?
I could care less about Romney's religion, I care more about his flip-flopping, waterboy.
Posted by: John E | June 14, 2007 6:22 PM
I was wrong. He did say it. At least he said it to General Pace, and not to a bunch of bloggers as reported in Politico.
Which btw, may as well change its name to Republico. It's about as reliable as Fox 'News.'
http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/2007/06/politico-fails-journalism-100.html
Posted by: Cheryl | June 14, 2007 6:35 PM
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/harry_reid_s_favorables_fall_to_19
Looks like 81% of Americans feel Reid is incompetent.
Posted by: JD | June 14, 2007 6:45 PM
This is totally outrageous. How dare anyone impugn General Turgidson! In the words of the general himself: Well, I, uh, don't think it's quite fair to condemn a whole program because of a single slip-up, sir."
I might also add, "Buck" Turgidson is absolutely correct, we cannot allow a mineshaft gap. Come on people, the future of civilized society depends on us doing whatever it is we're doing in Mesopotamia.
Posted by: dt | June 14, 2007 7:18 PM
Have any of you folks that are attacking Reid noticed the status of the Iraq situation? Have any of you been around over the last several years as the Military and bushie have told us time and time again of how well things are going and the progress that was being made?
What makes Pace or any other offical, military or otherwise immune to criticism? Facts certainly has shown that bush and his military planners have been less than successful in Iraq. To call attention to a less than good job by Pace isn't being negative toward the troops in the field, but to their leadership.
As always, those who disagree with or give a negative statement with regard to bush and his boy's suddenly become the bad guy. Look at the fact's regarding this mess in Iraq and if you are honest with yourself, there is no way, you can believe, Pace, bush, or anyone having anything to do with Iraq, other than the troops, are anything but inept at what they have done and are doing. If you still are in denial, then it must be party over reality and if so shame on you. That makes you no better than the fools in the white house and military leaders who can't lead.
Posted by: Ken | June 15, 2007 10:22 AM
Dingy Harry Reid is a class act running down the Chair of the Joint Chiefs and General Patraeus who is leading a change of course in Iraq. That's it Harry tell the troops the War is lost so, you can kiss up to Moveon.org,George Soros, People for the American Way who are dictating your wack job policies. Dingy Harry called these leftist groups and gave them a heads up before he yelled at the Generals.Harry why didn't you get your number 2 guy our own Dickie Durbin to call them Soviets in their gulags or Pol Pot or something even more outrageous. People on this blog say that nasty politics of personal destruction was started by Republicans sorry folks no cigar. It was started by James Carville, Paul Begala, Lanny Davis and the rest of the Clinton War Room. Give em hell Tony Snow. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | June 15, 2007 10:50 AM
Reid just confirmed what the Bush administration already decided. Pace was not going to be re-nominated. That means "You're Fired!" So Al, I guess that makes Bush et al. guilty of Treason. Please let's not be so dramatic. And Jerry….actually forget it, I don’t have the time to waste responding to you.
Posted by: Tim | June 15, 2007 12:15 PM
Our generals learned to be sheep in wolves clothing from Colin Powell who spent a career going along to get along. He complained of Grantanamo this week. Five years late. Such courage.
Posted by: c. perry | June 15, 2007 5:09 PM
"Cheryl, once again I understand reading, understanding and comprehension are not traits one normally associates with the Loony Left Ilk, but Snow was telling the truth. His comments were based on a report by politico.com, which stands by its story."
To John D(oolittle): Did any of the schools that you went to teach Logic? Repeating something that is incorrect does not make it the truth. Unless, it is intelligence that supports what you want to do, but I digress.
Posted by: BIG Gene | June 15, 2007 7:29 PM
BushCo wants to dump Pace. Who Knows why since incompetence is not a liability witth Bush. BUT let's manufacture some damage control. Someone said that they heard that someone else had heard that Reid called Pace incompetentent. Now the story is that mean Harry Reid is SO outrageous. Give me a break.
Cheryl, Republico is the name for it.
Posted by: Catherine | June 18, 2007 6:34 AM