Ex-General: Rumsfeld Violated Principles of War Planning

April 14, 2006— -- Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste says he is calling for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation because he believes the defense secretary violated the principles of war planning when deciding to invade Iraq, and as a leader he needs to be accountable for that action.

"We went to war with a flawed war plan," Batiste told "Good Morning America." "We certainly had the troops necessary to win the fight to take down Saddam Hussein, but we in no way considered the hard work to win the peace. There were 10 years of good, deliberate war planning that was essentially ignored."

Although the president approved the plan, Batiste said his criticism was focused on the defense secretary.

Batiste is one of six retired generals demanding Rumsfeld step down, breaking a long tradition of the military steering clear of politics.

"We have nothing to gain by this. There's no political agenda at all," Batiste said. "We've been loyal subordinates. This is all about soldiers -- service men and women -- and their families."

Batiste led the First Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. He retired from the military in November 2005, passing up a third star and a chance to be second in command in Iraq.

This week in an essay in Time magazine, retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, who held a key position in war planning, suggested "replacing Rumsfeld and many others unwilling to fundamentally change their approach."

Last month, another top officer who commanded the training of Iraqi security forces, retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, wrote in an op-ed piece in The New York Times, "Mr. Rumsfeld must step down." He accused the defense secretary of being "incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically."

Former military men Gen. Anthony Zini, Maj. Gen. John Riggs, and Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack Jr. have also joined the chorus.

Batiste said the effort was not coordinated.

"I have not talked to any of the other five generals other than last night on a show," Batiste said.

Rumsfeld has been attacked before, but experts say the current uproar is significant, and may do more than just hurt Rumsfeld.