Reid Calls General Pace "Incompetent"

I suppose we could say that it takes one to know one, except General Peter Pace is far from incompetent. But that is what Harry Reid said yesterday in a conference call to a group of liberal bloggers:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "incompetent" during an interview Tuesday with a group of liberal bloggers, a comment that was never reported.

Reid made similar disparaging remarks about Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said several sources familiar with the interview.

This is but the latest example of how Reid, under pressure from liberal activists to do more to stop the war, is going on the attack against President Bush and his military leaders in anticipation of a September showdown to end U.S. involvement in Iraq, according to Democratic senators and aides.

Reid, who was bashed by Republicans for suggesting earlier this year that the Iraq war was "lost," is lashing out at top commanders while putting the finishing touches on a plan to force a series of votes on Iraq designed exclusively to make Republicans up for reelection in 2008 go on record in favor of continuing an unpopular war.

Reid, the senators and aides said, does not expect any of the Iraq measures to pass but hopes the effort will drive a deep enough wedge between wavering Republicans and Bush that, by September, Republican senators will break with the president and help end the war.

First off, Harry Reid is not worhty enough to lick General Pace's boots. From Dean over @ Hugh's site:

Here’s a little of Peter Pace’s background from Wikipedia:
Pace was born in Brooklyn, New York to Italian-American parents, and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey. He received his commission in June 1967, following graduation from the United States Naval Academy. He also holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University.

Gen. Pace's personal decorations include:

Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters (3 awards)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with Valor device
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with gold award star (2 awards)
Navy Commendation Medal with Valor device
Navy Achievement Medal with gold award star (2 awards)
Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Presidential Unit Citation with bronze service star (2 awards)
Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation with three bronze oak leaf clusters (4 awards)
Navy Unit Commendation with bronze service star (2 awards)
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with three bronze service stars (4 awards)
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars (3 awards)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two bronze service stars (3 awards)
Vietnam Service Medal with silver and bronze service stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze service stars (3 awards)
Overseas Service Ribbon with three bronze service stars (4 awards)
Recruiting Service Ribbon

Hmm. Let me see here. What does Senator Reid have? According to his bio, there is no military service for him, but since childhood, his nickname has been "Pinky." He and his wife are converts to the LDs faith, he was not born into it. (Just to keep people from jumping on me about that, I am simply making a point that he was not raised with that set of morals.) He also believes it is easier to be a Mormon and a Democrat than a Mormon and a Republican because, in his view, Mormons identify better with Democrats.

Whatever. He can have his opinions, no matter how misguided they seem. There is also this in his bio:

Jack Gordon, the manager and future husband of singer LaToya Jackson, once tried to bribe Reid. Reid allowed the FBI to tape Gordon's attempt to bribe him with $12,000, at which point Reid attempted (unsuccessfully) to strangle Gordon, saying "You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!"

Harry Reid has also suffered a "mini-stroke," and delayed revealing that to the public. He threatened to shut down the Senate when the Republicans were considering the execution of the Constitutional option over judicial nominees. He moved the Senate into a closed session -- an unusual move -- over what he viewed as lackadaisical attitude regarding pre-war intelligence supposedly being investigated by Sen. Pat Roberts.

Of course there is also his limited ties to the Abramoff scandal, the Nevada land deal, and using campaign money to buy his staff Christmas gifts. So, by comparison, Harry Reid is a small man compared to General Pace. I am truly irritated that the administration refuses to put General Pace back up, and keep him as the head of the JCS, but General Pace is not complaining. He has made no statement of disappointment to anyone, though I am sure that he is.

Harry Reid is the incompetent one. What else can be said of the majority leader when he squanders the good graces the Democrats had in January when they assumed the leadership of Congress. He has tried to ram more than one bill through the Senate calling for troop withdrawals and timetables. He has not pursued any sort of lobbyist or earmark reform. Now he is trying to ram a terrible immigration reform bill through the Senate. If I were Harry Reid, I would mind my own glass house before taking a swing at others.

Marcie

UPDATE: Talk about stepping in it. Former Senator Bill Frist fires back at Harry Reid and while it is polite, it is not pleasant.