Gen'ls To Bush: Soldiers Not Props

A trio of retired generals concerned that President Bush might use his scheduled appearance this afternoon at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to try and score political points against Democrats, urged the president, via a teleconference with reporters, to focus strictly on the problems with military medical care.

The generals were spurred into action by news reports that suggested the president might use the event to take on Democrats as both sides clash over the Iraq and Afghanistan spending bills just passed by the Senate and House which include timelines Bush fiercely opposes for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.

Some of the pointiest of comments came from retired Army Major Gen. Paul Eaton who seconded the comments made right before him by retired Army three-star, Lt. Gen. Robert Garde, who welcomed the president's visit to Walter Reed, especially if it meant a faster solution would be forthcoming to the problems there and at other facilities.

Eaton, incidentally, was known as the "father of the Iraqi Army" for his work in rebuilding the Iraqi army after the 2003 U.S. invasion.

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