General confirms comments against Rumsfeld in book

WASHINGTON — Gen. James Jones, once the Marine Corps' top general, did not deny reports in a new book that he told a colleague the war in Iraq would be a debacle and that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had emasculated the service chiefs.

But Jones, NATO's top commander and headed toward retirement, said Wednesday he will not join the ranks of other retired military officers who say Rumsfeld should be ousted. Rumsfeld has been under fire by critics, including several former generals, who say he has run roughshod over the Pentagon's uniformed leadership.

"I do not in any way associate myself with ... that particular group, and will not associate myself in my retired life," Jones said at an event sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations.

Jones is known within military circles for speaking frankly and having an aversion to the Pentagon bureaucracy. As Marine Corps commandant for more than three years until January 2003, Jones was responsible for preparing Marines for combat and advising the defense secretary as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In Bob Woodward's book "State of Denial," Jones is quoted as telling Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a 2005 meeting: "You're going to face a debacle and be part of the debacle in Iraq." Jones also warned Pace that the Joint Chiefs of Staff had been "systematically emasculated by Rumsfeld," according to the book.

The account of Jones' meeting with Pace, in which he is said to have expressed "chagrin" that Pace would want to serve as "a parrot on the secretary's shoulder," is among the more notable claims in Woodward's book, since it marks the first time an officer of Jones' rank and influence, while still on active duty, has publicly questioned Rumsfeld's role in war planning.

Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Shays, who is facing a tough challenge from an anti-war Democrat, on Wednesday called for Rumsfeld to resign — a rare demand from a longtime Republican.

The Connecticut lawmaker also accused officials at the Defense Department of withholding information about the Iraq war from Congress.

"I am losing faith in how we are fighting this war," Shays, a longtime supporter of the conflict, said in an interview. "I believe we have to motivate the Iraqis to do more."

Shays said defense officials stopped cooperating with his congressional subcommittee after he proposed in August setting a timeline for troop withdrawals. Rumsfeld "simply is refusing to cooperate with a committee that oversees the Department of Defense," Shays said. "To me he has crossed the line."

The Pentagon had no comment.