John M. Riggs

Infobox Military Person


name= John M. Riggs
born=
died=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
|caption= John M. Riggs, U.S. Army general
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears= 1965-2005
rank= Lieutenant General (retired as a Major General)
commands= First United States Army
unit=
battles= Vietnam War
awards= Distinguished Flying Cross
laterwork=LtGen John M. Riggs, United States Army retired, is an American Army general who was retired, apparently as a result of his contradiction of the U.S. government stance on troop strength needed to support the actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. [ Bowman, Tom (2005). [http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/37/11476 "General's career ends when he criticizes the Iraq War: Unceremonious End to Army Career"] , "The Baltimore Sun", May 29, 2005. (URL accessed April 13, 2006)] . He had attained the rank of Lieutenant General (3-star), but was retired with the loss of one star, at the rank of Major General (2-star) in 2005. According to the Army, this was because of misuse of contractors — though the infractions were deemed to be so minor that they were not put into his permanent record.

In 2006, Riggs, along with a number of other retired senior U.S. military officials — LtGen. Gregory S. Newbold (USMC), MajGen Paul Eaton (U.S. Army), and Gen Anthony Zinni (USMC) — has come out calling for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld over his handling of the Iraq War. In an interview with NPR's Michele Norris, Riggs said, "I think he should step aside and let someone step in who can be more realistic." [ [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5340711 "Gen. Riggs Joins in Calling for Rumsfeld to Quit] , "All Things Considered", NPR radio interview, April 13, 2006. (URL accessed April 13, 2006) ]

Decorations

Riggs was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions as a helicopter pilot during Vietnam.

Education

Riggs earned B.A in political science and a M.A. in personnel management and administration. In addition, Riggs completed a National Security Fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

ee also

References

External links

*Bowman, Tom (2004). [http://www.roundupnews.com/media/storage/paper474/news/2004/01/22/News/Rumsfeld.Says.More.Troops.Are.Unnecessary.Costly-585922.shtml?norewrite200604132004&sourcedomain=www.roundupnews.com "Rumsfeld says more troops are unnecessary, costly"] , "The Baltimore Sun", January 22, 2004. (URL accessed April 13, 2006)
* [http://penusa.org/go/news/comments/washington-dc-army-general-demoted-for-criticizing-war-in-iraq/"Washington, D.C.: Army General Demoted For Criticizing War in Iraq"] , PEN USA, June 1, 2005.

Further reading

*Riggs, John M. (2003) [http://www.army.mil/prof_writing/volumes/volume1/july_2003/7_03_4v1.html " The Objective Force: A Holistic Approach to Army Transformation"] , "Army AL&T Magazine", March - April 2003. (URL accessed April 13, 2006)