Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey is taking heat from liberals and conservatives after he announced an essay contest to honor King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who died last week at age 90.
"The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff should be concerned about our military capability and capacity," retired Lt. Col. Allen West said Monday on Fox News Channel's
"On the Record with Greta Van Susteren."
"And when you look at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I don't think that they have many policies that we should be, I guess, touting or providing accolades for."
Dempsey announced the contest on Monday, saying it was open to students of the National Defense University, which is a graduate school for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The general said the contest was based on the good personal relationship he had with the king.
"I found the king to be a man of remarkable character and courage," Dempsey said.
Jenna McClaughlin wrote a
satirical essay for Mother Jones linking to Abdullah's civil rights record with women, migrant workers, and torture.
NYU journalism professor Mohamad Bazzi tweeted his feelings:
Van Susteren noted to West that women still can't drive in Saudi Arabia.
West also addressed comments from former Vermont Gov. and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean that the people who are flocking to theaters to see "American Sniper" are angry tea-party types.
"I guess I'm a very angry guy since I saw it twice," West said.
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