President George W. Bush expressed confidence in embattled US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld despite five retired generals calling for his resignation, blaming his arrogant leadership for critical mistakes in Iraq.
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Analysts say the five retired generals are giving voice to the pent up resentment of active duty leaders, many of whom perceive Rumsfeld as arrogant and dismissive of military advice.
"My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions -- or bury the results," marine lieutenant general Gregory Newbold, operations director of the Joint Staff during the Afghanistan war and during early planning for Iraq, wrote in Time magazine.
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quotes from wiki:
"Stuff happens." (April 2003, commenting on the looting, rioting and general mayhem that followed the fall of Baghdad)
(speaking about disorder in Iraq, April 2003) "It's untidy, and freedom's untidy. Free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things. They're also free to live their lives and do wonderful things." Guardian Unlimited, April 12, 2003
"You go to war with the army you have…"
Donald Rumsfeld meets with Iraq Governing Council President Abdel Aziz Hakim in Baghdad, December 2003 -During a December 8, 2004, town-hall meeting with U.S. troops at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Rumsfeld responded to a soldier's comments about inferior military equipment by saying "you go to war with the army you have", a comment some characterized as needlessly cold
it seems to me that he is an uncaring person interested in pursuing his own agendas at the cost to his nation and its people.
well the least he could do was be a better hypocrite then.
=)
since he could not play that part well then he should step down and let someone who is better at it have a go.
^-- Rumsfeld, at the time Ronald Reagan's special envoy to the Middle East, meeting with Saddam Hussein during a visit to Baghdad, Iraq in 1983. Video frame capture.
Above was just a bit of irony. Below is what matters:
Rumsfeld has offered his resignation twice now: source
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said he twice offered his resignation to President George W. Bush during the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal and that the president declined to accept it.
IN 1971 the White House was mired in a war it could not win. There was enormous public pressure to bring the troops home and the White House was split about what to do.
Then president Richard Nixon was particularly annoyed with a White House staffer who had opposed the war.
Heading the small group that wanted to end the war more quickly than did secretary of state Henry Kissinger and Mr Nixon was a former congressman named Donald Rumsfeld. Mr Nixon called it "the Rumsfeld problem" and in a conversation with his chief-of-staff, Bob Haldeman, said: "I think Rumsfeld may be not too long for this world."
So, he isn't much of a war-hawk in 71, but now...
In the past week, the Administration has tried to rebut the criticisms and there have been two statements of support from George Bush.
Mr Rumsfeld's personal manner does not help his case. He has had a reputation from his earliest days of being confrontational, arrogant and domineering.
His work ethic is legendary. He has no chair at his desk, instead preferring to use a standing desk when he reads or writes.
When questions were asked about detainees being made to stand for four hours, Mr Rumsfeld said: "I stand for eight to 10 hours a day. Why is standing limited to four hours?"
And Mr Rumsfeld continues to enjoy support with the people that matter. He enjoys a 30-year friendship with Vice-President Dick Cheney.
More importantly, he appears to enjoy the support of Mr Bush, who has staked his presidency on the outcome of the Iraq War.
^-- Rumsfeld, at the time Ronald Reagan's special envoy to the Middle East, meeting with Saddam Hussein during a visit to Baghdad, Iraq in 1983. Video frame capture.
I have no problem with that picture. That was then. Things change. We still don't hate the Russians because of the Cold War (well, some of us still do) do we? It can work in the opposite too. I really don't like that picture being used in the negative.
^-- Rumsfeld, at the time Ronald Reagan's special envoy to the Middle East, meeting with Saddam Hussein during a visit to Baghdad, Iraq in 1983. Video frame capture.
I have no problem with that picture. That was then. Things change. We still don't hate the Russians because of the Cold War (well, some of us still do) do we? It can work in the opposite too. I really don't like that picture being used in the negative.
Like how we (the US of A) supplied Iraq with the nerve agent that was used against Iran? Guess signed the dotted line? The video is what it is, I just call it irony.
