Donald Rumsfeld: Why Americans Must Fight for Freedom

The Chicago Tribune ^ | August 6, 2004 | Donald Rumsfeld

[quidnunc]

Several months ago, I was in South Korea. At the time, a debate was under way in the Korean parliament about whether the country should send troops to Iraq.

A young Korean reporter asked me why Koreans should send their young men and women halfway around the globe to be killed or wounded in Iraq.

It was a fair question, one an American could have asked during the Korean War. That day, I had visited a war memorial in Korea that bore the names of every American soldier killed in the war. On it was the name of a close friend of mine from New Trier High School, a wrestling teammate named Dick O'Keefe, who was killed on the last day of the Korean War.

I asked the reporter: "Why should Americans have sent their young people to Korea?"

We were on an upper floor of a building in Seoul, and I asked the reporter to look out of the window. I said, "There's the answer."

The city was filled with lights and cars and energy and people, a robust economy that's just an economic miracle, and freedom. And I told the reporter that I kept a satellite photo, taken at night, of the Korean peninsula on a table in my office. North of the Demilitarized Zone, there is nothing but darkness, with one little pinprick of light in Pyongyang, the capital.

-snip-

[reed13]

ping

[gilliam]

Rummy has a satellite photo of Korea under glass on a table in his office. South Korea is full of light, and North Korea is pitch black.

A picture of the world at night would also be instructive. Connected countries are full of light (and life) and disconnected countries are pitch black.
The USA has given a gift to the world. That gift is light and life.

[smcmike]

Ah, the gift of light pollution.

Joking of course.

But sometimes I do miss the stars.

[gilliam]

Come to Arizona!

[NonValueAdded]

the photo (careful, it's huge) see if you can spot the communist economies.

[grobdriver]

But sometimes I do miss the stars.

Come to West Texas.
We got a lotta stars we can loan you.

[Mackey]

Southeastern Oregon on a moonless summer night is a great place to see the stars. I'd forgotten just how the Milky Way looked-- awesome!

[freeeee]

Donald Rumsfeld: Why Americans Must Fight for Freedom

So we're fighting Iraqis for freedom, now. I see.

So which freedoms are Iraqis denying us?
When Iraq is passified, can we protest outside free speech zones?
How about the repeal of CFR laws?
Will asset forfeiture without due process end?
Maybe there will be no more road blocks?
The end of seatbelt laws?
Less gun control?

I didn't think so.

Stick a sock in it Rummy.

[gilliam]

the photo (careful, it's huge) .

Thanks!

Best viewed full scale.

see if you can spot the communist economies

Or Africa, or the mid-East, or any of the disconnected countries.

[quidnunc]

Libertarians make my teeth itch and generally tired all over.

[freeeee]

Maybe some fresh fruits and vegetables would help that?

[gilliam]

We are fighting to get rid of terrorism. But to do that, we need to do a number of things. One of which is to eliminate places where terrorists can find refuge. And terrorists find refuge in disconnected countries. So by bringing the countries into the community of nations, we eliminate bases for terrorists. Afghanistan and Iraq will be examples in the Arab world. Read: The Pentagon's New Map

[freeeee]

We are fighting to get rid of terrorism.

Fine. Then he needs to say that.

Claiming it is a fight for our freedom is completely inaccurate and misleading. The title of this article is pure propaganda, designed to link the Iraq campaign with American liberty.

[quidnunc]

freeeee wrote: Maybe some fresh fruits and vegetables would help that?

No, libertarians provide me with more tha enough fruits, flakes and nuts.

[AndyJackson]

see if you can spot the communist economies.

Alaska???

[gilliam]

Alaska??? Bingo! :) just kidding, pls don't send any brown bears down here.

[freeeee]

...which are great to have after a nice steaming pile of BS like this article.

Anyway, since the Iraq war is about freedom I was really excited when they caught Saddam!

I just can't wait for all the freedom I'll have now that he's no longer oppressing me! Should be any day now, maybe after his trial...

[NonValueAdded]

Alaska???

Har! Excluding arctic tundra and deserts. But do you see the North Slope?

[quidnunc]

freeeee wrote:I just can't wait for all the freedom I'll have now that he's no longer oppressing me!

That freedom, no doubt, being the freedom to toke your brains out without being busted.