[mountainfolk]

Thank you for this Rumsfeld post. The election loss did not affect me much beyond knowing the terrible casualties our troops in Iraq will suffer, and the slaughter of the Iraq people when the Rats manage to facilitate a Viet Nam type pullout. What did cause me a visceral reaction was the hasty announcement that Donald Rumsfeld was resigning/fired. The way it was done sickened me. I could accept that he was leaving, but it was like he was being given the bums rush while the votes were still being counted. We have traded a giant patriot for a socialist anti-American passel of RATS.

[ChessExpert]

Excellent article. Thanks for posting.

Rumsfeld is impressive in a televised briefing with questions and answers. It is the press that depresses. Rumsfeld is smart and substantive, and he is remarkably patient dealing with an often juvenile and hostile press. Unfortunately many Americans never see Rumsfeld or Bush directly. Instead "their" thoughts and opinions are handed to them from the juvenile and hostile main stream media.

[Shery]

We will rue the day that he resigned, I am afraid. I hope that we will not be prosecuted, as that is the left's knee-jerk reaction to not having their cake to eat too. They wanted to be on board as being conscientious Americans, worried about our safety, but they didn't want to do any more than 'Clintoon' had done with his cruise missiles, shooting across the desert and killing a few odd camels and taking out a pharmaceutical factory. That was enough for them...scare a few desert gnats and be done with it. They didn't bargain on a real war, one that they might have to complete. It should be interesting to see what happens now.

[TAdams8591]

"What I saw, however, was that Rumsfeld questioned standard military recommendations for "overwhelming force."

Yes, but unfortunately the military ended up using underwhelming force. I do believe however, Rumsfield would have used more ground troops if the Generals wanted them. This however, would have resulted in more casulties and possibly a more premature end to the war, precisely the reason the Generals wanted to keep the numbers of ground troops lower.

It is most unfortunate. I have the deepest respect and regard for Rumsfeld, a true American patriot.

[MNJohnnie]

Pretty tough to set the record straight when both the Dincons and the Surrender Now Leftists will simply refuse to listen to anything that does not validate their emotion based opinons about Rummy

[freema]

Thanks for posting!

[ilovew]

That is the Rumsfeld I know. The DoD won't be the same without him.

[traviskicks]

'The Best of Donald Rumsfeld'
http://www.neoperspectives.com/rumsfeld.htm

This Feith piece will be added to the above.

[ArtyFO]

Editor's note: Mr. Feith is currently polishing his resume and is expected to leave before Mr. Rumsfeld leaves.

[ArtyFO]

There are other views of what Rumsfeld accomplished. He destroyed the Army. He transformed the Army to a concoction of boutique brigades without adequate artillery support, suited to fight small actions only and little prepared to face the huge Chinese Army and another North Korean Army. We are left with only a nuclear option to fight wars on the horizon.

[Chena]

Excellent article, rhema. BTTT!

[SuzyQue]

We're going to deeply miss this guy.

[Guenevere]

bttt

[Tribune7]

bump

[La Enchiladita]

Next?

Mr Cheney's closest allies have gone, says a former senior administration official. "He does not have the state department. He does not have the defence department or his chief of staff, Scooter Libby, who made him most effective. John Bolton is still there, but at the United Nations. Doug Feith has gone. Paul Wolfowitz has gone and now Rumsfeld has gone. These were all the people he worked with."

Financial Times: Mid-term hunting trip suggests Cheney prefers duck shooting to lame duck future

[x]

Probably not. Here's the Don Rumsfeld Feith knows:

"Doug Feith, of course, is without question, one of the most brilliant individuals in government. He is – he’s just a rare talent. And from my standpoint, working with him is always interesting. He’s been one of the really the intellectual leaders in the administration in defense policy aspects of our work here." -- Donald Rumsfeld

But wait, there's more:

Years from now, unfortunately it may be many years, accurate accounts of what’s taking place these past four years will be written and it will show that Doug Feith has performed his duties with great dedication, with impressive skill and with remarkable vision during this perilous and indeed momentous period in the life of our country.-- Donald Rumsfeld

With praise and support like that, is it any surprise Feith feels the same way about Rummy?

[Quix]

Thanks.

Am not surprised.

Great for the truer picture.

[Incorrigible]

 

 

[NordP]

I sat next to a former Marine on an airline ride and asked him what was the big deal about Rumsfeld. He told me that although he had great respect for the man; Rumsfeld was attempting to make the military run like a business, and that it couldn't be done. He said that Rumsfeld didn't seem to respect the "social" elements of the military.

I looked at him with a shocked face and said, "SOCIAL???" He said words to the effect that the branches of the military weren't formed to work together as one, and that each had their own budget and power. No branch wanted to lose in either category.

I flat out told him that from a civilian's point of view (and I realize that doesn't hold any water) that I saw Rumsfeld as a SUPER hard working, character driven, strive for the very best for America, TOTAL Patriot with a schedule that I couldn't even BEGIN to undertake at 20 some years his junior. I told him that I had nothing but the utmost respect and awe for the man, and I felt this way before, but that our conversation confirmed my beliefs that as far as how most of them dealt with Rumsfeld, the VIPs of the various branches of the military were working with their OWN interests at heart, and NOT that of the Country they swore to protect...TOGETHER.

I held back other thoughts, because I owe a great deal to our military and their individual sacrifices on our behalf. I would part ways with them about Rumsfeld; because in THIS case I think many top military guys are acting like the Senators we've lost respect for, when it comes to their "earned power."

NordP

[ntnychik]

ping