Rumsfeld Memo on Iraq Proposed ‘Major’ Change (What if this had been known before the elections)

The New York Times ^ | 12/3/06 | MICHAEL R. GORDON and DAVID S. CLOUD

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Right. It's not PC on these forums to criticize the Administration. This has allowed what might have been small correctable mistakes to turn into devastating set in stone mistakes.

Consider yourselves fortunate that this got relegated to a low profile sidebar. Or the cheerleaders will show up to impugn everybody's credentials as an American and a conservative.

[21stCenturyFreeThinker]

If we go there, they will follow. Although it has never been stated, at least I haven't heard it addressed, is that WE chose Iraq as the central battle field. We knew if we went in there, the terrorists would follow us. It gave us the opportunty to fight the terrorists out in the open (if you can call guerilla warfare in the open).

This may have been part of the strategy for choosing Iraq as a battlefield. After all, the terrain in Iraq is a lot more favorable then that in Afghanistan. But it looks like it didn't work out. According to General Abizaid the vast majority of the Insurgents are from inside Iraq. If they are loyal to Al-Queda then they're new recruits.

[21stCenturyFreeThinker]

Consider yourselves fortunate that this got relegated to a low profile sidebar. Or the cheerleaders will show up to impugn everybody's credentials as an American and a conservative.

I do :).

I always sit with my back to the wall when posting these days.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Those that give one a Smilin' Jack and a Glad Handing will rip your back apart. I, for one, will be proud to cover your back. Thanks for providing some constructive criticism. It is necessary and keeps the body politic healthy. There are plenty of echo chamber threads.

[21stCenturyFreeThinker]

There are plenty of echo chamber threads.

At some point people need to get over their anger and start figuring out how to recover from the election disaster. These forums should be a place to refine ideas on how to do that. It's a waste of time if everybody agrees.

Anyway, Thanks for the kind thoughts and I'll keep an eye out for you on this field of glory :).

[GoLightly]

The Fedayeen Saddam (30,000 to 40,000-member Iraqi paramilitary group) would be among those Rumsfeld called dead enders & they would probably have no problem becoming "loyal to Al-Queda".

[Fawn]

Didn't you hear Matt and Murtha this morning? MUrtha said that all of Rumsfields ideas were stolen from him a year ago.

[Fawn]

Again...Murtha is all over saying Rumsfield stole all his ideas from a year ago.

[OldCorps]

1. Consider the source: the NYT is a lefty newspaper and its reporting is driven by its agenda.

2. Mr. Rumsfeld is no longer relevant, despite his attempts to be so. In particular, he does not have the confidence of the army, an institution he deliberately offended numerous times. He should have resigned years ago, in which case our nation might have had a chance in prevailing in Iraq.

3. Like AlGore, Mr. Rumsfeld should be informed that it is not about him, but about winning in Iraq.