Posted on 07/03/2007 8:36:19 AM PDT by pissant
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: On Capitol Hill, the focus is Iraq, or, at least, that is one of the focuses for today where the Senate Armed Services committee is now listening to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He is talking about what exactly Iraq has in its arsenal, and why it does pose a threat. Let's listen in. (JOINED IN PROGRESS)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: ... will be attempted. The only question is when, and by what technique. It could be months; it could be a year; it could be years. But it will happen, and each of us need to pause and think about that. If the worst were to happen, not one of us here today would be able to honestly say that it was a surprise, because it will not be a surprise.
We have connected the dots as much as is humanly possible before the fact. (snip)
AUDIENCE MEMBER [INTERRUPTS]: Yes, Mr. Rumsfeld, I think we need weapons inspections not war.
(APPLAUSE)
AUDIENCE MEMBER [INTERRUPTS]: Why are you obstructing the inspections? Is this really about oil? How many civilians will be killed? How many...
REP. DUNCAN HUNTER (R), CALIFORNIA: Secretary, would you suspend for a minute that we could ask the staff to see to it that our guests are escorted.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS [INTERRUPT]: Inspections not war. Inspections not war. Inspections not war. Inspections not war. Inspections not war. Inspections not war...
HUNTER: Have a nice day.
Mr. Secretary, We'll be with you in a minute.
Thank you, ladies.
Mr. Secretary, we're going to put them down as undecided.
(LAUGHTER)
RUMSFELD: Mr. Chairman, as I listened to those comments, it struck me what a wonderful thing free speech is. And of course, the country that threw
(Excerpt) Read more at transcripts.cnn.com ...
Hunter archive PING
Duncan would wipe the floor in a one-on-one debate with ANY of the candidates on either side, though I think a debate between him and Tancredo would be pretty close.
Tehy would have little to argue about. And Hunter’s strong voice would overshadow Tom’s squeaky one. But I see Tom as head of Homeland Security.
Three very good men.
I think the both of them with high positions in the WH would be absolutely excellent for this country.
Very good, Mr. Skinner.
I agree, with one atop the ticket. Tom sending nachos to McCain and heads of lettuce to Chertoff shows an excellent sense of humor as well.
Snips from Rumsfelds speech when Duncan Hunter was presented with the “Keeper of the Flame” award September 20, 2006.
“Well, it’s a special privilege for me to be able to join you in honoring our friend, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Duncan Hunter, and to be joined by so many members of the House who worked with Duncan regularly.
I’ve come to know Chairman Hunter very well over the years, and I can tell you that those of us in the Department rely very heavily on his wisdom, his leadership, his experience and his “get it done” attitude. It is something when he comes into your office like a whirling dervish and starts discussing a subject first at the national level and then down at the microlevel, and then leaves you pieces of metal on your desk that you can hardly lift and has explained exactly where it goes, what it’s for, why it should be there and wants to know why it isn’t. And God bless him for it. (Applause.)
You know, these past years are the years when it’s been particularly important to have knowledgeable and experienced and capable leadership in the Armed Services Committee, in the Congress. Duncan has been determined to see that the Department of Defense and the men and women in uniform have the resources they need, to see that they’re well-equipped and well-supported. He’s never let the troops down, and as a result of his leadership and his hard work, our nation is a safer place today.
Duncan understands that ever since September 11th, it’s been essential that we put aside that September 10th attitude and recognize that we have to get up every morning recognizing that it’s September 12th and that we have to ask ourselves what it is that we can do to protect the American people and to see that we inject a sense of urgency into our government and our country. (Applause.)
So, Duncan, my congratulations. My thank-you for your service to this country, my thank-you to you for your service to the cause of freedom, my thank-you to you for your service to the Department of Defense and to those of us who serve there and serve the American people. You are a treasure. You are indeed a “Keeper of the Flame.” God bless you. (Applause.)
http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1043
http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1043
Wow. that’s awesome. God Bless you Mr. Rumsfeld. Enjoy your retirement and enjoy the fruits of America.
"
I didn’t hear about the heads of lettuce to Chertoff. What was that about?
Sending nachos to McCain was hilarious.
It was at the height of the debate last week or so. Thought he’d send a head of lettuce picked by legal workers. Classic
I’m with you on that. History will judge SecDef Rumsfeld well.
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