John McCain returns Donald Rumsfeld Iraq fire (McCain attacks Rumsfeld)

The Australian ^ | 2011-02-04 | Brad Norington

[rabscuttle385]

The US war effort in Iraq would have been a "disastrous defeat" if president George W. Bush had left Donald Rumsfeld in charge of the Defence Department, John McCain says.

The former Republican presidential candidate hit back yesterday over unflattering comments made by Mr Rumsfeld in his new autobiography, Known and Unknown.

Reviving a feud between the pair, Mr Rumsfeld describes Senator McCain in his book as "a man with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media".

[cripplecreek]

"a man with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media".

Rummy hit that nail on the head.

[Steel Wolf]

"a man with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media".

If you had to summarize John McCain in 20 words or less, you'd be hard pressed to do better than this.

[dusttoyou]

Mclame would not make a scab on Rummy’s rearend.

[Dr. Ursus]

A duel would settle this.I’m hoping for a tie.

[dforest]

McCain is a lyin’ SOB. Giving him another term was a monsterous mistake.

All the fighting we have done to stop Obama will be for naught because the real McCain is once again empowered to dilute and destroy our goals.

[Da Coyote]

I officially declare that McKennedy has absolved himself from his military service.

His duplicity, stupidity, and general inability to comprehend even the most simple concept has harmed the country far more than his service benefited it.

Further, he has fosted upon us one of the bimboest bimbos (his luny daughter) EVAH!

McKennedy, your bro dead Ted is calling you.

[Pit1]

McJerk has been all over the air with his worthless commennts. He is now getting senile and moronic. I say, sit the f down and shut the f up. He should cross over to the other side and we can be done with him.

[pgkdan]

Mr Rumsfeld describes Senator McCain in his book as "a man with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media".

Bravo Rummy...you captureds the essence of this vain and petty little man in one sentence!

[pgkdan]

Mr Rumsfeld describes Senator McCain in his book as "a man with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media".

Bravo Rummy...you captured the essence of this vain and petty little man in one sentence!

[albie]

Rumsfeld has more integrity, honesty and patriotism in his pinky toenail than 10 McCain’s.

[Bushbacker1]

Reviving a feud between the pair, Mr Rumsfeld describes Senator McCain in his book as "a man with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media".

One can hardly argue with Rummie on that statement. McNuts never met a media type or camera he didn't like! I find McNuts a hamburger short of a Happy Meal!

[MBB1984]

Looks like Rumsfeld hit a nerve. Good for him!

[MBB1984]

Looks like Rumsfeld hit a nerve. Good for him!

[Matchett-PI]

You got THAT right! bttt

[blackdog]

A real composed statesman, huh? McCain is a known hot-headed lunatic for decades by the press. He's had clashes with them off camera that should have resulted in an arrest warrant issued on him. The fact that the press resists reporting on his temperment is wrong.

Let him keep talking. It just makes the case.

[dirtboy]

In the matter of Iraq, McCain was largely right and Rummy was wrong about the amount of troops needed.

But don't let that stop you, rabs, in your never-ended efforts to attack Republicans, whether it is merited in that particular instance or not.

Oh, and I'm still waiting for you to state whether you disagree with the repeal of DADT - the fact that you refuse to answer such a simple question speaks volumes.

[broken_arrow1]

Arizona has become a shining star for conservative principles. How in the world did it allow itself to be tricked once again by this POS worthless liar! McShame laughs himself all the way back to D.C. after his faux conservative republican campaign 2010! What an embarrassment to AZ!

[Joe 6-pack]

Both men were Naval aviators. Although Rummy left active duty just before McCain was commissioned, Rumsfeld continued in the Reserves and both men retired as O-6’s. I wonder if there’s something a bit more personal between the two than just their public differences.

[dirtboy]

Oh, and as I recall, rabs, you are a Paultard who was opposed to the Iraq War all along. So it’s rather ironic to see you wading into the debate as to whether Rummy or McCain is right about how the war should have been conducted.

[Mouton]

The worse part of him is he does more damage to the GOP than if he was over on the other side of the aisle. I recognize his military history and applaud him for it but as a long in the tooth senator, I think it is time for him to STFU.

[Dilbert56]

McCain panicked two weeks into the first Afghanistan campaign, saying we had to immediately send in more troops. Shortly thereafter, Kabul and Kandahar fell. Better than Obama but still a lame prospective CIC.

[mylife]

I have respected Rumsfeld for close to 30 years.
The man has always been level headed and steadfast.

[dirtboy]

McCain panicked two weeks into the first Afghanistan campaign, saying we had to immediately send in more troops. Shortly thereafter, Kabul and Kandahar fell.

Yet we didn't have enough troops to consolidate those victories, something we are paying for to this day.

I was willing to give Rumsfeld's visions for the military a chance - but that vision was proven wrong by events, but Rummy refused to change his vision - the sign of a flawed leader.

[rideharddiefast]

Rumsfeld has more integrity, honesty and patriotism in his pinky toenail than 10 McCain’s.

That is because McCain has not one bit of integrity, honesty or patriotism in his entire body.

[hosepipe]

“Obama would make a good President”- John McClame..

[pointsal]

Looks like Donald had an opportunity to read the old personnel reviews on McLame.

[The Comedian]

Senator McCain in his book as "a man with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media".

Game, set, match to Rummy.

Today is a good day to die.
I didn't say for whom.

[Dilbert56]

But all of those victories were won by Northern Alliance troops backed by US air power. We couldn’t and still can’t occupy Afghanistan. The Taliban won’t be vanquished until the people of Afghanistan reject them. And they won’t stay “bought”.

[SoFloFreeper]

Rumsfeld rocks. McCain knocks.

[dirtboy]

We could have had enough US troops to decimate the retreating Taliban and al Qaeda. The troop level issue in Afghanistan is open to fair debate.

However, in Iraq, events proved Rummy wrong. McCain is an absolute ass about a lot of things. But in the Iraq troop level debate, IMO McCain was right and Rummy was wrong.

[Leo Carpathian]

McManchurian!

[onona]

Interesting.

What if political representatives were labeled as an outcome of their votes or bills they submit automatically ?

You may be elected republican, but if you forward a bill for amnesty, you automatically get shifted to democrat.

And etcetera.

Course all the committee rules and $hit would have to change, and a whole bunch of new ones created to manage this, but still, kind of sort of interesting in a fleeting way...

[Servant of the Cross]

"a man with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media".

Yes, Rummy hit that nail squarely on the head. Many others have as well. But McQueeg still squeals like a stuck pig. Hey John, everyone knows this is a fact.

The flack is always the heaviest when you are right over the target.

[onona]

Thinking further on this, the term “War Effort” is erroneous IMHO.

We didn’t really go to war, we went to regional conflict subjugation (just made it up).

I mean, if we went to war, total, absolute, unconditional war in IRAQ or Afghanistan, we would have built up the logistics in a year and finished the job in a couple of months.

Then we’d be spending the last 8 years rebuilding a democratic nation.

[Vendome]

That’s great Potsie, erh, Epstein aka Juan McCain.

At least he didn’t sell his father’s legacy, who was a Rear Admiral but, you didn’t mind telling your captors state and military secrets.

Hot heads or very dominant personalities aren’t a problem so long as “they” actually produce a result.

Sadly Juan, you produce nothing but animus for your condescending, patronizing and go along to get along positions.

Please STFU and retire to your rest home or homes.

[LibLieSlayer]

:-)!!!

LLS

[Vendome]

A tie?

What’s your Beef Rummy?

[Vendome]

Well, she is kind of a heavy load to carry.

[youngidiot]

McCain is a senator because he had the misfortune of being a pow. no other reason. His policies and actions are counterproductive to us.

[fightinJAG]

I think I’d pick Rumsfeld over McCain any day of the week.

[Vendome]

You as always, Clevuh.

Post on.

[fightinJAG]

O/T, but I’m wondering why the Kindle version of Rumsfeld’s book costs as much as the paper version. Come on, Amazon.

[JayAr36]

John McCain: Proof that a person can go from a hero to a hack in one lifetime.

[A CA Guy]

McCain is a grade A hole. He does nothing but cause damage everywhere he and his family goes and the damage at this point far outweighs the good. I'm sorry!

He can now also add trying to turn Egypt over to the radical terorist group the Islamic Brotherhood.

Time to have McCain go. Can we all demonstrate and have Egypt demand is departure for us?

[A CA Guy]

McCain is a grade A hole. He does nothing but cause damage everywhere he and his family goes and the damage at this point far outweighs the good. I'm sorry!

He can now also add trying to turn Egypt over to the radical terrorist group the Islamic Brotherhood.

Time to have McCain go. Can we all demonstrate and have Egypt demand is departure for us?

[tarheelswamprat]

Both men were Naval aviators. Although Rummy left active duty just before McCain was commissioned, Rumsfeld continued in the Reserves and both men retired as O-6’s. I wonder if there’s something a bit more personal between the two than just their public differences.

Well, McCain is an Ace - he destroyed five aircraft during his career. Unfortunately, they were all ours... /g

[dirtboy]

Yes, Rummy hit that nail squarely on the head.

So what about the actual subject matter of this disagreement between Rumsfeld and McCain. Who do you think was right about the surge, now that we've seen the end effects of it - Rummy, who opposed it, and McCain who actively promoted it, even though it was considered political suicide at the time?

That is a far more important matter than McCain's personality flaws.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

If Palin decides to run for president, she is going to have to overcome, if she can, her hooking up with McCain.

[Carley]

Nothing Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld could say about McCain comes close to what most of us think about McC.

Most of it unprintable.