Don Rumsfeld, Radical For Our Time

National Review | May 5, 2003 | Victor Davis Hanson

[dark_lord]

It is this weird alignment of rap music, counterculture adolescent fashion and diction, and popular movies and videos with selfless and heroic action that so astounds the world. Generals of all races give crisp briefings; Arab-American Marines boast of liberating a Muslim city; women brag of flying three combat missions per day; and bearded, hippie-looking Green Berets on horses prefer the company of medieval tribesmen as they radio in bombs from billion-dollar Stealth bombers. This all suggests that the U.S. military is not so much insidious as postmodern.

Reality is always stranger and more interesting than fiction, although science fiction writers, especially of the "cyberspace" subgenre, have predicted the above for years.

I think the article is correct in general theme, although it gives Rumsfeld a bit too much credit. The military already had those skills and capabilities before he arrived on the scene. But he has the wit to direct and unleash them.

[KantianBurke]

excellent article

[Eric in the Ozarks]

When I saw a soldier from the 101st Airborne wearing a black Air Cav Stetson, I knew things were changing in the Army...

[wideawake]

I like the way we're headed.

If we have a strong missile defense shield, and continue the policy of lightening our footprints and increasing our speed, reach and lethality the US will be in excellent shape.

The American military will be capable of being everywhere and nowhere at once, almost untouchable but able to strike anyone, anywhere.

[MattinNJ]

Ping

[Marysecretary]

Nice to hear something positive for once, isn't it. Sooo refreshing. He's a gem.

[Guillermo]

Rummy bump.

[Dante3]

Sorry to disagree with all of you. But I no longer like Rumsfeld after he honored a basketball player, albeit a likeable one, who had been supporting liberal candidates.

A person who earns millions for a great talent of putting a ball through a hoop is no hero to me. Instead, Rumsfeld should have honored men such as Neil Roberts and others who have died for this country.

[G L Tirebiter]

I guess that 'time will tell' if Rumsfeld's getting too much credit or not.

However, the battle over the Crusader budget wouldn't have been prosecuted by very many of the past Secretaries I can think of. He (with Bush and Cheny's support) took on the Pentagon bureaucracy, the contractors and the Hill to kill the program.

It's just too bad that there aren't any Rumsfeld wannabee's in any other departments. How about some transformation in the Dept. of Education or HHS?...or State?

[Search4Truth]

"Never have so many, been so wrong, about so much"
-- Rummy.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Well...Rummy's in his 70's and still getting stronger. Perhaps when he is 80 he can take on the teacher union.

[Grampa Dave]

An excellent article, and I have bookmarked it.

[Grampa Dave]

This will fit right in with your indexing!

[Grampa Dave]

Gentlemen an excellent article FYI.

[Grampa Dave]

An excellent article. This has to be driving the left wing lunatics and the third party orphans even more insane and depressed.

[Grampa Dave]

An excellent Rummy article.

You might want to ping your Freeper Friends who are Rummy fans.

[Rummyfan]

You know, I'm starting to think that all Rumsfeld threads should be accompanied by pictures!

[Sabatier]

Rumsfeld is a real credit to the President and to the USA. This administration is a breath of fresh air after eight years of Clinton gas.

[warchild9]

The real test comes in 10-15 years when we move up to the big leagues: China.