Posted on 12/19/2004 1:14:03 PM PST by ejdrapes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld did not personally sign his name on letters of condolence to families of troops killed in Iraq but instead had it done by a machine, an action lawmakers said on Sunday showed insensitivity and was inappropriate for leadership during war. Rumsfeld acknowledged that he had not signed the letters to family members of more than 1,000 U.S. troops killed in action and in a statement said he would now sign them in his own hand. "This issue of the secretary of Defense not personally signing the letters is just astounding to me and it does reflect how out of touch they are and how dismissive they are," Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "I have no confidence in Rumsfeld," Hagel added. Rumsfeld has been under strong fire from Democrats and some Republicans recently for appearing to brush off concerns of soldiers about the lack of protective equipment in Iraq. But President Bush's Chief of Staff Andrew Card emphasized White House support for Rumsfeld on Sunday. He "is doing a spectacular job, and the president has great confidence in him," Card told ABC's "This Week" program. Hagel noted that the families of the troops killed in Iraq have received letters signed by Bush. "My goodness, that is the least we can expect the secretary of Defense ... If the president can find the time to do that why can't the secretary of Defense?" said Hagel, who has been a sharp critic of the way Bush has handled the Iraq war. Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island said family members of those killed, "would like to think that at least for a moment the secretary thought about individually this young man or this young woman." "Again it shows a lack of leadership style appropriate for the military ... This goes to his capability to continue to serve." However, Republican Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, said that while "this is another area in which the secretary is being insensitive," the action did not "go to his leadership." AUTOPEN RETIRED "I wrote and approved the now more than 1,000 letters sent to family members and next of kin of each of the servicemen and women killed in military action," Rumsfeld said in a statement on Sunday." "While I have not individually signed each one, in the interest of ensuring expeditious contact with grieving family members, I have directed that in the future I sign each letter." Rumsfeld got himself into trouble earlier this month by appearing to brush off a soldier headed to Iraq who complained that military vehicles did not have sufficient armor and troops were having to piece together scraps of metal for extra protections. Some prominent Republicans including Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott have questioned his performance, leading the White House to come to his defense on Friday with a statement that he was "doing a great job." Among the critics, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar expressed concern on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that removing him from office could threaten national security. "He should be held accountable and he should stay in office," the Indiana Republican senator said. "The fact is a change of leadership in the Pentagon at this point might be as disruptive as trying to get someone in Homeland Defense," he added. Military families told the Stars and Stripes newspaper, which first carried the story, that the machine-signed letters reflected a lack of respect for the losses the families had suffered. "To me it's an insult, not only as someone who lost a loved one but also as someone who served in Iraq," Army Spc. Ivan Medina whose brother Irving was killed in Iraq this summer, told the newspaper.Lawmakers Chide Rumsfeld for Auto-Signed Sympathy Letters
Shame on you, calling those politicians whores. They are prostitutes. They sell their services to anyone with money. They aren't free.
My apologies to whores everywhere for comparing them to politicians.
If they aren't, they should be.
Some unsolicited advice: Please be VERY VERY careful about stating such "heresy" on FreeRepublic. You too can get into a furball on a multiple-hundred post thread attacking you for believing this.
Ahhhhh, the smugness of those who know better than those who experience. I wondered what that odor was.
I wondered what that odor was.
Try taking the bar of soap out of the package next time.
The fact of the matter is this: none of the families, veterans, or those currently enlisted complained about the autopen.
Who did complain? A few select Clymers in the Congress, the press, and some self-anointed, holier-than-thou whiners here on Free Republic. None of these groups is persuasive in creating a sufficient reason for the DoD to be removed.
Thank you.
The fact of the matter is this: none of the families, veterans, or those currently enlisted complained about the autopen.
Do you honestly believe that the first priority of a grieving family would/should be to rush out to get a forensic handwriting expert to determine if a signature on a g***amned form letter is mechanically reproduced or real? OF COURSE none of the families in question brought it up - they have more important things to do. You know, those little annoyances like coordinating the funeral, trying to figure out what they are going to do to eat since their main breadwinner is now dead, filling out the paperwork to collect on the SGLI, etc.
Who did complain? A few select Clymers in the Congress, the press, and some self-anointed, holier-than-thou whiners here on Free Republic.
And I would have proudly done my own complaining if I had known. If that makes me a whiner, then so be it.
None of these groups is persuasive in creating a sufficient reason for the DoD to be removed.
With the exception of two words in a single post written in haste and anger and just as quickly disavowed, I have NEVER EVER said that Rumsfeld should be removed over this. If you are going to mischaracterize me, at least have a fig leaf of fact to back yourself up.
Yep, you've got McLame Syndrome and you're a whiner. At least we agree on those items.
RINO or not, John McCain served his country. I have seen no confirmation from you yet that you did the same.
Actually, you're the one who's amazing. You care more about a signed letter than Rumsfeld taking care of the responsibilities of running 2 wars. That's really amazing.
And .. telling me to "shut the hell up" tells me you're just mad because I won't agree with your point of view. That action is what a little spoiled child would do - when the argument is not going their way. I support Rumsfeld .. letters or no letters. Oh .. and by the way YOUR ADMINISTRATION is a public administration - not yours - and the Bush admin is not required to do everything you demand.
Guess what .. you get your wish .. our conversation is over!
Yep, you've got McLame Syndrome and you're a whiner. At least we agree on those items.
Name calling won't change my mind on this issue (or my opinion of Mr. Rumsfeld and his actions) in the slightest.
In my experience, only RATs find it necessary to namecall. I think you are suffering a relapse.
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