Seems Rumsfeld sent a memo just days before leaving, suggesting changes to the policy in Iraq, including troup withdrawal:
[quote][…]
The memo, dated two days before Rumsfeld’s resignation was announced, offered the White House a variety of options on Iraq. Among them: a “modest” withdrawal of U.S. troops, to let Iraq’s leaders know “they have to pull up their socks, step up and take responsibility for their country.”
“In my view, it is time for a major adjustment,” Rumsfeld wrote. “Clearly, what U.S. forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough.” (Watch how Washington is reacting to Rumsfeld’s memo)
[…]
Rumsfeld’s timing criticized
Rumsfeld has been widely criticized for management of the war, and lawmakers on both sides of the congressional aisle wondered Sunday why he was so late in reaching his conclusions, which were first published by The New York Times.
“I think it’s a little late for the secretary of defense to be sending a memo – at least when it’s reported he sent – after almost four years to finally acknowledge that maybe we should change strategy and acknowledge for the first time that I’m aware of that our policy is not working,” said Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska.
Some of Rumsfeld’s proposals echo calls by congressional Democrats, who have suggested that a phased pullout of American troops and the basing of a quick-reaction force in the region to bolster Iraqi forces. Other ideas he listed as less favorable include the deployment of large numbers of additional troops.
Rumsfeld was a great leader and his efforts were much appreciated. All political careers as they say end in failure. I will not forget what he has contributed. The man is a genius.
[quote=“fred smith”]Rumsfeld was a great leader and his efforts were much appreciated. All political careers as they say end in failure. I will not forget what he has contributed. The man is a genius.
Fred[/quote]
That’s again your “great sarcasm” at work, correct?
[quote=“fred smith”]Rumsfeld was a great leader and his efforts were much appreciated. All political careers as they say end in failure. I will not forget what he has contributed. The man is a genius.
Fred[/quote]
With that, you remind me of that minister of news or whatever he was, in Iraq.
Comical Ali.
Now we have a Comical Freddy.
Baker has been calling the shots for a while now.
Rumsfeld was probably hanging peoples coats in the white house or doing the gardening since Baker arrived.
[quote=“fred smith”]Rumsfeld was a great leader and his efforts were much appreciated. All political careers as they say end in failure. I will not forget what he has contributed. The man is a genius.
Fred[/quote]
Good. So when the bill comes due on his contribution you’ll know what we’re talking about. I’ve got relatives in two services who are serving right now in mid-upper comissioned grades who could give you an earful about Rumsfeld.
No. Not sarcasm. I was extremely happy with Rumsfeld. Time to go? Yup. That is politics, not military policy.
I will, however, save my sarcasm for the Baker Report and all the expected salvation that this will bring. Talking to Syria and Iran? hahahahaahahahahahahahahaah NOW, who is being droll? Really? haha.
As to Iraq. Bit of a mess? Yup. Falling apart? Maybe. Lost cause? Nope.
I will stand by the current “stay the course” policy and then some. I always expected this to take 60 years. I expected more stability than this but… (deliberate) you go with the events that the world throws at you.
Will things get worse? Most likely. Will they get better? Most likely. BUT what does the Baker Report really boil down to? No reform for the Middle East? Business as usual? Dictators as long as they give us stability? No crack down on terrorists as it may send a message of “intolerance” to Muslims? No expectation that women should have rights? that minorities and religious groups other than Muslims should be full citizens with full right? Oh yes, let’s have that Baker Report and then some. (now I am being sarcastic)
Just to recap: Would more troops have done the job? 500,000? controlling the borders? providing police services? Would that have mollified the Sunnis who were suddenly out of power? convinced them to accept the new limited role? Would that have stopped the Shias from responding to Sunni provocations and murders? IS the problem right now a “military” one or a “political” one and if the latter, how and when have more troops been the answer in past conflicts?
And the top ten countdown of quotes from the uber genius:
“I don’t do diplomacy.”
“I don’t do foreign policy.”
“I’m not into this detail stuff. I’m more concepty.”
“I believe what I said yesterday. I don’t know what I said, but I know what I think, and, well, I assume it’s what I said.”
“I don’t know what the facts are but somebody’s certainly going to sit down with him and find out what he knows that they may not know, and make sure he knows what they know that he may not know.”
“Needless to say, the President is correct. Whatever it was he said.”
“Freedom’s untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things. . . stuff happens.” –on looting in Iraq after the U.S. invasion
“Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.”
“It is unknowable how long that conflict [the war in Iraq] will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.” -in Feb. 2003
And the number 1 uber genius words of wisdom:
“We know where they are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.” –on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction
We don’t know whether he’s still running the show, but at least we know that we don’t know, and even if we did know that we knew, not knowing whether we know at least allows us to identify the knowable unknowables and the unknowable knowables.
I find that man behind Rumsfeld to be strangely “virile and handsome.” No doubt he is “passionate” as well… He may not be Che but I bet he has “an interesting life story…” I do appreciate the second photo, however, and I share Rumsfeld’s sentiments exactly. Sign me up for the same gesture. haha
"In what will be his last week in office, Secretary Rumsfeld, without any fanfare, pre-announcements
or even coverage by the lamestream media, traveled to Iraq to visit with the troops one last time,
before he hands the mantle over to the newly confirmed Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. The same
one that the lamestream media has been boasting all week as saying we are not winning the war.
Enough on Gates, for now.
In Iraq, Mr. Rumsfeld, 74, visited with troops at Al Asad Air Base in Unbar province and then with
troops in Balad, no safe Green Zone visit. Speaking to the various troops, he said, “For the past
six years, I have had the opportunity and, I would say the privilege, to serve with the greatest
military on the face of the Earth. I leave understanding that the true strength of the United States
military is not in Washington, it’s not in the Pentagon, it’s not in the weapons. It’s in the hearts
of the men and women who serve. It’s your patriotism, it’s your professionalism and indeed your
determination.”
"To say the troops received Mr. Rumsfeld well is a misstatement. Showing they hadn’t lost faith with
the departing Secretary, they lined up by the hundreds to have their photos taken with him. In fact,
at both areas he visited, he was treated as if a rock star.
One Marine gunnery sergeant said to Rummy, “It isn’t a military problem out here. It’s a political
problem. No one in this country can challenge us militarily; we’d wipe the floor with them. The
Iraqis have to ‘cowboy up.’”
Another, a convoy commander at Anaconda Logistics Area added, “This is my second year-long tour. Why am I more patient than someone sitting at home in ‘Fort Livingroom?"
so, in 20 years, if we still have folks over there getting slaughtered every day, you’d be overjoyed?
what a pathetic way of avoiding having to admit you backed the wrong horse.
rumsfeld will be remembered as nothing more than bushes trigger man. he helped lead us into the biggest mess we’ve ever seen.
which one of the following belongs on rumsfeld’s tombstone?
I hope…that mankind will at length, as they call themselves responsible creatures, have the reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats…
~Benjamin Franklin
War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious.
~General Smedley Butler
Imperialism is an institution under which one nation asserts the right to seize the land or at least to control the government or resources of another people.
~John T. Flynn
Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official…
~Theodore Roosevelt
