Rumsfeld vs Kennedy

New York Press ^ | February 16, 2004 | Russ Smith

[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon]

Rumsfeld’s a Hero

Thanks to Glenn Reynolds’ invaluable blog InstaPundit, I linked to a pretty fun bit at scrappleface.com, a website whose motto reads "News Fairly Unbalanced. We Report. You Decipher."

Dated Feb. 5, an item (which ought to make The Onion blush at its irrelevance) took out Teddy Kennedy, who’s currently bellowing at union halls for John Kerry, a man he once considered an ill-suited inheritor of his family’s (mixed) legacy.

The piece read, in part: "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Sen. Edward Kennedy yesterday that he was ‘all wet’ when the senator alleged that the Bush administration lied about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction to justify going to war.

"… Sen. Kennedy began his questioning of the defense secretary by saying, ‘Don’t you think some members of the Bush administration should be held legally accountable for the lies they told about Iraqi weapons, and subsequent cover-up?’

"‘First, with all due respect, Senator Kennedy, you’re all wet,’ said Mr. Rumsfeld. ‘The administration has not lied or covered up. However, in general, I do believe that when a man commits a crime he should face the bar of justice. He should not be allowed to serve in positions of power in our government, and be hailed as a leader, when the question of his guilt remains unresolved, if you know what I mean.’

"‘I’m sure I do not know what you mean,’ Mr. Kennedy said. ‘But the American people deserve to know why you can’t find Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction.’

"‘Sometimes things are hard to find, even when you know where they are,’ said Mr. Rumsfeld. ‘For example, I’ve heard of a man who missed a bridge and drove his car into the water, even though he knew where the bridge was. And then sometimes you just keep diving into a problem and despite repeated efforts, you come up empty-handed. That doesn’t mean that nothing’s there. As you know, eventually, the truth comes to light.’

"Having no further questions, Mr. Kennedy yielded the remainder of his time.

 

[isthisnickcool]

Again, don't care.

[Burkeman1]

What don't you care about? Why Americans are dead in Iraq? What are the reasons? You don't care about WMDs being wrong? You don't care about Iraq and AQ connections being wrong? Why are AMERICANS DEAD AND MAIMED FOR LIFE IN IRAQ? YOU DON"T CARE?

[isthisnickcool]

Kinda bugs you huh? Good.

I had several relatives that lived and worked in the ME when I was a kid. One, my uncle Bobby, used to say over and over that someday "we" (the US) will regret ever doing business with the "Arabs". That their religion would someday blow up against those of us in the west. He somewhat predicted the current state of affairs.

One thing Uncle Bobby said about the Arabs is their idea of what is "the truth". Basically, "the truth" is whatever an Arab can get you to believe is "the truth". Kinda like Democrats do. Anyway, Saddam, being a typical Arab did something real dumb. He didn't understand that Bush wanted him to tell the truth by proving the truth. By opening up his doors and letting us make sure there were no WMD's. And it didn't help that Saddam was acting like he might have WMD's. He fooled Clinton and a lot of other people in that regard. Didn't he.

Saddam made a very very bad error. He messed with the wrong guy after 1,000's of Americans were killed by other Arabs. And he messed with a guy that understands that Arabs do not respect those limp of wrist. Again, something my uncle also learned about Arabs. If you are a pushover you get no respect.

Saddam played poker with the wrong Texas boy. Now, the rest of the players at the table won't be bluffing. One, Khadafi, has folded his hand. We will see what happens with some other players soon.

[Burkeman1]

Whatever! Like I give a da*n! My Uncle and Cousin saw beheadings in Saudi Arabia when they worked there for years. Has nothing to do with this.

You don't you care why our troops died in Iraq? Why did they die?

[isthisnickcool]

You don't you care why our troops died in Iraq? Why did they die?

I have not responded to your "you don't care about the troops" questions because the question is not worth responding to. Absurd.

Maybe eventually you might figure out what we are doing in the ME. Good luck.

[Tennessean4Bush]

This is a fabrication. If it were true, it would make some other publication.

[Burkeman1]

Never served and never lost, get lost. You didn't even have the decency to answer my question on why the men in the "Iraq War" died? What was the reason?

go away quitely while men are talking girl.

[isthisnickcool]

Decency? You are the compass of decency? Maybe. Maybe not. I'd guess not.

Men? Women have been killed too.

What? Are you a war hero? Well thanks for your service.

[Burkeman1]

Just leave. You counter not my arguments and have none dead in your past in service of this country, and are just a turd! I would meat you anywhere for personal battle? So I could knock you the F*&^K out.

Lets do this then? Contact me through freep mail?

CJD- BOSTON- you got a month.

[_Jim]

Thanks, man.

[Burkeman1]

OH- another big guy is here?

[Cold Heat]

I do believe that when a man commits a crime he should face the bar of justice. He should not be allowed to serve in positions of power in our government, and be hailed as a leader, when the question of his guilt remains unresolved, if you know what I mean.’

WhooooooooHoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

[_Jim]

OH- another big guy is here?

I thought you headed to the showers hours ago - don't you know when you're not wanted?

[Burkeman1]

Where you at?

CJD.

[Cold Heat]

I don't know why you pursue this.

It is a done deal.

Your assessment about a democratic like Middle East country is absolutely true, but was one leg of a three legged stool.

The WMD and UN violations was one and the genocide was the other.

All or one would be justification.

As to WMD, the possibility is still high that we just have not located what we are looking for.

The Saddam boys had plenty of time to disperse the stuff. I think it is likely that they did and there would be NO paper trails or any live witnessess with those boys.

Take a breather. Nobody in the admin intentionally mislead anyone. The press and some others did, like some of the think tank blowhards, but GWB did not.

[Chu Gary]

Rumsfeld is the MAN!!!

[AlbionGirl]

Excellent post.

I really would like to know what the families of our fallen Soldiers feel about Kay's disclosure. They really can't speak for themselves, so its important someone else take up that role. I have a feeling that was Kay's main motivation in coming forward, and if so, I consider him a most honorable chap. I, too, came to a similar conclusion as to why we were really going into Iraq, but I also thought that the weapons were there, mainly because so many current and previous sources were convinced that they were.

I'm really torn in this election. Not torn in voting for Kerry, but caught up in the following question: when a President and his entire administration make this kind of miscalculation, what should the consequences be?

If bad intelligence is or was our problem, why is there not a call for somebody's head? Puzzling. I know it's a little tinfoily, but do you think it's possible that the bad intelligence was fed to all on purpose?

[vpintheak]

I agree, thats why I dislike dims so much. At least Bush has had one stance all along. He may not have been right all the time, but at least there is no flip flopping on the issues.

[section9]

Just leave. You counter not my arguments and have none dead in your past in service of this country, and are just a turd! I would meat you anywhere for personal battle? So I could knock you the F*&^K out.

Lets do this then? Contact me through freep mail?

CJD- BOSTON- you got a month.

Cut the crap, Burkeman. No one's interested in your macho posturing.

I know why Americans died: to destroy Islamic fascism in all its forms. WMD was only part of that rationale. If you're still bent out of shape because of this intelligence f#%kup, then so be it. We are winning the war; that is all that matters.

Be Seeing You,

Chris