The only mistake Rumsfield and numerous other American politicans have made is not seeing Islam for what it has been for so many years and taking steps to protect this country from it. Islam is not an overnight sensation. People like Ted Kennedy, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, etc, etc,etc who are supposed to be some damn smart were not.
Stupid me, up until 9/11 I never payed attention to Islam. That changed. But our government should have known better and done something about it years ago!
The 1993 WTC bombing could have been a wakeup call.
Oh, Rummy knows, that's for sure. The problem is getting the rest of the country on board with it, and I can sense that the current campaign is about way more than just getting President Bush re-elected. I think the President's people can do the math, and see that Kerry is cooked in November, but now the goal is to get a mandate. The apologies, picture releases, and backing of Rumsfeld are all part of "playing" the fish before you reel him in.