You got that right, but you did not see that reported by the MSM.
Goes back further than the idiots will reveal!!!
Williams then set up Russert: "And with us now for more on Secretary Rumsfeld and the lightning rod role he continues to play in this administration, NBC News Washington Bureau Chief and the moderator of Meet the Press, Tim Russert. Tim, Rumsfeld is not new to Washington, though why these attacks and why now?"
Russert, from DC, pointed out how Rumsfeld is getting it from both sides: "Well, Brian, the question asked by the young officer in Kuwait last week was the real catalyst. And it's an unique position for Secretary Rumsfeld because he's being attacked by people who do not believe he has been hawkish enough on the war in terms of troop commitment, and also attacked by people who opposed the war from day one. But the words we're hearing about 'cavalier' and 'callous' are obviously beginning to take hold. Top military brass are saying this is more than just transformation by the Secretary of Defense. 'He is being obstinate in mismanaging the war,' quote, unquote. But, as Jim Miklaszewski said, as long as the President believes he's the man for the job, he will be in that job."
Williams: "And, Tim, I know you're releasing some new numbers tonight from our NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll on this very subject."
Russert explained, with a matching graphic on screen of the poll results: "Absolutely, Brian. If you look at this, only about a third of the American people have a favorable opinion of Secretary Donald Rumsfeld -- 34 percent. And 38 percent have a disapproval or negative rating. Compare that to just a few months ago in May, and you see it was the exact opposite, 39 to 33. Those are extremely high negatives for a Cabinet secretary, particularly a Secretary of Defense. It is a war, Donald Rumsfeld is controversial, he does take no prisoners, and those numbers reflect it."
Actually, (reported by Media Research 12.15.04)by going from 33 to 38 percent, Rumsfeld's negative rating moved up by just five percentage points and stands only four points higher than his positive rating -- which doesn't seem all that bad given his hostile media coverage.
The MSM and the Liberals are pursuing their own anti-American agendas and are willingly out of the loop, as usual.
Armchair experts who predicted a prolonged insurgency and asked for more troops to control it were real experts - people whose views were just as worthwhile and informed as those of Rumsfeld. Those views were disregarded and the Administration has to take the blame.
Otherwise the article is excellent.
The Left, in the form of the MSM, has enlisted PR-conscious allies from the "more boots on the ground" school of warfare. Unfortunately none of these presumably well-motivated critics (e.g. McCain, Schwartzkopf, Scowcroft) has yet explained where, short of a military draft, we're going to get the Vietnam '68 sized force (500,000 +) we would need to properly "secure" Iraq and Afghanistan in the foreseeable future. So instead of viable solutions, we get non-constructive criticism, and personal attacks.
Great article! I am proud to read that the USMC has not changed. My experience was that feedback/questions were solicited from all concerned if time permitted. When a decision was made every Marine backed that decision as if it was his own. Works great in the business world too if properly trained. SF