Posted on 10/14/2005 7:09:13 PM PDT by FairOpinion
Washington -- The goal of the global War on Terror is "victory -- unconditional, unapologetic, and unyielding," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says, even as the terrorists pursue a test of wills in which their goal is not to win militarily but to outlast the coalition.
At a town hall meeting October 13 at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, the secretary of defense praised the U.S. forces and the people of Iraq and Afghanistan who he said are on the front line of this effort. He also highlighted Iran's efforts to thwart U.S. and coalition success in Iraq.
Rumsfeld praised Iraqi and Afghan security forces for taking increasing responsibility for defending their territory against terrorists. He also said the U.S.-led counterterrorist coalition "is putting great pressure on the enemy staying on the attack and keeping the terrorists on the run."
The secretary cited the ballots cast for democratic governments by millions of Afghans and Iraqis, in spite of terrorist intimidation and bombings, as "an amazing accomplishment.
"And let there be no doubt," Rumsfeld continued, "the people who agree to run and serve in those [elected] posts are under constant threat of assassination, of punishment for them, their families, their friends, their neighbors, and they've shown enormous courage."
He pointed out that Afghan security forces currently are suffering at a rate that is twice as high as that of the U.S.-led coalition forces of soldiers who are being killed in action.
"They are out there doing their job defending their country [a]nd doing so at the risk not only of their lives, but in some cases at the risk of the lives of their families," Rumsfeld said.
Asked about reports that Iran is aiding the insurgency in Iraq, Rumsfeld confirmed that "we have found weaponry from Iran of recent vintage in Iraq recently." It is a clear concern, he said, although it still is uncertain to what extent the Iranian government actually may be complicit. In any event, he said, "The weapons didn't just walk in there, they were brought in."
The secretary also stated that "there are certainly Iranian intelligence agents in Iraq attempting to affect the nature of the playing field there." By that he meant Iraq's current efforts to create a working democracy. That process is difficult, he said, leaving the Iraqis vulnerable to outside manipulation. Iranian and Syrian interference in Iraqs internal affairs, Rumsfeld said, is harmful and creates the "uneven playing field."
"What one can be absolutely certain of is that the Iranians do not want a flourishing democracy in Iraq," he said.
The transcript of Rumsfelds town hall remarks is available on the Defense Department Web site.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
Exactly. THAT is our very clear "exit strategy".
To smell victory - that's what every GI yearns to do!
"Victory Is Bottom Line in War Against Terror, Rumsfeld Says"
You know, lately it seems like Rumsfeld hasn't been saying much at all in public.
Rumsfeld is great, always clear and unequivocal. The man has been in Washington, one way or another, for almost half a century (since the Eisenhower administration, imagine!) and he's politically incorrect, honest, shoot-from-the-hip, and brilliant. As Kissinger said, the only thing to regret about Rumsfeld is we won't get to see him perform as president.
"You know, lately it seems like Rumsfeld hasn't been saying much at all in public."
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I noticed that. I bet if they let him out to speak more to the American peoeple directly, Bush's poll numbers would go up 10 points, because Rumsfeld would explain exactly how it is and why we have to do what we have to do.
I still remember one of his earlier briefings, when he was talking about us working to find the terrorists, and some journalist asked him, what are we going to do with them.
Rumsfled replied "to kill them, of course".
I thought that was great.
And the Koran promises to fight the "infidel" till the end. Will ANYONE ever admit this is "Islam vs. the World"?
Islam has been "terrorizing" populations, burning churches, and slaughtering Indonesians, Sudanese, Indians -- ALL people, ALL the time throughout the world.
Now that I can no longer carry my Zippo on an airliner, I'm sure that victory is just around the corner.
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