Posted on 04/14/2006 11:18:27 AM PDT by The_Victor
WASHINGTON - President Bush, brushing aside an intensifying clamor among retired military commanders for Donald H. Rumsfeld's resignation, said Friday his defense secretary enjoys his full support and that Rumsfeld's leadership of the Pentagon was "exactly what is needed at this critical period."
Bush apparently issued his statement to put to rest increasing calls for the secretary to go because of criticism that he has mishandled the Iraq war and made other mistakes.
"I have seen first-hand how Don relies upon our military commanders in the field and at the Pentagon to make decisions about how best to complete these missions," Bush said in a written statement, issued while the president was spending the Easter weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains.
"Secretary Rumsfeld's energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period," Bush said. "He has my full support and deepest appreciation." In an interview aired Friday on Al-Arabiya television, Rumsfeld said he intends to serve the president at his pleasure.
"The fact that two or three or four retired people have different views, I respect their views," Rumsfeld said. "But obviously if, out of thousands and thousands of admirals and generals, if every time two or three people disagreed we changed the secretary of defense of the United States, it would be like a merry-go-round."
Bush said he had talked with Rumsfeld earlier in the day about military operations in the war on terror. "I reiterated my strong support for his leadership during this historic and challenging time for our nation," the president said.
It was an extraordinary statement by the president on the status of a top official. Bush decided it was warranted because of the "type of voices" that have recently engaged in public criticism of Rumsfeld, a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to more freely elaborate on the White House's thinking.
The official said that Rumsfeld's case was unique. There has been no similar statement for Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose resignation is rumored to be imminent.
The administration official said Bush's statement should make it clear that Rumsfeld's job is safe for now.
Several retired military commanders, including one who turned down a promotion to lieutenant general to leave the Army, have recently made statements urging Rumsfeld's ouster. They argue that the planning for the war in Iraq was not sufficient and that Rumsfeld's management style has too often given shortshrift attention to the views of uniformed officers.
I'm glad to see the POTUS ain't sittin' back on this one.
lol. Very neatly said. :)
NO WAY is Bush going to retreat on Rumsfeld. In essence doing so would be a complete retreat on the war itself.
Flashback: Tried to quit twice in '04, Rumsfeld says (Hey MSM! President Wants Rumsfeld to Stay)
The AP via The Chicago Sun-Times ^ | February 4, 2005
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1615132/posts
"Secretary Rumsfeld's energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period," Bush said. "He has my full support and deepest appreciation." In an interview aired Friday on Al-Arabiya television, Rumsfeld said he intends to serve the president at his pleasure.
"The fact that two or three or four retired people have different views, I respect their views," Rumsfeld said. "But obviously if, out of thousands and thousands of admirals and generals, if every time two or three people disagreed we changed the secretary of defense of the United States, it would be like a merry-go-round."
Bush said he had talked with Rumsfeld earlier in the day about military operations in the war on terror. "I reiterated my strong support for his leadership during this historic and challenging time for our nation," the president said.
Thank God for the adults in charge - This "created" Rumsfeld situation has now been beat to death.
The reality is these few Ex-Mil types who are taking their comments (ax to grind) to the MSM (who they know have at every turn tried to run down our military...even while these men themselves were serving...they know this)...that they have gone to the MSM speaks volumes about them......Not about SecDef Rumsfeld.
SecDef Rumsfeld has been a true leader, a hard charger, and when you are both of these....you are going to ruffle some feathers and hurt some feelings. Tough sh*t to those folks.
I think the difference is that Bush knows Rumsfeld, whereas Brown was hardly part of the inner circle.
Rumsfeld should now declare his candidacy for POTUS in 2008.
The MSM would keel over in shock.
34 - four star generals/admirals
124 - three star generals/admirals
278 - two star generals/admirals
439 - one star generals/admirals
Throw in the U.S. Coast Guard and you have 900 generals and admirals on active duty today. Each year roughly 15-20% of those will retire for various reasons, not all willingly.
And how many EX-generals are complaining about Secretary Rumsfeld? Five? Six?
Rumsfeld is a patriot and hero. Good for President Bush for continuing to support him.
The FEMA director was no Rummy - he was/is a weak, ready-for-victimhood, whiner that didn't have the guts to push strong decisions.
Somebody should write a book.... People just don't know exactly what Rumsfeld is doing... He has undertaken one of the biggest tasks this century... Transforming our military from Cold War Strategic battle planning to 21st Century Warfighters... There were may reasons why we lost over 50,000 troops in Vietnam..... How come no one asks today why it is that we have such a low casualty rate? Friendly Fire incidents are way down from previous wars. Intel and Communications are seamless, with planning and coordination cross polinated among all the services and allies.... Sure there are mistakes but in retrospect we are producing some of the greatest tactical victories in history....
If they all complained, would that make a difference? We either have civilian control of the military, or we don't.
Wonder how someone like that got the job.
I wish Secretary Rumsfeld would recall them to active duty and assign them Sheyma AFB for a four year tour of duty as alternating morale officers.
Look at most of our "representatives" in the Congress - how in the heck did they get and keep their jobs. Overblown egos, childish demeanors and liars with elitist feelings of grandeur - it's more amazing to me that some decent folks still exist in the system.
But these are former generals who were commanding troops in Iraq. Don't they have some credibility.
In a show of support, Theforceofone intensified his clamoring for Donald H. Rumsfeld to stay on with the Bush Administration today. This has yet to be reported in the old media.
"He has undertaken one of the biggest tasks this century... Transforming our military from Cold War Strategic battle planning to 21st Century Warfighters..."this is not an easy task... If you recall, when Rumsfeld gave the order to cancel the US Army Crusader Program (designed specifically to stop massive attack from Eastern Europe), Shinseki was screeching the loudest. Coincident!!!
I am probably more vindictive than most people, but I were Rummy I would find out if these generals had any kids in the officer ranks (generals are notorious for their nepotism) or if not, who if any officers they were "sponsoring". These unfortunates would be given assignments and ratings that would assure that they would progress no further in their careers.
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