Posted on 04/18/2006 3:21:51 PM PDT by Randall_Knife
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush sharply defended Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday, saying the embattled Pentagon chief is doing a "fine job" despite calls for his resignation from six retired military generals. Bush already had interrupted his Easter vacation at Camp David, Maryland, on Friday to release a public statement of support for the defense secretary. Despite a practice of not usually commenting on personnel moves, the president told reporters Tuesday that his vote of confidence for Rumsfeld was an effort to stamp out speculation about his status. "You can understand why, because we've got people's reputations at stake," Bush said of his aversion to speculation about personnel matters. "And on Friday I stood up and said, 'I don't appreciate the speculation about Don Rumsfeld; he's doing a fine job; I strongly support him.'" Pressed to respond to critics who say he is ignoring the advice of respected former military commanders, Bush vigorously stood by Rumsfeld. "I listen to all voices, but mine is the final decision," he said. "And Don Rumsfeld is doing a fine job. He's not only transforming the military, he's fighting a war on terror. He's helping us fight a war on terror. I have strong confidence in Don Rumsfeld. "I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation. But I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
No offense bro but "defends" is not possesive. A pet peeve of mine.
"I like Rummy... yes, I really do... in fact, just the other night Laura and I were playing...."
As Mark Levin says Rumsfeld SEC DEF for life
I would recommend President Bush make stronger statements. I would suggest he make a statement of the form, "I asked Donald Rumsfeld to become my Secretary of Defense because the Department of Defense must be transformed to meet the challenges of the Twenty-First Century. Apparently, General Zinni and others disagree with the need for Transformation. It is their right to disagree with the need for Transformation .. but they are wrong.
"After 9/11 I knew I had America had the right man at the helm of the Department of Defense. Secretary Rumsfeld is resolute, steady, intelligent, and indefatigible in the prosecution of the Global War on Terror. Apparently, General Zinni and other disagree that we are even engaged in a Global War on Terror. It is their right to disagree that we are engaged in a Global War on Terror ... but they are wrong to think this war can be limited to the lawless
tribal regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The terrorists have not limited their war on us to those locations. I would suggest General Zinni and those who agree with him visit the former site of the Twin Towers in Manhattan.
"While I have great respect for General Zinni's and the other generals' service ... and while as president, I could recall any or all of them to active duty, I have not done so for one simple reason ... they have little to offer other than criticism of the finest man who has served as Secretary of Defense in my lifetime."
I would note that we call the followers of William Ludd who reacted violently to the transformation being brought about by the Industrial Revolution Luddites. I suggest we call those who are fighting the Net-Centric Revolution which is transforming military affairs and who follow Tony Zinni by this simply flower-power name: Zinnias.
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