[FairOpinion]

I hope Rumsfeld will continue to speak out -- he does have a way of making things very clear;

"Like the Cold War, this struggle against extremism will be long. But we owe it to the troops fighting abroad to recognize our responsibilities, to understand the consequences — the consequences of failure, and let there be no doubt, dire consequences of failure, of failing to defeat this enemy.

We need to stop thinking about exit strategies and focus on success. (Applause.) Not only the success and the safety of American people is at stake, but so too is the cause of human freedom. "

[Hop A Long Cassidy]

Rumsfeld bump.

[Hambone02]

Bravo. A great American.

[SoldierDad]

Wow! And he was forced to resign. What a dishonor to a very honorable man. I'll send this to my son, and hope he shares it with his fellow soldiers.

[WOSG]

And she said, 'Why in the world should Korea — the Korean people send their young people halfway across the world to Iraq to get killed or wounded?' And I looked at her and thought to myself, 'She obviously doesn't know much about the Korean War.' And I thought — I had just come from laying a wreath at the Korean War Memorial there and seeing the name of a friend from high school who was killed there actually on the last day of the war — and I said to her, 'Look out there. Look at what this country's done. Look at the opportunity people have. Look at you. That would not have happened if people had asked that question in the United States and said, 'Why in the world should we send American troops over to Korea, halfway around the world, to get killed or wounded?'

Powerful and true. History will judge our efforts in Iraq similar to our efforts in Korea. No, the 'victory' is elusive, but it was in Korea and yet even there we managed to salvage half the peninsula for freedom.

The cause of human freedom is the one thing worth fighting for.

[zot]

Thanks for posting this. Donald Rumsfeld thinks clearly and speaks clearly. I wish we could clone him several thousand times.

[stripes1776]

And even after several years of this war, it's not well understood. It's unfamiliar to the American people and to most of the people of the world.

Very true. But why is it not well understood? Rumsfield speaks very clearly about what must be understood, but he isn't and wasn't in charge of communications from the White House.

[Valin]

Bookmark

[processing please hold]

I hate he's gone.

[RacerX1128]

Not any of us are 100% sure that Sec Rumsfeld was forced to resign or hit below the belt by Pres. Bush. Knowing Rummy, we'll probably never know. But his words and ways have always resonated with me and I hope he continues to speak out against the imbeciles who have no understanding of just what the US is trying to accomplish.

[Eagles6]

Good post. A good man.

[Christian4Bush]

bump

[Red6]

God, I hate to see him leave.

THX for the post-

[Liberty Valance]

I FEEL GOOD Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would,
now I feel good, I knew that I would,
now So good, so good, I got you

[OldFriend]

Imagine the total ignorance of a Korean woman asking why anyone from her country should go to war in Iraq?

Sounds a lot like the total ignorance of many of those in America.

We cannot allow the media to define our mission, to define our heroes, as Rangel attempted, or to undermine America's place in the world.

[Just A Nobody]

Ping!

[AIC]

In his speech he mentions perseverance - first war of the 21st century. how it is different from other wars where in other wars there were fire power and countries fighting countries. Not so with this war.

I read his speech and looked at the Western countries and thought that now I can see a little different pattern of what is happening. All over the world the enemy is taking control of the WORD, NEWS MEDIA, and our laws to twist them around and gain control.

They start out small because they have all the time in the world. They gain control of neighborhoods, then the towns, states and then the country. They intimidate and kill on one hand and elect officials on the other. They bribe news media or buy controlling interest in them whereas if they can not spread their propaganda they are able to stop others from having too much to say about them. They get the politicians in their pocket with money and votes, both local and national. They have media committees devoted to propaganda. They send out video teams to take film of attacks on our forces and get our networks to put them on the air. They use the Internet to recruit supporters and to turn any event — any misstep — to their favor.

An example happened just the other day when several Muslims were kicked off of an airplane. Look at it now, all over the news world and other incidents they do the same. What to do, is start in learning more about communication and form media committees to get the truth out. Isn't that what Donald Rumsfeld said. The big question after that is how do we start?

[Gunny Gene]

Too many people still think that we cannot lose this because we are nice people, or that the other side doesn't really want to subjugate us they just want us to leave them alone.

These poor folks are afflicted by a "Peaceful Co-existence" psychological wall that protects them from the reality they would have to deal with if they admitted the truth. They cannot believe that anyone would want to harm them or enslave them because; "I'm such a nice person, and I mean them no harm". They don't understand why the other side cannot hear that message, and therefore blame themselves, and our side, for "not communicating" properly.

They deserve our pity and our protection.

[ellery]

Thank you for posting this. Rummy is the closest we have to a Churchill. I remain furious with W. for hamstringing him in Iraq, then scapegoating him after the election.

Thank you, Mr. Rumsfeld.

[evad]

I believe Rummy can be as valuable a resource now as a taking freedom advocate as he was as a DefSec.

He knows how to make a point, and the point has to be made over, and over, and over...

[La Enchiladita]

A belated "thank you" for posting this and a hearty BUMP.

This is a defining speech, i.e., a keeper.