Posted on 12/09/2006 3:34:49 PM PST by advance_copy
Glory Hallelujah!
Dang, what a good looking bunch of American troops we have...they are all just gorgeous on the outside to go with the greatness on the inside.
Of course then their is our rock star, Rummy right in the middle...LOL
So if you don't mind, I WILL trust what the President said about this himself, since his character is proven and his respect for Rumsfeld without question, and will as a result dismiss you, who use a Princeton reference as 'proof,' and mock me with, "I love President Bush. He is infallible" silliness and think you've made some kind of point.
Continue your thread hijack without me.....
BTTT
Case dismissed.
God BLESS this dear man!
“It has been the honor of my life to serve with you, and I will never forget it; I will treasure it always.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense, 2001-2006, Donald H. Rumsfeld
* * * * *
P.S. They're ALL good photos, but I really like the one 3rd from top... the knitted caps show it's getting cold over there ... I love our troops SO MUCH ...
He has been the recipient of so much abuse and so many false accusations that I don't know how he survived.
I believe he will eventually be seen as a truly great SoD........but even right now, the look on the faces of the troops and the pride they obviously have in him are just thrilling to see.
These pictures are priceless!
GREAT pics. Thanks
What uncommon class ... we should've known he'd never leave
DOD without visiting, thanking and inspiring the troops. Wonder if he'll go to Afghanistan.
Donald Rumsfeld
According to the President at the post-election press conference,
Question: Thank you, Mr. President. Last week you told us that Secretary Rumsfeld will be staying on. Why is the timing right now for this, and how much does it have to do with the election results?
President Bush: Right. No, you and Hunt and Keil came in the Oval Office, and Hunt asked me the question one week before the campaign, and basically it was, are you going to do something about Rumsfeld and the Vice President? And my answer was, they're going to stay on. And the reason why is I didn't want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days of a campaign. And so the only way to answer that question and to get you on to another question was to give you that answer.
The truth of the matter is, as well -- I mean, that's one reason I gave the answer, but the other reason why is I hadn't had a chance to visit with Bob Gates yet, and I hadn't had my final conversation with Don Rumsfeld yet at that point.
I had been talking with Don Rumsfeld over a period of time about fresh perspective. He likes to call it fresh eyes. He, himself, understands that Iraq is not working well enough, fast enough. And he and I are constantly assessing. And I'm assessing, as well, all the time, by myself, about, do we have the right people in the right place, or do we -- got the right strategy? As you know, we're constantly changing tactics. And that requires constant assessment.
And so he and I both agreed in our meeting yesterday that it was appropriate that I accept his resignation. And so the decision was made -- actually, I thought we were going to do fine yesterday. Shows what I know. But I thought we were going to be fine in the election. My point to you is, is that, win or lose, Bob Gates was going to become the nominee.
Q Mr. President, thank you. Can I just start by asking you to clarify, sir, if, in your meeting with Steve and Terry and Dick, did you know at that point --
THE PRESIDENT: I did not.
Q -- you would be making a change on Secretary Rumsfeld?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I did not. And the reason I didn't know is because I hadn't visited with his replacement -- potential replacement.
Q But you knew he would be leaving, just not who would replace him?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I didn't know that at the time.
THE PRESIDENT: The other thing I did know, as well, is that that kind of question, a wise question by a seasoned reporter, is the kind of thing that causes one to either inject major military decisions at the end of a campaign, or not. And I have made the decision that I wasn't going to be talking about hypothetical troop levels or changes in command structure coming down the stretch.
And I'll tell you why I made that decision. I made that decision because I think it sends a bad signal to our troops if they think the Commander-in-Chief is constantly adjusting tactics and decisions based upon politics. And I think it's important in a time of war that, to the extent possible, we leave politics out of the major decisions being made. And it was the right decision to make, by the way.
And secondly, I hadn't visited with Bob Gates. I told you I visited with him last Sunday in Crawford. You can't replace somebody until you know you got somebody to replace him with. And finally, I hadn't had my last conversation with Secretary Rumsfeld, which I had yesterday.
So, to answer your question, the decision to get rid of Rumsfeld was made before the election and what changed was his interview with Gates. For those who don't understand the way Washhington works and Washington-speak, Rumsfeld was fired. It is like other resignations that speak of the individual wanting to spend more time with his family.
View via Explorer ~~ Rumsfeld's greatest hits, according to CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/us/2006/12/09/foreman.rumsfeld.hits.affl
FANTASMO photos of our dear (and not yet departed) SecDef with the troops! !!!!! !!!!!!
Thanks for the ping and pics, STARWISE.
:-)
"My economic team has worked with me to craft an economic agenda that helped lead the nation out of recession and into a period of growth," Fleischer said, reading a statement from President Bush. "I appreciate Paul O'Neill's and Larry Lindsey's important contributions to making this happen."
Fleischer said Lindsey had expressed interest in the private sector and that O'Neill wanted to improve health care and education in the Pittsburg area.
Some other "voluntary" resignations.
See even Female soldiers know gentleman when they see one aka Rummy
"Bush should have at least had the decency to wait a decent interval after the election before throwing Rumsfeld under the bus. The Dems don't take over until January."
Knowing what's coming from the Rats and Rumsfeld's age, you wanted Bush to insist Rumsfeld stay for that hell? And, knowing from his own statements that he'd already offered his resignation twice, you expected Bush to drag this out, when he and Rumsfeld had been discussion this direction for a couple of weeks, and to leave DOD virtually leaderless, in suspension in time of war, until after January?
unrealistic
adj.
Not compatible with reality or fact; unreasonably idealistic: unrealistic expectations.
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