Rumsfeld pays visit to troops in Iraq

AP via Yahoo ^ | 12/09/06

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WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is in Iraq, a Pentagon spokesman said Saturday.

"He's there to express his appreciation to the troops and to thank both the troops and their families for the sacrifices they are making," said Air Force Lt. Col. Todd Vician, a Defense Department spokesman.

Rumsfeld's trip follows an emotional farewell Friday at the Pentagon, where the defense secretary defended his record on Iraq and Afghanistan.

[BobS]

Rumsfeld wanted to resign for years. Bush wouldn't let him. Face it, when you are in your 70's you don't want to work 16 hour days. A few Supreme Court justices should also retire.

[STARWISE]

W spared him the agony and immobilization of non-stop, 24/7 hearing prep, testimony, document hunts, hate-filled Rat screeds, and public persecution for the next 2 years, thereby disabling his and the DOD's ability to do their job. That is a friend.

[Firefox1]

Look, I hate to be brutally honest but, we need about 100,000 more troops in Iraq. When they get there, they need to start killing people and blowing stuff up immediately. The message has just got to get out to the guilty, the innocent, and the unlucky: The US is in charge and this is the way its going to be. This is what we did in Jpan and Germany. Until that day comes, we're are blowing in the wind.

Osama Bin Laden was right. We're so soft, so civilized, so 'educated' that we don't have the nerve to bring a gun to a knife fight.

We're losing because we deserve to lose.

[SevenofNine]

COOL rack it I just hear tail end of the story but I have go out rack Rummy

[FreeReign]

He needed to replace Rumsfeld with someone of the caliber of retired General Tommy Franks (http://www.tommyfranks.com/Index.shtml) not some intelligence wonk from DC.

Rumsfeld wasn't a retired general either. Rumsfeld turned out to be one of the best SOD's.

The same CIC who picked Rumsfeld has now picked Gates. Gates deserves a chance.

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I've been told that we can win in Iraq with bombers over Iran.

[uncbob]

Rumsfeld wanted to resign for years. Bush wouldn't let him. Face it, when you are in your 70's you don't want to work 16 hour days. A few Supreme Court justices should also retire.

Yep I don't know how he did it

I am 70 and in good shape but I wouldn't want to have to work 8 hour days

[uncbob]

We're losing because we deserve to lose.

Too bad the troops have to suffer for the Average American

[doug from upland]

The nation is grateful for his extradordinary service.

[Prost1]

I agree with everything except the need for more troops.

The Iraqi govt is impotent in stopping the violence and slaughter.

We need only change the Rules of Engagement.

Find a Terrorist, Kill a Terroist! No arrests, no detaining, no Iraqi govt intercession....just change the Rules of Engagement and point the direction.

[samantha]

Exactly, Rummy is fantastic guy for his age or for anyone's age. I could sense that he had accomplished most of what GWB sent him there for, was tired of the crappola from the cut and run scairdy cat, girly men, anti American Rats and DBM. Gates will never command the kind of respect that Rummy has from either the Troops or people like Freepers. He better start getting all his ducks in a row, he will need them with the Pond Scum DBM waiting to jump him if he does something they don't like. David Gregory and his ilk think they are superior, but in the back of their mind they know they do not measure up to real men like Rummy and GWB, Cheney.

[Txsleuth]

I totally agree with you....I think Pres. Bush HATED having to lose Rummy...but, as a friend, he knew he had to let him go.

Re: Gates...I am not happy about him..but, will wait and see what he does...

[cll]

Thank you for your loooong service to our Nation, Secretary Rumsfeld.

I look forward to your memoirs and lectures once you free yourself from the swamp!

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

you are both on target..Rummy deserved the break and also did not need to be put through 2 years of Dem BS with hearings, etc.

I believe Bush did what he had to do, spared Rumsfeld a lousy hellish 2 years. BTW, Gates may just be another bush rope a dope. NPR was trashing Gates and kept referring to him as a YES Man. Perfect for Bush now....let Bush and the generals go full steam ahead and Gates can say" Yes sir."

[flynmudd]

We could put this whole thing to bed in two weeks if we let the dogs out. I say it's time to take out the trash with lead. Kick some @ss.

[soycd]

This news combined with the leftists in America taking "charge" is enough to make one go off unclear.

Very unclear, SoYcD

[Candor7]

I agree momma!

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

A lot of us are thinking that way and I bet the american public would be also relieved!

[maxter]

"Rumsfeld is a great man, a great patriot, and a great Secretary of Defense. Thank you for your service for our country Mr. Rumsfeld"

Ditto.

[ruschpa]

Let's hope Bush pays a visit to the troops in Iraq over Christmas.