Posted on 12/09/2006 3:34:49 PM PST by advance_copy
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.
I totally agree. Let loose the dogs of war...I love that phrase, almost as good as "I love the smell of napalm in the morning"
Excuse me .. Bush did not throw him anywhere.
I don't know where people are getting this .. or why they keep trying to perpetrate this lie. Bush didn't do anything. Rummy told the Pres 2 weeks before the election that if the GOP didn't remain in power - he was going to resign.
Now, why would Rummy resign. The answer is easy: with the dems in power, Rummy was going to have to spend endless hours being dragged over the coals for every move he made. It was already bad enough that he had to endure the dem members of the committee's but with them gainging the chairmanships .. it would have been ruthless and endless.
Who on earth wants to endure such a process ..??
I believe your comment is meant to start an Bush-bash and therefore, your statement was disengenuous at best.
I know many of our military loved Rummy and will be as sad as I am to see him go. There was something about Donald Rumsfeld that made me feel safe. Gold Bless Rummy and God Bless our military.
.
The Words
http://www.Freerepublic.com/~ALOHARONNIE
The Pictures
http://www.RickRescorla.com/The%20Statue.htm
The Heroism
http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361
.
A friend just called and told me that Sean was over there. I turned on Fox but haven't seen anything. Have they done any reports yet?
From a grateful patriot, thank you Mr. Secretary. Your candor, wit, and experience will be sorely missed.
Thanks...awesome pics...
Are they still going to investigate him in Congress? Maybe now they will just do real work, since they have eliminated Rumsfeld and Bolton and have weakened Pres. Bush in re-gaining control of both Houses. It's one thing to threaten all these investigations when they're impossible to pursue, another thing entirely to actually waste political capital doing them.
It was very kind and honorable for Rumsfeld to visit the troops and it must mean a lot to them. Time will probably prove him to be a great Sec./Defense, as it will prove Pres. Bush to be a great, courageous leader.
A Class Act.
Rumsfeld Thanks Troops for Service, Calls for U.S. Patience
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1751155/posts
Thank you, Secretary Rumsfeld for your sacrificial service for your country.
I'm sure the troops will be thrilled to see you one last time......
And I'm sure the President's love for Rummy is part of what made him want to keep him from what the Dem Congress was going to do to him.
I'm getting sick of these deliberate distortions intended to bash the President.
Just stop it.
I'm sure that these Bush bashers try to get their distortions early in the thread to mislead and warp the kind words that will follow and hijack the thread. It is a clear pattern.
Rummy was a treasure, and he stayed longer than any previous SoD.
To say that he was 'thrown out' is a distortion at best, and an outright lie at worst.
God bless our strong President, and God bless dear Rummy and give him the rest that he has earned in service of his country.
He spoke to more than 1,200 soldiers and Marines at this sprawling air base in Anbar province. Rumsfeld will leave his office Dec. 18, when Defense Secretary designee Robert Gates takes his place.
For the past six years, I have had the opportunity and, I would say the privilege, to serve with the greatest military on the face of the Earth, Rumsfeld said. I leave understanding that the true strength of the United States military is not in Washington, its not in the Pentagon, its not in the weapons. Its in the hearts of the men and women who serve. Its your patriotism, its your professionalism and indeed your determination.
He spoke about a young man he met at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington. The young man, who was recovering from wounds suffered in Iraq, told the secretary, If the American people will only give us the time, we can do it. Were getting the job done.
I believe him. I know hes right, Rumsfeld said. We feel great urgency to protect the American people from another 9/11 or a 9/11 times two or three. At the same time, we need to have the patience to see this task through to success. The consequences of failure are unacceptable.
http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=2365
It's one thing to threaten all these investigations when they're impossible to pursue, another thing entirely to actually waste political capital doing them.
Ah, but to their moonbat base it'd not a waste of time and/or capital. It's why they sent them to Washington.
Troops Havent Lost Faith in Rumsfeld
...
BALAD, Iraq, Dec. 9, 2006 As he prepares to enter his final week in office, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was greeted warmly here by the men and women in uniform he has led for the past six years.
Rumsfeld paid a surprise visit to servicemembers based in Iraq to thank them for their service. He met with troops on Al Asad Air Base in Anbar province and then with troops here.
In both places, the troops treated him like a rock star. The 74-year-old secretary flew aboard an Air Force C-17 from Washington. He worked through the night aboard the plane, but was still fresh enough to put in a full day speaking to and meeting the troops.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1751163/posts
Well .. I'm hoping if enough of us do this on a consistent basis, we can stop some of the Bush-bashing.
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