Rumsfeld: Plagues of Biblical Job [by Clinton]

Insight ^ | Posted Nov. 16, 2001 | J. Michael Waller

[spald]

"He'll tell you exactly what he thinks, but he does it in a human way that makes you appreciate his judgment, even if it's painful."

Yep I know this manuver quite well. Hubby is a WWII Marine and this is how he has always communicated with our sons.

LOL! The jobs always have gotten done here, also. And nobody complains, either!

[parting shot]

Was one of the air wars Clinton won, (the war of the asprin factories)? I will give Clinton credit for wining that one, that was a tough hard fought war for both sides.

We even helped them rebuild their country, uh, factory, by paying reperations for bombing it just like we have done in all other wars.

I suggest you read Peggy Noonan's article posted on FR, titled The President Within. It perfectly states Clintons 8 year position in history!

[He Rides A White Horse]

Rumsfeld bluntly told his generals that the plans were bullshit and to go back and draw up something that would crush the regime and the destroy terrorists. "He doesn't take any B.S.," says a senior officer who recently presented the secretary with an action proposal. "He'll tell you exactly what he thinks, but he does it in a human way that makes you appreciate his judgment, even if it's painful."

Sometimes a kick in the a$$ is human, and painful, imagine that.

[jackbill]

Both his intellect and his candor are underappreciated.

Not by me. Not by a damned sight. Of all of President Bush's appointments, Rummy is the absolute best. Can you even imagine Bill Cohen running the war on terriorism? Or, better yet, would you even consider wanting Cohen running the DOD today?

[jackbill]

Sources close to Rumsfeld say he has received precious little support from the State Department, led by another strong personality, Secretary of State Colin Powell. Though an able implementer of policy, the retired four-star general historically has been cautious and risk-averse, according to insiders who have known him throughout his career. Politically popular, Powell is not of the temperament to rattle the cages when the president needs it.

When will the "mainstream media" recognize that Powell is nothing but the typical "token"? Basically a useful idiot.

[elbucko]

Yehudi, EVERYTHING is Klintons fault, and why don't you go back to DU before we kick your tukas off.

[elbucko]

Bill Cohen wrote poetry during Bosnia-Serbia conflict.

[mombonn]

Rumsfeld has returned old-fashioned military attitudes of yesteryear. Modern-day military leaders have eschewed words such as "kill" and "bomb" and "enemy," in favor of Clinton-era words such as "degrade." The defense secretary unabashedly embraces the old-fashioned terminology and, with it, a victorious way of thinking.

Thank Heaven, the adults are in charge! A thousand million thanks to Rummy who, "at age 68, ditched a comfortable retirement to embrace a crushing 14-hour-a-day, six-and-a-half-day work week."

We are in good hands!

[Alas]

bump and save

[Ole Okie]

I think your soul-mates at DU are calling you!

[abner]

How far along into Bush's presidency will it be before, when bad things happen, they stop being Clinton's fault?

Only when Mrs. Clinton is politically dead will it be safe to even leave Mr. Clinton out of the discussion. It(whatever it may be) will still be his fault, but I'll leave him alone then. Maybe.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Is the air power victory in Afghanistan Clinton's victory?

How do you know when you are ordered into harm's way that there is a significant national purpose? I solemly assure you that I would never advise my son to join the armed forces to serve under a Democratic president. What would be the point, when the commander-in-chief cannot be trusted?

It is no thanks to x42 that we even have a military. Other than a few women who get pregnant the moment things get hot somewhere . . .

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Is the air power victory in Afghanistan Clinton's victory?

How do you know when you are ordered into harm's way that there is a significant national purpose? I solemly assure you that I would never advise my son to join the armed forces to serve under a Democratic president. What would be the point, when the commander-in-chief cannot be trusted?

It is no thanks to x42 that we even have a military. Other than a few women who get pregnant the moment things get hot somewhere . . .

[JoeSchem]

Also, this article tries to have it both ways. It wants to blame Clinton for our military's unpreparedness and lack of organization, but it wants to give Clinton no credit for that same preparedness and organization, which was good enough to basically win two wars with air power alone.

Our enemy in Afghanistan was a gang of Central Asian hillbillies. And yet we -- the greatest superpower in the history of the world -- nearly lost the conflict. What does that say about Clinton's 'military preparedness?'

Rumsfield had to countermand the Clinton appointees. The orders are on paper. They said one thing, he said another, and it's all documented. Their policies were ineffectual, his policies worked with dazzling effectiveness.

So you can try to muddy the waters here, but it's objectively evident that the Clintonoids bungled. What do you know, ex-hippies don't make good military leaders. Whoda thunk?

[jonathonandjennifer]

Didn't Clinton get rid of some mighty powerful generals when he started his don't ask, don't tell policy? Wasn't he in fear of a military take over from OUR military leaders who knew him as a commie traitor

This is an interesting possibility. Does anyone have any references to published articles on this subject?

[jonathonandjennifer]

Is the air power victory in Afghanistan Clinton's victory?

With all due respect and appreciation to the Navy and Airforce crews involved, I do not see this as an "air power" only victory. My interpretation is that the big difference between this and the Kosovo operation was, and still is, the presence of our special forces teams on the ground in Afganistan.
After the initial phase of taking out the Talaban "air force" and air defense, these teams vastly increased the effectiveness of prgressively lower and slower flying weapons platforms, eventually providing the close air support that enabled the Northern Alliance, et al, to bring down the Talaban.

I sincerely doubt that these special forces would have been put "in country" under Clinton.

(I couldn't put the following comment in the above paragraph containing a reference to X42, thus the new paragraph.)
As a personal aside, I find the bravery of those soldiers going in to that God-forsaken country alone extreme to the point of being inconceivable. God bless them.

[desertcry]

Let's be generous to yehudi, how about in 8 years. It took the bent one 8 years to degrade the military, it's only fair, and balance.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Rumsfeld is said to have exploded when that Pentagon lawyer saved the life of bin Laden's chief sponsor, making it painfully clear to the political generals that George W. Bush, not Bill Clinton, is their commander in chief.

And I thank God for that every night before I go to sleep, every morning when I wake up and many times in between.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Somewhere out there, a village is missing its idiot. You can tell your comrades back at DUh that your new pals on FreeRepublic.com helped you get home as soon as possible:

[Valin]

How far along into Bush's presidency will it be before, when bad things happen, they stop being Clinton's fault?

About 3 days after you get a clue.