Generals turn on ‘ornery’ Rumsfeld ("SWEET AND LOVEABLE" ALERT)

The Sunday Times ^ | October 20, 2002 | Tony Allen-Mills

[MadIvan]

WITH the world facing terrorist chaos and the looming prospect of war, Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, took to his Pentagon podium and declared: “I am sweet and lovable.”

For the millions of television viewers around the world who have reportedly fallen in love with Rumsfeld’s folksy performances at Pentagon briefings, it was a typical tongue-in-cheek pronouncement by a master American strategist who, most realise, is rarely sweet and lovable when plotting war on Iraq.

Yet it reflected a different problem that until recently has been hidden. For all his success in guiding American forces to victory in Afghanistan, Rumsfeld is a divisive figure in a Pentagon which is undergoing far-reaching changes in response to unconventional terrorist threats.

Criticism of the 70-year-old is increasingly public as he leads the charge on Baghdad while trying to shake up the Pentagon’s notoriously unwieldy bureaucracy. For every blue-rinsed matron sighing with delight at Rummy’s repartee, there appears to be a general who is complaining about civilian ideologues pressing for war on Iraq with scant regard for military consequences.

Resentment has spread to Capitol Hill, where senators and congressmen have scorned Rumsfeld’s attempts to link Al-Qaeda terrorism to Saddam Hussein. Other intelligence agencies are reported to have complained that their analysts are under Pentagon pressure “to cook the books” about the Iraqi threat.

The discontent erupted last week in a wounding pen portrait of Rumsfeld in The Washington Post, which quoted “many senior officers” in the joint chiefs of staff and other branches of the military saying he is “abusive and indecisive, trusting only a tiny circle of close advisers, seemingly eager to slap down officers with decades of distinguished service”.

The misery was said to be so pervasive that civilian officials in charge of the army, navy and air force were “deeply frustrated” and considering resigning.

Anyone who has met Rumsfeld in his Pentagon office knows he can be a very different person from the sparkling grandfatherly sage who appears on television — irascible, intolerant and “ornery”.

Some analysts say Rumsfeld is exactly what the Pentagon needs — a ruthless manager stripping the flab from a long-pampered uniformed branch. Torie Clarke, his spokeswoman, makes no apology for his approach. Last week she said: “The secretary thinks the entire department, civilian and military, was lethargic, bureaucratic, not fully addressing the dramatically changed world. He has lit fires under everybody. Some people respond well to that and some people don’t.”

Others argue that the stakes are too high for a crisis to develop in military ranks just as the Pentagon prepares to invade Iraq. In the army “the mood is morose”, one retired general told the Post. A former defence official said: “Things are more fouled up than I’ve ever seen them.”

All of which put Rumsfeld on the spot when he returned to the briefing room the morning after the Post’s diatribe. First, General Dick Myers, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, insisted the civilian and military branches were collaborating successfully: “I think the innuendo in that article is absolutely wrong.”

Then Rumsfeld had his say: the article was “a world-class thumb-sucker”. As for being a “tough hombre”, as one journalist described him, Rumsfeld insisted otherwise. But when he declared himself “sweet and lovable”, only a few of the reporters laughed.

[MadIvan]

A good defence secretary, in my view, would not be afraid to rock the boat. Carry on, Donald.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Miss Marple]

Most of the complainers are those who got their promotions during the Clinton years, and are all too happy to whine to the press. I pay them no mind.

[Brian Allen]

<< Criticism .... is increasingly public as he leads the charge on Baghdad ... [And shakes] up the Pentagon’s notoriously unwieldy bureaucracy. .... There appear to be [Many KKKli'toon-appointed Perfumed Prince "generals" ... complaining ....

Resentment has spread to [The RICO-racketeering gangster bastards also known as "DemocRATS" on] Capitol Hill .... >>

As you have noted, Ivan, Secretary Rumsfield is doing just fine.

As is, with perhaps only three exceptions, almost every other member of the Cabinet of United States of America's President and Armed Forces Commander In Chief, George Walker Bush.

Good to note also, that in a bureaucracy comprised more than 95% of "DemocRATic" part activists, he and his trusted few are keeping the lid on things and are keeping the DNC traitors -- and Soddom Hisson -- in the dark.

FReegards -- Brian

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

If Rumsfeld has made Congress mad then he's doing what we pay him to do.

[Gracey]

Most of the complainers are those who got their promotions during the Clinton years, and are all too happy to whine to the press

You got it right, honey. Never, ever trust National Security to a Democrat.

[iopscusa]

Keep the Faith-the attacks on America from within are mounting exponentially, I only hope that the attacks on Rummy are indicating increasing desperation. We few, we proud to be Americans must remain strong and committed to the truth we know will prevail.

[leadpenny]

Purges are never painless. I believe Marshall forced many two- and three-stars into retirement at the beginning of WWII. In addition to Rummy cleaning house, I'm sure the long knives are out amongst the top brass also.

[Petronius]

For every blue-rinsed matron sighing with delight at Rummy’s repartee, there appears to be a general who is complaining about civilian ideologues pressing for war on Iraq with scant regard for military consequences.

What do those generals know! Consequences shmonsequences!

[FryingPan101]

"He has lit fires under everybody. Some people respond well to that and some people don’t.”

'Nuf said?

[scamsam]

In the words of a former third base coach for the Boston Red Sox, "Show me someone everyone likes and I'll show you someone who has never made a decession."

[uncbob]

Clinton RUINED the USA Military

Let's hope that Runy can find some decent officers that didn't leave in disgust over Clinton's PC BS

[js1138]

Most of the complainers are those who got their promotions during the Clinton years, and are all too happy to whine to the press. I pay them no mind.

Not another thread running today about clinton pentagon appointees demanding bribes for contracts.

[tet68]

They don't like Rumsfeld, one can only imagine
what they would have made of Churchill as First Sea Lord.

[SkyPilot]

I worked in the Pentagon for two years. There are many good people there, however, Rumsfeld is doing the Lord's work.

God bless him.

[Valin]

Rumsfeld is a divisive figure in a Pentagon which is undergoing far-reaching changes in response to unconventional terrorist threats.

Someone needs to tell the perfumed princes that it's not 1972. Fighting a worldwide guerrilla war, and trying to change and update the way things are done in the armed forces Rummys got a tough row to hoe.

[MonroeDNA]

"Then Rumsfeld had his say: the article was “a world-class thumb-sucker”. "

ROTFLMAO!!!!

Go Rummy!

[EODGUY]

Speaking as a proud veteran of our military and as a fervent supporter of that military, this article reminds me of a discussion I had with a liberal acquaintance who complained that President Bush promised to rebuild the United States military that was "decimated" (he added a sarcastic tone here) by Clinton, and has yet to do anything substantive to make good on his promise.

I reminded him that liberals think throwing money at a problem will solve it. Our president has chosen to study the needs of our service men and women before he decides what is truly needed for them to remain the most highly trained/equiped/motivated military force in the world.

Anyone who has been in the military knows that money is not always spent wisely, particularly when the end of the fiscal year approaches and it becomes a "use it or lose it" situation.

Military waste is generated from the highest levels, not from the line troop level. Our Secretary of Defense is doing a terrific job maintaining control of the hierarchy of our military, some of whom are nearing retirement and hope to land another cushy job with a defense contractor. Perhaps their retirement plans cloud their objectivity.

[Grampa Dave]

Amen, the complainers are the laced pink panty wearers who got promoted during the Clintoonian years, while our Warrior Class were demeaned and forced to stay on the side lines.

Many of the laced pink panty wearing generals/admirals inherited by Rummy are the poster military boys/girls of the Rats in the Senate, the Compost and of course ABCNNBCBS! With these laced pink panty wearing generals and Admirals, there are no military secrets, and they like their rat senators would never really want to harm the Islamofascists and their Islamakazis who want to kill the rest of us.

Of course this doesn't stop with the Generals/Admirals inherited from the Clintoonian so called military. The military is filled with those with 03 ranks and up, who are more interested in Diversity and PC concepts than killing and destroying our enemies.

he is same problem with all of the Federal Agencies/Departments re card carrying rats in the ranks is in the military. We can elect a conservative republic president, and he inherits 100 of thousands of card carrying rats in the military and other agencies. These card carrying rats work 24/7 to keep the new president from cleaning out the rat messes and from implementing their plans and actions.

[Grampa Dave]

Amen, the complainers are the laced pink panty wearers who got promoted during the Clintoonian years, while our Warrior Class were demeaned and forced to stay on the side lines.

Many of the laced pink panty wearing generals/admirals inherited by Rummy are the poster military boys/girls of the Rats in the Senate, the Compost and of course ABCNNBCBS! With these laced pink panty wearing generals and Admirals, there are no military secrets, and they like their rat senators would never really want to harm the Islamofascists and their Islamakazis who want to kill the rest of us.

Of course this doesn't stop with the Generals/Admirals inherited from the Clintoonian so called military. The military is filled with those with 03 ranks and up, who are more interested in Diversity and PC concepts than killing and destroying our enemies.

he is same problem with all of the Federal Agencies/Departments re card carrying rats in the ranks is in the military. We can elect a conservative republic president, and he inherits 100 of thousands of card carrying rats in the military and other agencies. These card carrying rats work 24/7 to keep the new president from cleaning out the rat messes and from implementing their plans and actions.