White Resigns as U.S. Army Secretary

Reuters ^ | Fri April 25, 2003 07:16 PM ET

[woofie]

ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thomas White has resigned as secretary of the U.S. Army, the Defense Department said Friday, without citing a reason. It said the effective date of the resignation was to be determined. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld expressed his appreciation to White for his service, first as a career Army officer then as the Army's top civilian leader for the past two years, an announcement said.

[Steven W.]

leaker & whiner & Clintonista hitting the road with a print left from Rummy's boot affixed upon his rear as the door slammed behind him ???

[Shermy]

Enron fallout?

[MinuteGal]

Something doesn't compute here. We'll have to wait to find out, if we ever do.

Maybe being lost in the shadow of the brilliant strategery team of Rumsfield, Tommy Franks, Cheney, Condy & Co. was too much for him. What does a Secretary of the Army do in a modern war, anyhow?

Will anyone notice he's gone (or was ever there?)

Leni

[LS]

Did he support Crusader? The "heavy" army? If so, no wonder he's gone.

[centurion316]

leaker & whiner & Clintonista hitting the road with a print left from Rummy's boot affixed upon his rear as the door slammed behind him ???

This is a good expression of the convention wisdom, and reflects a view commonly held among conservatives. However, this is off the mark by a large margin. Tom White is a good guy and probably the best Secretary of the Army in at least thirty years

He is no Clintonista

He has worked tirelessly for soldiers and is interested in soldiers first, last, and always. Unlike Rumsfled and Wolfowitz, he has actually seen the Elephant.

Although many have slung mud in his direction because he was with Enron, no one has yet made it stick. Not every apple in the barrel was bad.

This is about the fight between the Army and Rumsfeld. Now that the war is essentially over, Rumsfeld will come after the Army with a vengance. Getting White and Shinseki out of the way is the first step in decimating Army ground forces. Rumsfeld will do what the Iraqis, the North Vietnamese, Chinese, North Koreans, Nazis, and Japanese could not do: destroy the U. S. Army. Watch what happens over the coming months, it will be bloody.

[kcordell]

Did he support Crusader?

Right! He and Rummy nearly came to blows over the "New Army".

FNC reported that it was at the "urging" of the White House.

[dts32041]

Yes he supported crusader? and stated so at a budget hering.

[TruthNtegrity]

Worse than supporting the Crusader was how he did it. He went behind Pentagon backs, and knowing the Rummy didn't want the Crusader, wrote letters to members of Congress (who's districts might have benefitted from the manufacture) and asked them to support the Army with this new weapon. It was said that when Rummy heard what White had done, he was furious. I, for one, am surprised that it took until now for someone in the WH (if that's true?) to suggest that he resign.

Now, Shinseki (of black beret fame) is another matter, and I'm just not going there.

[ontos-on]

Good.

[x1stcav]

Now that this phase (Iraq) of the war is over watch for quite a few general grade officers 'take' retirement over the next six months.

It'll be interesting to see who has been selected as White's replacement. That this person will be more of a team player is a given.

[Phsstpok]

Unlike Rumsfled and Wolfowitz, he has actually seen the Elephant.

I assume that you mean by this the usual liberal calumny that they didn't serve? Well, Rumsfeld, for one, did. he flew off carriers. He's been there, done that. This is not implied criticism of Tom White. I don't disagree with your assessment of his position, but I don't really know. It is a criticism of what I percieve to be a cheap shot at Rummy in your post.

I believe that Rumsfeld remembers the lesson of Billy Mitchell from nearly 100 years ago (OK, 80). He has a different view of warfare in the 21st century than the Black Jack Pershing wing of the Pentagon. That doesn't mean that he will 'decimate' them. He will adjust the forces to the missions that they will be called upon to perform, not the missions that they performed in the past.

[woofie]

I know nothing except what I read but I think your take on things is correct

[woofie]

I know nothing except what I read but I think your take on things is correct

[Maynerd]

This is about the fight between the Army and Rumsfeld. Now that the war is essentially over, Rumsfeld will come after the Army with a vengance. Getting White and Shinseki out of the way is the first step in decimating Army ground forces. Rumsfeld will do what the Iraqis, the North Vietnamese, Chinese, North Koreans, Nazis, and Japanese could not do: destroy the U. S. Army. Watch what happens over the coming months, it will be bloody.

At best your comments are hyperbole. Rumsfeld is a patriot and acting in the best interests of the country and military. If that means goring all the oxes at the pentagon, so be it. We should all praise Allah that we have a defense secretary with such intelligence, drive, and capability during these rocky times.

[DensaMensa]

}Now that the war is essentially over, Rumsfeld will come after the Army with a vengance.

From this distance it looks like the U.S. Marines did a pretty good job on Iraq without much help from the Army. ??? Was Rummy right?

[Billy_bob_bob]

Interesting statement. Kind of like a bouquet of flowers with a hand grenade wrapped up inside.

[CyberAnt]

Yes, he did - at least that's my understanding. He and Rumsfeld were on opposite sides of the issue.

[Mr.Clark]

Man, Rummy is something. Don't mess with that guy!