Source: Army secretary resigns on Rumsfeld's demand

CNN.com ^ | 4/25/03

[Hipixs]

WASHINGTON (CNN) --Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld demanded U.S. Army Secretary Tom White step down Friday, a senior Pentagon official said, a move that follows two years of contention between the two.

The official said Rumsfeld called White into his office and demanded his resignation, which White provided.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, if you think he is such an idiot, why don't YOU do his job? Hmmmm???? You'd last what? A week maybe?

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Read through arete's posts. He majors in gloom-and-doom. I've never seen him say anything positive, particularly about this administration.

I can tell from a single post why you are right; He's a Libertarian and/or Paleocon hack, embittered we fought this war for the Jooz and that the GOP and the people have left him on the ash heap of history. He's probably been intellectually spanked here so many times he's reduced to hit and run snipes.

Yaaawn.

[AlbionGirl]

Boy you're right about that. Rumsfeld is seriously smart, and as he likes to point out, the military is under civilian control.

I bet that there is very little difference in objectives between Rumsfeld and the military heavyweights, rather it's a matter of style. He's not afraid of offending people, even those who feel that the sacrifices they've made should shield them from such treatment and/or offense.

It is amazing to me how when the war looked as if it might encounter a snag or two, the snags were all Rumsfeld's doing and now that all has gone well, Franks is the man to thank.

I love Rumsfeld, he is one impressive human being.

God grant him continued health, success and long life.

P.S. He's the epitome of virilty.

[Jeff Chandler]

>>But don't attack posters who are contributing their true knowledge of what "the brass" think of Rumsfeld. Their interpretations are wrong, but their facts are not.<<

I didn't "attack anyone", and I read no "facts" in the post. I read allegations of conduct attributed to some "generals". Is it not reasonable to request specific citations in order to move the allegations from hearsay to fact?

[Jim Noble]

It is not unreasonable, but many who have been privy to such conduct may not be in a position to share the specifics with you and the world.

[Jeff Chandler]

>>many who have been privy to such conduct may not be in a position to share the specifics with you and the world.<<

Then it's all just hearsay.

[Jim Noble]

Well, OK then, it's hearsay.

But still true.

[Jeff Chandler]

>>But still true.<<

That's not what my barber's wife's uncle said.

[verity]

"He's doing better, but he's still a pompous idiot."

You are describing yourself.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Sorry, I thought that, in fact, Rummy was a fighter pilot in Korea.. I was wrong in that--it was post Korea.

He had served as Sec Def before however, which gives him a lot of cachet, in my opinion.

Shitsacki is a political general. White wasn't giving direction or policy to the Army since he fell on his sword on Crusader.

The bottom line is that the Army has lost its way when it bent to Clinton and went totally PC/zero defect mentality. The troops are the best, but from the training and doctrine level, it is a complete train wreck.

This furor is symptomatic of a branch that is just lost and doesn't know whether to be the USMC reinforced or simply a targeting arm for the Air Force....

[verity]

You and Fred ever serve in any responsible positions?

[centurion316]

I've known Rick Shinseki for over twenty years. I know that the conventional wisdom, especially on FR, is that he is a political general. I don't think that he is, or ever has been. Now, if you want an example of a political general, then look no further that Wes Clark.

BTW, I agree with the decision to cancel Crusader. But, I don't agree that the only form of fires that you need is airpower. Not yet, and perhaps never, but certainly not in the next twenty years.

I don't think that what we just witnessed the 3ID, 101st, 173 Abn Bde, Special Forces, Rangers, do in Iraq is symptomatic of an Army that has lost its way. If you believe that it has, you should offer something to support your views.

Sorry your Army service left you with such a chip on your shoulder.

[Fred Mertz]

Rummy's on his second stint as SecDef trying to get it right this time.

[Fred Mertz]

I thought it was an excellent in-your-face move that General Keane gave to Rummy.

I also think highly of General Shinseki, berets and all.

[Squantos]

I'm gonna trust ya'll as you know of him better than I do. He seems genuine for the most part........time will tell eh !

Hope ya have a nice weekend Fred...... I've been battling a rouge squirrel that thinks my attic is his new home......Surefire 6P light and my crossman .177 pump pistola were put to task for a little room clearing exercise.....:o)

Stay Safe and send recipe's for squirrel !

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for your comments and observations. They seem fairly accurate.

[1rudeboy]

Dude, he might be an idiot, but he's the boss. Now, all together, who thinks their boss is an idiot?

[PhilDragoo]

It is the mark of a successful campaign when one can deplete much of the enemy's strength before engaging on the ground.

By employing this basic principle of Sun Tzu's Art of War, Rumsfeld made the victory easier.

[mikenola]

Notice after 200+ posts, Fred has yet to justify his juvenile assertion that Rumsfeld is an idiot. (see my comments in #154)

If Fred truly is associated with DoD, it's possible that his particular rice bowl may have been knocked over by Rumsfeld's efforts.

[SLB]

I work with a retired O-6 who is a good enough personal friend of White's that the "then" new appointee called him at 2:00 AM to tell him he had accepted the position. He knows Rick Shinseki well enough to tell the CoS to clean the mud off his 'damn boots" before coming into the building. "B.B. Bell was a 2 star then and just about died on the spot." (I was standing at the doorway when this happened) I work with this guy every day, talk to him on at least a hourly basis both professionally and socially. I have know him for almost 18 years now and he has never failed on a judgement call. He says Rick Shinseki has made a few errors as the CoS, but not nearly as many as Rummy has made and I believe him.

Rummy is just plain arrogant and when he doesn't get his yes man there to proved the "right" answer, he fires whoever has had the guts to stand up to him. Some about power corrupting and absolute power absolutely corrupting.