Lawmakers Chide Rumsfeld for Auto-Signed Sympathy Letters

Reuters ^ | December 19, 2004 | Jackie Frank

[ejdrapes]

Lawmakers Chide Rumsfeld for Auto-Signed Sympathy Letters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld did not personally sign his name on letters of condolence to families of troops killed in Iraq but instead had it done by a machine, an action lawmakers said on Sunday showed insensitivity and was inappropriate for leadership during war.

Rumsfeld acknowledged that he had not signed the letters to family members of more than 1,000 U.S. troops killed in action and in a statement said he would now sign them in his own hand. "This issue of the secretary of Defense not personally signing the letters is just astounding to me and it does reflect how out of touch they are and how dismissive they are," Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

"I have no confidence in Rumsfeld," Hagel added.

Rumsfeld has been under strong fire from Democrats and some Republicans recently for appearing to brush off concerns of soldiers about the lack of protective equipment in Iraq.

But President Bush's Chief of Staff Andrew Card emphasized White House support for Rumsfeld on Sunday.

He "is doing a spectacular job, and the president has great confidence in him," Card told ABC's "This Week" program.

Hagel noted that the families of the troops killed in Iraq have received letters signed by Bush.

"My goodness, that is the least we can expect the secretary of Defense ... If the president can find the time to do that why can't the secretary of Defense?" said Hagel, who has been a sharp critic of the way Bush has handled the Iraq war.

Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island said family members of those killed, "would like to think that at least for a moment the secretary thought about individually this young man or this young woman."

"Again it shows a lack of leadership style appropriate for the military ... This goes to his capability to continue to serve."

However, Republican Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, said that while "this is another area in which the secretary is being insensitive," the action did not "go to his leadership."

AUTOPEN RETIRED

"I wrote and approved the now more than 1,000 letters sent to family members and next of kin of each of the servicemen and women killed in military action," Rumsfeld said in a statement on Sunday."

"While I have not individually signed each one, in the interest of ensuring expeditious contact with grieving family members, I have directed that in the future I sign each letter."

Rumsfeld got himself into trouble earlier this month by appearing to brush off a soldier headed to Iraq who complained that military vehicles did not have sufficient armor and troops were having to piece together scraps of metal for extra protections.

Some prominent Republicans including Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott have questioned his performance, leading the White House to come to his defense on Friday with a statement that he was "doing a great job."

Among the critics, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar expressed concern on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that removing him from office could threaten national security.

"He should be held accountable and he should stay in office," the Indiana Republican senator said. "The fact is a change of leadership in the Pentagon at this point might be as disruptive as trying to get someone in Homeland Defense," he added.

Military families told the Stars and Stripes newspaper, which first carried the story, that the machine-signed letters reflected a lack of respect for the losses the families had suffered.

"To me it's an insult, not only as someone who lost a loved one but also as someone who served in Iraq," Army Spc. Ivan Medina whose brother Irving was killed in Iraq this summer, told the newspaper.

[EGPWS]

The good news is we have Dubya at the wheel!

Without the need of worrisome contemplation!

[HostileTerritory]

The news gets to the family some other way, I thought--these letters don't hold up the process. Or am I wrong?

It shouldn't be hard for Rumsfeld to sign 4 or 8 letters a day. He can easily set aside 1 minute from his busy schedule to show respect for men who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their coutnry. 5 minutes one day a week, if he must.

[txrangerette]

{I thought we were going to have several thousand killed in 2003 when we went to war with Iraq.

Rumsfeld may have thought that was possible, too. As I said, he may have set this policy at the beginning for this reason. They tried to keep the hostage negotiations information from President Reagan, because they felt his emotional concern would interfere with his ability to make Presidential decisions about policy.

Is it a good idea for the Secretary of Defense to sign a half dozen letters of condolence a day, and become so emotional that he can't continue with some tough minded decisions that are necessary?

There are pluses and minuses here. I believe Rummy cares. I'm sure he does. I don't think this is an "issue".}

Patty, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are good. You are so good. Your comments are the best. Just how good, I will tell you...

It brought to mind that Rummy, Powell, Rice, etc. have said they expected CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TO BE USED ON OUR TROOPS. It brought to mind that they have said they did not expect Saddam's main army to melt away, but to stand and fight.

Therefore, your comments have been just the medicine "the doctor ordered" for a rather sick patient, which is what I think has become of this unconscionable attack on our highly effective, desperately needed, Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld.

BRAVO!

[Wolfstar]

The transparency of this is obvious to those with I.Q.'s below 70.

Oh, good. That means even Ted Kennedy will understand it.

[88keys]

I'm sorry you were unhappy to have to say that about McCain and Hagel, but you did the right thing, IMHO...good for you!!

Whatever's up with these "good Senators" and others, if they have some legitimate point to make and defend, they should do so. Otherwise, they should "STFU", and stop with this incessant public MSM criticism of Bush and/or his "team", which seems solely based on their own opinions, and therefore does no practical good and potentially causes harm. They are in that apparently growing "cadre" of egotistical politicians who love airing their own views publicly more than than they worry about actually providing counsel to the President. Or perhaps their "counsel" was rejected? But the way they're conducting themselves, I don't trust their judgement on some issues any more either...

[willyboyishere]

Finally, someone I agree with on this thread. Rummy was oversold right at the beginning---always beware of that
kind of manipulation---the RIGHT man for the job would not have to be sold at all. Interesting===I wonder what the history is of this procedure---has ANY Sec of Def ever signed letters himself? I kind of doubt it.....but the thought occurs to me that IF THEY DID, it might put them in a little better touch with the gravity of what their orders can mean. So, I'm not surprised they use an autosigner, which insulates them from feeling.

[arasina]

But why should Rumsfeld fake caring when he does not?

And you know this how? Did you sign up today for the Bashin' Bandwagon?

[Matchett-PI]

"Rumsfeld has shown himself to be .. insensitive.. arrogant .."

And this ---- coming from a poster who chose a screen name that means, "concise to the point of seeming rude". Hahahahahahaha

[88keys]

I can't agree with you on the responsibility of the SecDef to personally sign every letter that is sent from his office, not even those most tragic ones...but I can agree about the court-martialing of those soldiers who "recycled" some abandoned vehicles...there's a discussion thread here somewhere, and also a petition you can sign...we have Ohio soldiers involved too, and I think it's Ohio Senator Mike DeWine that's involved in seeking "clemency" (rightly so, IMO, although I think there were some problems after the fact with simply accounting for the "legitimate piracy"!)...check "Ohio news" or the state message board for more on that...

[Lazamataz]

Lessee..... I can have an administration that perjures and sends operatives out to smear and destroy people and that sells military secrets to China for campaign contributions....

....OR....

.... I can have an administration who's Secretary of State neglects to personally sign some of the 1000+ condolance letters that went out.

.....(thinking).....

.....(thinking).....

.....Hold on, don't rush me.....

.....(thinking).....

[Lazamataz]

.....(thinking).....

.....(thinking).....

[Lazamataz]

.....(thinking).....

.....(thinking).....

Hang on, I haven't decided.......

[Lazamataz]

.....(thinking).....

[willyboyishere]

With all due respect , patriciaruth, that was the most convoluted and tortured rationalization for Rumsfeld's non-signatures I could conceive of.
"the point at which you stop doing it will be a landmark of triumph for the enemy"==
really, a Clinton Administration apologist could not have
come up with that. Please examine your reasoning up and down, left to right, top to bottom. And it should make NO difference WHO brought it up , and whose agenda is being served by casting aspersions on Rumsfeld. Once again, I will say, that if they HAD to sign those letters,they might come to see their policies as a little more, uh, let's say, "flawed". And frankly, from what I know about President Bush, and it's been very little reported, he has in fact met face-to-face with families of the war dead, and wept with them. Maybe what we're saying is it would be nice if he had someone in that post as feeling as himself.

[CyberAnt]

"... run BACK INTO THE PENTAGON immediately after it was attacked by AQ on 9-11-01, to help his staff."

Good point! A guy called into Rush on Friday and said that everybody was upset because Rummy wouldn't leave .. they tried and tried to get him to take shelter in a secure location, and he refused to go.

These people who are bashing Rummy aren't even worthy to shine his shoes. They're pathetic.

[bootless]

Thanks. And you can bet that he didn't do it thinking that there were TV cameras ready to capture his heroic deeds.

[Texas Songwriter]

Same craven bastards that voted against the 87 billion. Rumsfeld needs to give them the back of his hand.

[MeekOneGOP]

Without the need of worrisome contemplation!

Yep. He will figure out where he wants to go, and then go that way.

The polls be dam*ed! Do the right thing is job number one with Bush, alright.