Posted on 12/19/2004 1:14:03 PM PST by ejdrapes
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.Lawmakers Chide Rumsfeld for Auto-Signed Sympathy Letters
Just out of curiosity, did Bubba ever auto-pen any condolence letters? If he sent any, that is.
Here, using a machine to make it look like he signed the letters is pure deception. The obvious intent was to make it appear that Don Rumsfeld gave the letter his personal attention long enough to sign his name.
That said, I couldn't care less if Rummy was the most insensitive lout on the face of the earth. If he's the best man for Secretary of Defense, I'm glad he's there.
Newbie here---what is the source of Hagel's animosity to this President?
Is it personal? Vietnam? What?
Everytime he opens his mouth--it is an anti-Bush screed.
"Rummy should either sign it himself, or don't send a letter at all."
Should Rummy salute or just bend over ..??
What about the SecDef during Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, etc.?? Did that person PERSONALLY SIGN ALL THE LETTERS ..?? You don't know do you ..?? WHY DON'T YOU KNOW - because this is a "gotcha" against Rumsfeld and not against a procedure that may have been place for years.
Get a grip!!
Ken5050's post/thread puts this into a real perspective!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1305415/posts?page=1
Flashback: Nov 17,1995: Clinton has a BJ in the WH, while on the phone deploying US troops to Bosnia
A BLAST FROM THE PAST!!!
Posted on 12/20/2004 3:37:50 PM PST by ken5050
You're on the right track. It was a mistake to have used an autopen. The mistake was some staffer's in Rummy's office. Rummy had no idea. He has a lot on his palte, and a brutal schedule. But he stepped up and took responsibility for it..instead of blaming a staffer.. thta's why he's a great leader..
What really bothers me is that I have never seen or heard Hagel criticize any Democrat.
The fact of the matter is that Rumsfeld is head and shoulders above the three men who occupied that post for Clinton's eight years, and searching high and low for something as inane as an autopen signature to get one's panties in a wad is the height of hypocrisy. Especially when one ignores the good work DR has accomplished in his four years, even while saddled with fighting two wars. "Autopengate" is a tempest in a teapot. Bush, even with his DOD using the horrid "Autopen" still, somehow, MANAGED to get, what, about 75% of the military/veteran's vote?
No, the pantywaists who're attacking Rumsfeld for this are doing it for POLITICAL PURPOSES.
By the way, since the war has been going on for well over a year now, I hadn't heard ONE DAMN THING from the press about the use of the heartless AUTOPEN...and I hadn't heard ONE DAMN THING from a dead soldier's family about "degrading" it was to receive such a letter...(Oh, I'm sure we'll hear SCADS of them now, now that such "patriots" as Chuck Hagel have made it an issue!)...but, once the long knives came out for Rumsfeld, it was certain that some idiotic issue such as THIS would raise its ugly head.
I remember the same thing happened to a Supreme Court nominee being vetted by Ronald Reagan...I cannot recall his name now, but he admitted to "smoking pot" in college, and his candidacy was dead. Ridiculous.
Nice to know you've retracted your statement that this DOD should go, but I even MORE glad the President gave Rummy a vote of confidence in his press conference this afternoon.
did you ever come to a conclusion? ;-)
Hagel somehow thinks he can RUN for President in 2008, according to some reports. Lotsa luck with that, Hagel. I'll bust my butt to defeat him in the primaries. BIG TIME.
LOL! Thanks!
The President's vote of confidence is not going to insulate Rumsfeld from the criticism he is going to receive (and rightfully so) over the autopen incident. For the sake of the war effort, I hope that he is strong enough to bear it.
Rummy...STAY THE COURSE!
I don't buy it. A good leader doesn't fob responsibility off on a faceless staffer. And in Rumsfeld's defense, he owned up to his mistake and corrected it, an act which restored much of the respect I have for him.
I don't understand your reaction to this. It just stings a little that the press is making a big deal about it. I think expecting the president to sign the letters is fair. It's not unheard of. People on this website are always making a big deal about the troops. Signing the letters is the least they can do for the families. And I bet they are proof read a couple times too and yes, the families should be compensated and the letters absolutely should be on WH stationary. Most definately.
Yeah, that autopen incident really hinders his running of the Defense Department. I've seen so many people in the military complaining about it. </Imaginary world>
Big Time RIGHT ON GRAMPA PING!!
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