|
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
My evidence comes from the news about Iraq, plain and simple. In just this latest matter, Rumsfeld admitted he didn't sign letters of condolence; how do you explain or justify this total lack of comprehension or caring on his part for the families of those who died valiantly carrying out his bizarre ideas for Iraq (the President can sign the letters, is it that Mr. Rumsfeld was just too busy cozying up to the press?) Its like what Jay Leno said, "Rumsfeld at his conference for the troops in Kuwait downplayed their need for armored vehicles. Then at the end of the conference, he climbed into his armored car and was driven to the airport|".
I'd say any comparisons between McNamara and Rumsfield are inane.
Having said that Rummy should not be sending out sutosigned letters of condolence.
I know why the RATs don't like Rummy, but RINOs? Those people are idiots!
They even admit that President Bush signed the same type of letters... the Commander in Chief, that in and of itself should be enough, but why not make everyone in the chain of command sign a freaking letter.
This is total bs.
I can tell you for sure they were not signed by hand by the Secy of Defense during WW II or Korea and certainly not in the Viet Nam War. They were mostly signed by the CO of the unit in which the casualty served.
Gosh, your addition to the handful who tote your mindset doesn't compare to the millions who tote the same mindset about the work required of you.
Are you trying to divert and mask your own shortfalls by any chance Mr. Hagel?
You really think signing the letters himself is an issue?
If this were WWII and we had a half million KIA, would you insist he sign them all?
Maybe it would mean more if Thor signed them, but I believe having Rummy doing his job rather than handing out autographs is more important to the soldiers.
Just my opinion....
Obviously, you are a proponent of degrading our efforts in Iraq.
No replacement could fit Rumsfelds shoes in what he has accomplished in these dire times however, the shouts from the media for his removal is apparently effective in guaranteeing a degraded performance in Iraq for the likes of YOU are falling for it.
......Mogadishu
Was that disrespectful enough of our troops?
Nobody is "making" anybody sign anything, least of all the President. But if Rumsfeld is going to send letters, they at the very least should have been signed by him personally. Doing anything else looks cheap and gives the impression that the sacrifice of wounded American soldiers rates nothing more than a form letter. I would have been baying for somebody's blood if this had happened during a Clinton administration.
I tried a little experiment a few minutes ago. I went to go find a white piece of paper and a pen, then wrote my signature on the paper, timing myself while doing so. Including the time it took me to find the piece of paper and the pen and a place to sit down, it took me 13 seconds to sign the piece of paper. If Donald Rumsfeld is so busy that he cannot devote 13 seconds to each wounded American troop who bled while following his orders, that is indicative of poor time management and failure to delegate his responsibilities, and he should be canned for that alone.
This is total bs.
I disagree. It is time for Rumsfeld to go.
|
What could be more "degrading" to our efforts in Iraq than a Secretary of Defense who won't spend a few seconds for each letter to personally sign his condolences to the families of the valiant soldiers killed for his policy? I KNOW you'd all be screaming if Clinton's people showed this total lack of caring and did this, I certainly WOULD -- lets show some consistencey, its only a few seconds of his precious time for the families of those who gave up their entire lives, often at the age of 18 or 19.
Yes, it is unfortunate that their similarities are "inane," as you say.
...and it took a lot of money to fill his big mouth, but he did it...
I can argue with the shill for the asgard, because we're "family" now, but if you do, you should know him as a terrific American I am honored to think of as a friend.
I still think that he should stay.
Why couldn't he sign the letters personally?
This is indefensible. It is time for Rumsfeld to go.Bird dookie!
The last few days I have thought about sending Rumsfeld a letter of support. I am sick of people like McCain and the DemoKrauts second-guessing Rumsfeld and Bush.
Today is a good day to send that email.
If anyone has his email addy, please send it. In the meantime, I'll be Google Searching for it myself.
Click HERE or on the pic
to hear the Rolling Thunder !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
Purge time in the Pentagon. A few flag officers who are too tight with the media need to be thrown under the bus. The good news is, Rumsfeld will not hesitate to do this. Civilian control of the military is an important principle. We can't have the Admirals and Generals conducting sub-surface warfare against the SecDef. 