The only insult is that these idiots think the SecDev has nothing else to do except sign letters. Every CEO I ever worked for used a signer rather than sign his own letters.
This is simply more of the ACT group in action - pressing the families of KIA soldiers to ruffle feathers within this admin. Dispicable.
Being a conservative does not mean that we have to march lockstep and defend every incompetent that calls himself a conservative. Rumsfeld has shown himself to be incompetent, insensitive, blame thrower (casting aspersions at our Army for his failures) who's more interested in playing cutesy-pooh at his press conferences than he is in doing the expected tasks of the SecDef (signing the letters to the families takes but little of his "precious" time and shouldn't be an afterthought; this shows him for what he is, an arrogant Ivy Leaguer who dare not condescend to fuffill his job duties). Rumsfeld needs to show some previously unseen class, and resign.
Yes, many a CEO will write a personal letter, personally signed, to the family of an employee who was killed on the job. While the letter will be written so as not to create legal liability, the expression of sympathy is indeed personal--and frequently, the letter itself is handwritten. A person dies but once, and there is but one opportunity to express sympathy. But why should Rumsfeld fake caring when he does not?
The comparison to a CEO is ludicrous. We are not talking about a purchase request form here.
These are letters going to the family of service men who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country.
It takes 5 seconds to sign a letter.
Given the significance of the letter being sent, Rummy should either sign it himself, or don't send a letter at all.