Posted on 12/22/2004 8:51:38 PM PST by FairOpinion
If the left is to have any hope of undermining President Bush’s second term, it must continue its previous efforts to destroy the reputation of every worthwhile conservative in his cabinet. And no one is more likely to remain a target than Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. As the nation prepared for war in the immediate aftermath of 9-11, Rumsfeld’s candor and resolve, expressed daily during his press briefings, made him immensely popular among the American people. Among reporters, he was grudgingly tolerated along with the rampant flag-waving and other expressions of an America that was rising to meet its enemies head-on.
Few could credibly argue with his success during the War in Afghanistan, by which the repressive and barbaric Taliban regime was decimated. Furthermore, the al Qaeda network that had previously flourished there was largely dispersed and destroyed.
Barely a year later, Rumsfeld was victorious once again in the Iraqi campaign, toppling the Baathist party of Saddam Hussein. Eventually, Hussein himself was captured by American troops, and is presently awaiting trial under the new government of Iraq, once it is fully established.
However, during the months that had lapsed between 9-11 and the Iraq invasion, the counterculture had regained its anti-American footing, whereupon it once again engaged in unbridled criticism of every move by the Bush administration to shore-up national security. And once again, the blunt honesty of Rumsfeld made him a favorite target.
Throughout the eruption of the Abu Ghraib scandal, liberal pundits were undisguised in their gleeful hopes of attaching the controversy to Rumsfeld, with hopes of discrediting him and thus, the Bush Administration. But despite their incessant hysterics, he weathered that storm as well.
Recovering somewhat from the shock of this year’s elections, the left now seeks to reassert itself politically. And that means eroding public support for those issues that garnered major Republican victories this past November. Chief among them is the threat of Islamic terrorism, and America’s response to it.
As a result, liberals know they must diminish America’s victories in the Terror War. And that effort requires the neutralization of the most successful “warrior” of that campaign. So, once again, the spotlight is on Donald Rumsfeld.
In the past few weeks, a few events have coalesced to a sufficient degree that, in the minds of President Bush’s political antagonists, they constitute valid criticism of the Defense Secretary.
First, an American soldier stationed in Iraq, at the coaxing of an embedded news reporter, pointedly queried Rumsfeld during a “townhall meeting” regarding a supposed lack of armor for military vehicles. Meanwhile, back on the home front, it has been learned that Rumsfeld utilized a mechanical device to emplace his signature on letters to the families of fallen soldiers.
To nobody’s great surprise, the “me too” wing of the Republican Party quickly chimed in. Seeing blood in the water, Senator John McCain (R.-AZ) told the Associated Press that he has “no confidence” in Rumsfeld. Senator Susan Collins (R.-ME) a renowned Republican “moderate,” quickly followed suit, much to the jubilation of partisan Democrats and the media.
But despite the raucous cries of “foul” from liberal Democrats in both parties, the substance of their complaints is all but irrelevant when compared to Rumsfeld’s overall track record in office.
The mechanical replication of signatures by high-level officials is, in fact, standard practice in Washington. At worst, the entire situation can be termed “thoughtless.” The greater issue here is Rumsfeld’s successful and efficient prosecution of two major wars, and thus the many letters that never had to be written (or signed in any manner) in the first place.
As to the vehicle armor controversy, it is a fact of war that supply lines are occasionally strained, and that personnel often need to make do under less than ideal circumstances. But upon investigation, it turns out that the vehicle armor problem was totally blown out of proportion, with all but twenty of the eight hundred and thirty vehicles from the unit in question already fully armored.
Successes for the Bush administration, particularly as they relate to the War on Terror, will continue to be a detriment to the fortunes of the left. Liberals will remain in the despicable position of needing to undermine those successes in order to have any hope of gaining political traction and credibility.
This, above all else, is at the root of their attacks on Rumsfeld. Therefore, it is equally crucial that America remains steadfastly in support of him.
We need to point that out to people also.
I do.
By attacking Rumsfeld, the left is indeed trying to undermine our War on Terror, but very few people come out and say that truth, that the left wants to terrorists to win, against the US, just to get back into power.
And they wonder, why people don't consider them patriotic.
But upon investigation, it turns out that the vehicle armor problem was totally blown out of proportion, with all but twenty of the eight hundred and thirty vehicles from the unit in question already fully armored.
You won't read that in The New York Times.
The whole thing was a lie, to attack Rumsfeld.
**Wilson's Armor Question Unfounded! 800 of the 830 Vehicles were Armored!**
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1307029/posts
I'll be the first to say it. I see these things so clearly, I wonder why others don't see it that way.
People don't dare say it, out of political correctness, so the left won't call them "meanspirited". :(
But the truth about the left's agenda should be shouted from the rooftops, so those in the middle, who don't follow events and lies closely would hear it and stop voting for them.
Great Article PING.
bttt
That's what I try to do everytime I have the chance.
www.gopusa.com/activist/petitions
Online Activist -- Rumsfeld Petition
Support Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
President Bush has reaffirmed his faith in Donald Rumsfeld by asking him to remain in his cabinet for his second term. We stand with our president and the leadership of the Republican Party who have expressed their confidence in Secretary Rumsfeld.
We express our steadfast support for Sec. Rumsfeld, and we urge President Bush to reject any efforts by the media, liberal detractors, or disloyal Republicans to push for Rumsfeld's resignation or ouster. In times of war, there is no place for playing politics with the Department of Defense.
>> Sign the Petition!
Did anyone see Katie Kouric interview Schwarzkopf yesterday? As soon as the issue of the Mess Hall not being "hardened" came up she latched on to it like a tick on a dog.
I think Katie will be one of the most likely to have Hillaryasms during the 08 campaign.
This is why I like Rumsfeld (Quote from a press conference during the Afghanistan Campaign:
REPORTER:
What are you trying to do with those bunker busters?
RUMSFELD:
Kill people.
REPORTER:
I meant what do you hope to find when you go to the place you dropped the bombs?
RUMSFELD:
Dead people.
We don't have Gen. George Patton, but we have Rumsfeld, thank God.
Have you noticed how Kristrol kisses McCain's butt? He's done it for years.
Fortunately, Rumsfeld's only org-chart superior appreciates his cantankerous excellence. When Andy Card was briefing President Bush about the World in some Fall 2002 early morning meeting, he mentioned that the French, Germans, Belgians and their obsequious servants at State were apoplectic that the Secretary of Defense had labelled the above creeps as "Old Europe". It is rumored that W looked up from his papers, flashed that "smirk" that sends DUmmies (especially the quasi-males) into hysterical labor, and said "Good for him!" Next! LOL
There is a book that must be written, but it has more than one author. Without Rumsfeld the Biography of Bush would not be complete and History would judge him harshly.
Tough minded people often attract hostile press. Rummy is not going anywhere. I think that is a good money bet.
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