Posted on 11/09/2006 2:19:06 AM PST by John Carey
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the icon of the U.S. war on Islamic terrorists, succumbed to mounting pressure to resign, allowing the Bush administration to begin examining a new course on the bogged-down Iraq war where the American death toll exceeds 2,800. Appearing with President Bush at the White House yesterday, Mr. Rumsfeld referred to his many critics on Iraq by paraphrasing a hero, Winston Churchill: "I have benefited greatly from criticism, and at no time have I suffered a lack thereof." He then talked of "this little understood, unfamiliar war," a conflict the Pentagon has dubbed "the long war" because of the time it will take to dismantle al Qaeda worldwide. "The first war of the 21st century is not well-known, it was not well-understood, it is complex for people to comprehend," he said. Mr. Bush, appearing the day after many Americans registered a protest vote against his Iraq policy, said, "As the secretary of defense, he has been dedicated to his mission, loyal to his president and devoted to the courageous men and women of our armed forces." He was flanked by his the defense secretary-designate, former CIA Director Robert M. Gates, who will take a fresh look at Iraq policy. White House press secretary Tony Snow told The Washington Times that Mr. Bush and Mr. Rumsfeld had been talking about future operations in Iraq for months, but he did not know who first raised the issue of the departure. "It wasn't like, 'come see the principal,' " Mr. Snow said, who noted Mr. Rumsfeld had offered twice to resign two years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Rumsfeld has done his duty; it's time for him to take five and enjoy some good brandy.
If he would have stayed, which he could have, the socialists would have had him at hearing after hearing and harrassed him to his grave. To them, Rumsfeld is the enemy.
Unless the Democrats come up with a pro-war/anti-terrorist strategy immediately, our troops are going to be suffering increased deaths very soon.
I expect a book from Rummy in the near future ripping some in the Bush administration. Possibly before the 2008 election.
I have come to the realization that these fools are never going to understand that this country is under fire and that we are at war with a enemy that is not going away.
This is not your granddaddy's war.
My liberal sister is happy. But, she has three questions to answer:
a. Are the Islamic terrorists, the ones who are killing innocent children, women and men, bad people who should be stopped?
b. What makes her think that they will stop in Iraq?
c. In response to no answer to b, repeat a.
Complete and utter rubbish, he was responsible for making sure we had no real phase 4 plan to put into operation.
I wish those who support the war in Iraq took time out to actually understand what happened and what is happening out there.
Donald’s plan was go in take out Saddam get out.
The Military and Intelligence both told him that it would not happen like that, and that we needed to plan for phase 4 operations, he said NO NO NO.
Well I am on my third tour out there hardly get in and get out.
We had a window of opportunity which we were not allowed to take advantage of, because of Rumsfeld.
In the Military we have a hierarchy that means as a Sergeant I follow the orders of a Junior Officer, but although he is my CO if he has sense he will listen to what I have to say based on experience.
Rumsfeld refused to it was his way or no way.
If you want to debate t6his I will happily take you through the whole operation detailing where Rumsfeld refused to listen and the aftermath of that refusal
Standing up to whom, the terrorist or his own military advisors.
I need to find the link. Apparently there was a review internally, headed by Baker and Rummy was going to get beat up (because he tried to restructure the Pentagon).
Back soon
So do I, I look forward to the bit where he said that after Saddam it will be plain sailing and that there will be no need to put a phase 4 COIN plan into action so don't even prepare one, because the American people don't want to know.
I don't doubt you but might I ask how you get info as to the inner goings on of the DoD, I'd like to get in that loop.
That is a very sad thing to say, have you not read the news about Iraq right from the start, have you not taken a real interest.
Maybe as someone who took part in the initial and subsequent COIN ops I have a real interest in this
At the beginning during the planning stage there were enough stories in the press on TV about whether we needed a phase 4, what should we do with the Iraqi Army what were are plans for Iraq once we toppled Saddam.
I don’t know how long you have been freeping, but I was talking about this before we went into Iraq. Tell you what google Donald Rumsleld and goodle phase 4..
Sorry if I sound angry at you, but if those who say they support the troops don’t know the reality then how the hell can we mobilise the rest of the population
Rumsfeld had it, and has it, right!
Mr. Rumsfeld referred to his many critics on Iraq by paraphrasing a hero, Winston Churchill: "I have benefited greatly from criticism, and at no time have I suffered a lack thereof."
He then talked of "this little understood, unfamiliar war," a conflict the Pentagon has dubbed "the long war" because of the time it will take to dismantle al Qaeda worldwide.
If you want to take the info you get from the NYT or even WND as gospel then by all means do so, but perhaps you should state as much as at least a few of us here don't believe a word of them. If, on the other hand, you were in the meetings and can report first hand that's another matter. That doesn't seem to be the case.
You don't sound angry, you sound like you're been reading too much MSM and believe every word of it in which case you have zero credibility from this long time Freeper.
That is a pile of bollox. Most of my information is military mainly from being a long time serving member of the British Army
Don’t like the message, it must be wrong.
Ok lets do this one question at a time.
Did we have a phase 4 plan yes or no
"Maybe I'm wrong, but why wait until the day AFTER the election to quit?"
President Bush said the two reached the decision jointly some time ago. They didn't want the troops in Iraq to think that leadership would sway for political gain, so Bush kept Rumsfeld on board (likely to the detriment to the Republicans) until after the elections.
http://da.mod.uk/defac/publications/Alywn-Foster%20SHP%202005.pdf
Not joining in on the disagreement here, but on a lark googled up COIN a few different ways and came up with the pdf link above. Rather interesting. It's from the British ministry of Defense on COIN ops in Iraq.
He can start with those a^^holes Armitage and Powell.
I think that there will be a massive increase in the number of US troops, directed by the new SOD.
Maybe we can it Operation Iraqi Freedom II (When Democrats invade Iraq), only this time instead of setting up a democracy we can put another despot in power.
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.