Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rush Limbaugh Live Thread Tuesday Nov 21st, 2006
RushLimbaugh.com ^ | 11-21-2006

Posted on 11/21/2006 8:30:44 AM PST by MNJohnnie

Rumsfeld

By Douglas Feit Sunday, November 19, 2006

Much of what you know about Donald Rumsfeld is wrong.

I know, because I worked intimately with him for four years, from the summer of 2001 until I left the Pentagon in August 2005.

Through countless meetings and private conversations, I came to learn his traits, frame of mind and principles -- characteristics wholly at odds with the standard public depiction of Rumsfeld, particularly now that he has stepped down after a long, turbulent tenure as defense secretary, a casualty of our toxic political climate.

I want to set the record straight: Don Rumsfeld is not an ideologue. He did not refuse to have his views challenged. He did not ignore the advice of his military advisers. And he did not push single-mindedly for war in Iraq. He was motivated to serve the national interest by transforming the military, though it irritated people throughout the Pentagon.

Rumsfeld's drive to modernize created a revealing contrast between his Pentagon and the State Department -- where Colin Powell was highly popular among the staff. After four years of Powell's tenure at State, the organization chart there would hardly tip anyone off that 9/11 had occurred -- or even that the Cold War was over.

Rumsfeld is a bundle of paradoxes, like a fascinating character in a work of epic literature. And as my high school teachers drummed into my head, the best literature reveals that humans are complex. They are not the all-good or all-bad, all-brilliant or all-dumb figures that inhabit trashy novels and news stories. Fine literature teaches us the difference between appearance and reality.

Because of his complexity, Rumsfeld often is misread. His politics are deeply conservative but he was radical in his drive to force change in every area he oversaw. He is strong-willed and hard-driving but he built his defense strategies and Quadrennial Defense Reviews on calls for intellectual humility.

Those of us in his inner circle heard him say over and over again: Our intelligence, in all senses of the term, is limited. We cannot predict the future. We must continually question our preconceptions and theories. If events contradict them, don't suppress the bad news; rather, change your preconceptions and theories.

If an ideologue is someone to whom the facts don't matter, then Rumsfeld is the opposite of an ideologue. He insists that briefings for him be full of facts, thoughtfully organized and rigorously sourced. He demands that facts at odds with his key policy assumptions be brought to his attention immediately. "Bad news never gets better with time," he says, and berates any subordinate who fails to rush forward to him with such news. He does not suppress bad news; he acts on it.

Rumsfeld's drive to overhaul the Pentagon -- to drop outdated practices, programs and ideas -- antagonized many senior military officers and civilian officials in the department. He pushed for doing more with less. He pushed for reorganizing offices and relationships to adapt to a changing world. After 9/11, he created the Northern Command (the first combatant command that included the U.S. homeland among its areas of responsibility), a new undersecretary job for intelligence and a new assistant secretary job for homeland defense.

Seeking to improve civil-military cooperation, Rumsfeld devised new institutions for the Pentagon's top civilian and military officials to work face to face on strategic matters and new venues for all of them to gather a few times a year with the combatant commanders. He also conceived and pushed through a thorough revision of how U.S. military forces are based, store equipment, move and train with partners around the world -- something that was never done before in U.S. history.

On Iraq, Rumsfeld helped President Bush analyze the dangers posed by Saddam Hussein's regime. Given Saddam's history -- starting wars; using chemical weapons against foreign and domestic enemies; and training, financing and otherwise supporting various terrorists -- Rumsfeld helped make the case that leaving him in power entailed significant risks.

But in October 2002, Rumsfeld also wrote a list of the risks involved in removing Saddam from power. (I called the list his "parade of horribles" memo.) He reviewed it in detail with the president and the National Security Council. Rumsfeld's warnings about the dangers of war -- including the perils of a post-Saddam power vacuum -- were more comprehensive than anything I saw from the CIA, State or elsewhere. Rumsfeld continually reminded the president that he had no risk-free option for dealing with the dangers Saddam posed.

Historians will sort out whether Rumsfeld was too pushy with his military, or not pushy enough; whether he micromanaged Ambassador L. Paul Bremer and the Coalition Provisional Authority, or gave them too much slack. I know more about these issues than most people, yet I don't have all the information for a full analysis. I do know, however, that the common view of Rumsfeld as a close-minded man, ideologically wedded to the virtues of a small force, is wrong.

Rumsfeld had to resign, I suppose, because our bitter and noxious political debate of recent years has turned him into a symbol. His effectiveness was damaged. For many in Congress and the public, the Rumsfeld caricature dominated their view of the Iraq war and the administration's ability to prosecute it successfully. Even if nominee Robert Gates pursues essentially the same strategies, he may garner more public confidence.

What Rumsfeld believed, said and did differs from the caricature. The public picture of him today is drawn from news accounts reflecting the views of people who disapproved of his policies or disliked him. Rumsfeld, after all, can be brutally demanding and tough.

But I believe history will be more appreciative of him than the first draft has been. What will last is serious history, which, like serious literature, can distinguish appearance from reality.

Douglas J. Feith, a professor at Georgetown University, served as undersecretary of defense for policy from 2001 to 2005.


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: kingtalker; rushlimbaugh; talkradio; theroadback
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200 ... 341-358 next last
Comment #161 Removed by Moderator

To: kcbc2001
And even if you'd never seen an episode before, it was still utterly predictable!

That's why I really like the shows like 24, Lost, Heroes, etc. You never know what will happen next, and a real story unfolds over the season.

162 posted on 11/21/2006 9:51:05 AM PST by American Quilter (You can't negotiate with people who are dedicated to your destruction.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: Clint N. Suhks

I call for pizza.


163 posted on 11/21/2006 9:51:52 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 159 | View Replies]

To: Jo Nuvark

I think Richards' is fundamentally a conservative because he betrayed his frustration at how stuck on stupid the Katrina blacks were. But he still doesn't recognize that liberalism is a handicap.

The blame for Katrina lies squarely on Liberalim... not Bush!


164 posted on 11/21/2006 9:52:21 AM PST by Jo Nuvark (Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse Israel will be cursed. Gen 12:3)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: ChicagoConservative27

165 posted on 11/21/2006 9:52:45 AM PST by Clint N. Suhks (If you don't love Jesus, you can go to hell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 163 | View Replies]

To: Jo Nuvark
Michael Richards is only sorry he destroyed his career. It's about money.

Shame on him!

The sea was angry that day my friends... like a washed up old comic trying to be funny saying racial epithets.

166 posted on 11/21/2006 9:53:23 AM PST by Darth Republican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie
Michael Richards attended the Washington state college, Evergreen.

That college is to the left of such places as UC Santa Cruz and Berkley.

167 posted on 11/21/2006 9:53:27 AM PST by llevrok (You can't plant the seed of freedom by pulling out early !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jo Nuvark

Hi Jo! How's your new house coming?


168 posted on 11/21/2006 9:54:08 AM PST by American Quilter (You can't negotiate with people who are dedicated to your destruction.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 164 | View Replies]

Comment #169 Removed by Moderator

To: llevrok
That college is to the left of such places as UC Santa Cruz and Berkley.

That's not easy to do!

170 posted on 11/21/2006 9:54:57 AM PST by American Quilter (You can't negotiate with people who are dedicated to your destruction.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 167 | View Replies]

To: LibertyisSpecial

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, LiS!


171 posted on 11/21/2006 9:55:59 AM PST by American Quilter (You can't negotiate with people who are dedicated to your destruction.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 169 | View Replies]

To: rodguy911

Victor Davis Hanson is on Hugh Hewitt every now and then.

http://www.hughhewitt.com


172 posted on 11/21/2006 9:57:08 AM PST by IslandJeff (FR mail me to be added to the Type I Diabetes ping list)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies]

To: llevrok
Speaking of lefties, film director Robert Altman is dead at 81.

He chose to die in the USA apparently.

173 posted on 11/21/2006 9:57:58 AM PST by Darth Republican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 167 | View Replies]

To: American Quilter

Hi AQ...

Nice to see you today. You're looking lovely as ever.

We fired our contractor yesterday and hired a new one. Unfortunately we need to get some money back from the first one. Hope it won't be a problem.

What are you planning for Thanksgiving.

...Bon


174 posted on 11/21/2006 9:58:49 AM PST by Jo Nuvark (Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse Israel will be cursed. Gen 12:3)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 168 | View Replies]

To: Jo Nuvark

Michael Richards didn't just jump the shark...

He filleted it, barbecued it, and put the head on as a hat while singing "It's a Small World After All".


175 posted on 11/21/2006 9:59:00 AM PST by nhoward14
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: LibertyLee

Having heard Snerdley when he had his own show on WABC radio on Sunday nights.......I assure you Snerdley would be an awesome guest host. Great voice, great intellect, and a great sense of humor too.


176 posted on 11/21/2006 10:00:33 AM PST by OldFriend (FALLEN HERO JEFFREY TOCZYLOWSKI, REST IN PEACE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 130 | View Replies]

To: American Quilter

I emailed the program director at WABC radio and asked they he give Mark Steyn his own show. Hah, no answer! LOL...


177 posted on 11/21/2006 10:01:40 AM PST by OldFriend (FALLEN HERO JEFFREY TOCZYLOWSKI, REST IN PEACE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 123 | View Replies]

To: nhoward14

What is jump the shark?


178 posted on 11/21/2006 10:02:34 AM PST by StoneWall Brigade (Rick Santorum And Newt Gingrich08!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 175 | View Replies]

To: OldFriend
Is Snerdley a British name?
179 posted on 11/21/2006 10:03:06 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 176 | View Replies]

To: LibertyLee

You can count on MSNBC being there as an inkind donation to the DNC. They give more free campaign adverts for the dems than any other station. Close second to CNN who now has Glenn Beck to balance the rest of their pitiful programming.


180 posted on 11/21/2006 10:03:07 AM PST by OldFriend (FALLEN HERO JEFFREY TOCZYLOWSKI, REST IN PEACE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200 ... 341-358 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson