[LM_Guy]

This will earn me some flack from so, but I agree with McCain's assessment of DR. I think the bungling of the Iraq war by Rumsfeld is the #1 reason the GOP lost both control of Congress in 2006.

[Astronaut]

Who is McCain to criticize Rumsfeld? He was a lousy naval officer and wouldn't have gotten thru the academy if his dad and granddad weren't famous admirals. I have a better chance to be the GOP nominee than McCain does!

[kinoxi]

You blame Rumsfeld for the election losses?

[proudpapa]

Hmmm. Lincoln mismanaged the Civil War, yet he is regarded by many to be the greatest president ever.

I wonder if history will be as kind to Bush?

[Names Ash Housewares]

I think Lincoln made a few mistakes too.
I also think some folks got a sad education on how incredbliy evil islamo facism is and it depths.
AT least I hope they have that education now.
The democrats sure as hell did not learn anything at all. IF they arent even cheering for islamo facism now, it is hard to tell.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

I don't want my nominee criticizing our current President. Romney first, now McCain.

[ilgipper]

Screw McCain.

[ilgipper]

what exactly did Rumsfeld 'bungle'?

[leadpenny]

I'm not taking issue with your comment but I wonder how McCain, or anyone else, can blame the SECDEF and not the CinC?

[pissant]

Standing up an allied gov't in the heart of the ME is not for the fair weather patriots. As Rumsfeld noted, it's a long, hard slog.

[From One - Many]

mcinsane sounds just like hitlery.
It is difficult to tell the difference between mcinsane and hitlery. These two must be comparing notes.

[JacksonCalhoun]

More troops may have been the answer. However, when these more troops killed more civilians, and we had more dead (some 10-20K instead of 3-4K), which MSM skirt would McNut be hiding behind?

[ex-snook]

So don't blame me if Rummy was stupid.

[sgtbono2002]

Never let it be said that McCain wont smile at your face and shove a knife in your back.

When the mob shouts there is McCain shouting loudest.

This is the lout that wants us to trust him with the government of the United States. Run with the mob, take our Free Speech. Not me Hoss,

[roaddog727]

"but I agree with McCain's assessment of DR. I think the bungling of the Iraq war by Rumsfeld is the #1 reason the GOP lost both control of Congress in 2006."

Agreed here as well. And this is from inside knowledge on how Rumsfeld engaged his subordinates. I could elaborate at length on why we are now experiencing this insurgency.

However, it all stems from the fact that when the troop to task analysis was done and the RFF went up for SECDEF review/approval, no one could guarantee to 100% certainty that there would be an insurgency. As such, since the task of Suppress/destroy insurgency was was pulled of the valid tasking list, all the troops associated with the task were pulled as well. To the tune of 100K.

Oops......

[SaxxonWoods]

The only problem with McCain's assessment is the usual one:

There is no way to know what outcomes would have resulted from different tactics. Things might have gone better, or might have gone worse. Even with the benefit of hindsight, we cannot be certain of alternate outcomes.

For example, more troops might have totally turned off the Iraqi citizens, and they might not have turned out to vote, and might have joined the insurgency in greater numbers.

None of this matters now. Just like our own lives, we learn, adjust, move forward and succeed.

Or not.

Whether we think we can succeed, or think we can't, we are correct.

[FreedomCalls]

I think the bungling of the Iraq war by Rumsfeld is the #1 reason the GOP lost both control of Congress in 2006.

I don't think he was managing the war in order to win control of Congress, he was managing the war in order to win the War on Terror.

[macamadamia]

Now men......let me tell you how to fight a war.




Uh oh, the Barney Fife generals are out of their cubbyholes again. We better listen.

[LS]

I disagree. Rummy was one of the brightest SecDefs we've ever had, and is the reason we today aren't trying to fight a 21st century war with WW II tactics and weaponry.

[Leisler]

Like on 9/12 McCain or anyone else, or more reality base, any institution knew what we were getting into, and how to go about it.
Even at the end of WWII, we were grossly messing up. You could even say in Europe, that started( =/-) with the Soviet/Nazi invasion of Poland, and ended with eastern Europe in slavery, we screwed up.
We're in this for decades, maybe a hundred years. And, we better win it.

I don't care about the rest of the world, the Saudis, the Egyptians, even if human life still exist in the ME. Just so long as America survives and prospers. McCain is old, nasty and sleezy.

[Cementjungle]

McCain's mouth has been mismanaged for years.