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‘From the Desk of Donald Rumsfeld’

Posted on Nov 1, 2007

The Washington Post has obtained a number of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s “snowflakes,” curt memos fired off at a rate of up to 60 a day. The documents offer rare, unpolished insight into one of the principal architects of the Iraq war, who “argued that Muslims avoid ‘physical labor’ and wrote of the need to ‘keep elevating the threat,’ ‘link Iraq to Iran’ and develop ‘bumper sticker statements’ to rally public support for an increasingly unpopular war.”

Washington Post:

In a series of internal musings and memos to his staff, then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld argued that Muslims avoid “physical labor” and wrote of the need to “keep elevating the threat,” “link Iraq to Iran” and develop “bumper sticker statements” to rally public support for an increasingly unpopular war.

The memos, often referred to as “snowflakes,” shed light on Rumsfeld’s brusque management style and on his efforts to address key challenges during his tenure as Pentagon chief. Spanning from 2002 to shortly after his resignation following the 2006 congressional elections, a sampling of his trademark missives obtained yesterday reveals a defense secretary disdainful of media criticism and driven to reshape public opinion of the Iraq war.

Rumsfeld, whose sometimes abrasive approach often alienated other Cabinet members and White House staff members, produced 20 to 60 snowflakes a day and regularly poured out his thoughts in writing as the basis for developing policy, aides said. The memos are not classified but are marked “for official use only.”

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By Rex Chapman, November 3, 2007 at 1:22 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

How about a quote from another era? Sounds like the current policy to me.

Naturally the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

Hermann Goering

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By Gold Star Father, November 2, 2007 at 6:55 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Rummie. I still hate the SOB and I will forever.

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By Outraged, November 2, 2007 at 11:58 am #

“wrote of the need to keep elevating the threat, link Iraq to Iran and develop bumper sticker statements to rally public support for an increasingly unpopular war.”

While this was happening it was so incredulous. They kept spewing this stuff over and over until people starting “buying” it. I found it unbelieveable that so many just believed them, without any PROOF. Well, you can say one thing for his staff, they did their job. And they say they don’t work in Washington…..sure they do…..they work REALLY hard.

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By jatihoon, November 2, 2007 at 11:01 am #

America is surrounded by extremist alright, such s Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and Paul world Wolf O Witz.

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By anonymous, November 2, 2007 at 9:58 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

remember when everybody loved him… right after we won the war?

good times

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By mdruss42, November 2, 2007 at 9:26 am #

I am given to understand that Haliburton is indeed building more prisons/camps, but I suspect not to house the various and sundry criminals who have been running this country for these many years….but will house thee and me if we become too rowdy. And who will know the difference? We already have more people in prison than even China. WHEN DID WE BECOME SO LAWLESS? COULD IT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH LEARNING THAT LAWS ARE MADE TO KEEP US RIFF RAFF IN LINE BUT DO NOT APPLY TO OUR “BETTERS”? DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BREED DISRESPECT FOR “LAW AND ORDER”?

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By BushWacked, November 2, 2007 at 8:14 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

We let the war-criminals & mass-murderers run-free, picking the pockets of America. What a Country!

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By thomas billis, November 2, 2007 at 7:38 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

This Presidents appointments Gonzales and Rumsfeld in particular are the gifts that keep on giving.I hate the fact that these people were in actual positions to hurt my country and risk the lives of Americans children but all the bullshit has been torn away.If as Americans we want more of the same let one of those fundamentalists running on the Republican side win the Presidency.I always have plenty to say about the democrats but as compared to the crew on the other side they are God’s children.

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By mackTN, November 2, 2007 at 2:20 am #

Heckuva job, rummy.

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By Douglas Chalmers, November 1, 2007 at 10:43 pm #

These “official-use-only snowflakes” show that all the upper levels of the uSA’s administration including the bureaucracy, the politicians, the judiciary and the military are totally aligned to support the military-industrial complex in defeating the American people, uhh!

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By DennisD, November 1, 2007 at 9:15 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Why aren’t all these scumbags not in a Super Max somewhere for life, from the Scumbag-n-Chief on down?

Congress - you’re just as guilty for either going along with it, just watching it or not doing enough to stop it.

Put America back to work - build more prisons. Executions would be far too quick.

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