Rumsfeldt could probably give 70 or 80 million reasons why he was right and can retire with no cause for remorse.  Each one has a picture of George Washington and a ONE on it.  If squash and golf are too boring, some corporate friends will welcome him back and help him accumulate a few more million reasons to feel right.  The Legacy?  Those trust accounts should take care of things for several generations.  And when Gates blinks at journalists and says he “cannot remember” something, conservatives will miss Rummy’s sarcasm and skill at “kicking the dog press” when a war goes bad.  When in doubt, always attack and ridicule the questioner.

In order to see other references for the picture, Google “Iraqi President Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld, December 20, 1983.” There’s a bunch.  Whether President Hussein would have supported U. S. policy goals in any way is immaterial.  Leaving him in power would have at least denied Iran leverage in Iraq, and may have cramped their style on the way to becoming the principal power in the region.  Our measly 140,000 troops, only half of whom are assigned to combat missions, cannot even enforce security in Iraq, let alone impose U. S. dominance in the area.  The McCain concept, apparently being considered by the Pentagon, of adding sufficiently more troops to secure Baghdad is hugely flawed:  It will look to the Iraqis like an extension of the occupation, triggering more insurgency, and it will set us up for a Viet Nam style debacle if it fails.  It’s a lot easier to get 140,000 troops out than 200,000 under full retreat.  We have to get out anyway, ultimately, and putting more troops in harms way now only encourages the current Iraq administration to continue dragging its feet in assuming responsibility for its own security and that of the Iraqi people.

We could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble if we’d vaporized the entire Middle East on Sep 12, 2001, thus ending the threat posed by the ‘Religion of Pieces’ once & for all.

“He did a “heck of a job” for us.”

Wasn’t that the same expression Bush used to compliment Michael Brown, the former head of FEMA?  So does that mean that Rumsfeld handled the Iraq War as competently as, Michael Brown, managed FEMA during the Katrina disaster?

I think all of this criticism of Rummy is untoward.

He did a “heck of a job” for us.

“U.S. supported Iraq when it had weapons of mass
destruction...”

The U.S. SOLD weapons of mass destruction to Iraq.

The U.S. the the LARGEST supplier of arms to the world.

Has anyone ever looked at the theory that the war on Iraq was launched because Saddam announced he would price all oil exports in Euros, once the UN sanctions were lifted? Major threat to value of US dollar, war launched? I know it smells like a conspiracy theory, but it stands up as well as the simplistic slogan that “It’s all about oil”.
In any case, if you believe either theory, the you have to admit that total failure is the outcome - dollar well down against the Euro, Iraqi oil supply down to pre-war production levels, while the price per barrel is about $60, up from an average of $20.
As policy failures go, highly dramatic and very expensive! And after all this, another two years of the same? Two sayings;"When you are in a hole, stop digging”, while with reference to the Iraq Study Group;"Why buy a dog and then do your own barking?”

Funny that.  He didn’t talk about torture.  Whether he advocated it or not, he approved it.  That should be another feather in his cap.  Innovative, state of the art, the new American century created by Donald Rumsfeld.  But he said nothing.  Where is his pride?  Where is his vision?  Where is his legacy?  To leave out torture as one of his accomplishments is incomprehensible.

I understand that “accomodations” are still available at:

http://www.corr.ca.gov/Visitors/fac_prison_SQ.html

More Clorox is still NEEDED within the Republican House and Senate.  Any donations?  I know 267
mothers and fathers that might be contributing.

Most Sincerely,
Concerned Mother
------------------------------------------

Email: Abramoff Associate Urged Funds for GOP Sen. Who “Never Said No”
By Paul Kiel - December 14, 2006, 3:07 PM

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002076.php

Interesting question Heff. Googling does not provide any captions for the image, although the soundless video of the event shows that your guy gets to grip Saddam’s bloody palm next. (The only reason his palm was bloody was because of what wiped off Rummy’s mitt. Saddam was notably fastidious and always wore latex gloves when murdering an opponent with his own hands.)

A little-known feature of that photo was the man to SADDAM’s left. It was the young Kim Jong Il, there to attend an early meeting of the Axis of Evil Lawn Bowling Association. The Iranians tried to send a delegate, but since the Iran-Iraq War was still on, Saddam had him killed at the border crossing…

Excellent stuff, Scheer’s always is. We know at a minimum, we’ve got two more years of disaster in Iraq. The recent election won’t change this; the Iraq Study Group report won’t. That incompetent idiot Bush still thinks victory is possible. Whoever wins the presidency in 08 inherits this disaster, which may be much worse than it now is.
What are we going to do about this, right now and in the upcoming months? I’ve opposed this war since before it was launched. In public, in print and evey other way I know, along with other intelligent Americans. I held my nose in November and voted Democrat, and all the rest. And none of this has had any effect whatsoever on American invovlement in Iraq. What are we going to do now?

I love these comments...I love this website and all it stands for.

Please, please and please, use capitol letters and correct punctuation.  Make us look as smart as we are.

Thanks

The war started for diverse reasons. Cheney and his cronies wanted the oil. The neocons want world domination, and Bush wanted to show his Daddy that he was a better man. Also george “the lessor” was told that great leaders are known by the wars that they win. Collectively, they all have one thing in common, they are all truly insane. Now what did you say about abortion?

“Scheer certainly has the Dumsfeld speech idiosyncracies down—asking yourself silly questions that you then answer, and uttering exclamations that sound like they came from the mouth of a Midwestrern milkmaid circa 1910. But Dummy’s such a parody of himself that it’s easy to ape him.”

Bukko--you’re always so clever!

Who is the guy to rummy’s left in the background?

I’m impressed with these comments and Mr. Scheer’s writings. I’m afraid the masses are shy and do not like the truth and hence, they avoid reading about it. This is an excellent and informative website and I will try to inform others of it. The remarks above were very inventive about no “child-like leader left behind”. Also the remark about you go to war with the defense secretary you have, not the defense secretary you want. Some very sharp and clever readers here. Keep up the good fight!

I read colums everyday that blame Georgie and his pals for the mess we are in. It’s time to wake up people. These miscreants reflect only what we have become as a Nation. Selfish, arrogant and ignorant to the reality that we are consuming ourselves and that in-order to maintain the level of consumption that we have been lead to believe is God’s blessing and is essential to our survival. Well, someone has to be oppresed. It’s called the law of the jungle. In my humble opinion, the only way to make this world a more conginial place to live is to share the wealth and to start treating ourselves as neighbors and to stop being meerly consumers of products. We must live in harmony with each other and it begins by changing our behavior and attitude towards the world around us. Finally,in order to get out of this hole we must get rid of the shovel.

ACLU Challenges Government Attempt to Seize “Secret” Document (12/13/2006)

Unprecedented Grand Jury Subpoena Seeks to Confiscate Document; ACLU Files Motion to Quash in New York Court

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/27647prs20061213.html

gotta spread democracy at the point of maiming the world with your bombs and lies.where will it all end?

Scheer certainly has the Dumsfeld speech idiosyncracies down—asking yourself silly questions that you then answer, and uttering exclamations that sound like they came from the mouth of a Midwestrern milkmaid circa 1910. But Dummy’s such a parody of himself that it’s easy to ape him. One of these days the grinning killer might be funny, after the last drop of blood has decomposed in the sand…

Re comment 42018:

I’m afraid Louis is probably on to something.  However, an investigative reporter has already dug into this.  For more info go to googletv and search Greg Palast.

I will start with the third paragraph. Rumsfeld
acknowledges that Saddam is a killer. Why didn’t
he acknowledge that he was an ACCESSORY. In the
Article America aided Saddam’s dictatorship.
U.S. supported Iraq when it had weapons of mass
destruction, invaded when it didn’t. by Robert
Scheer: It was Rumsfeld and Shultz who told
Saddam, and his emissaries that U.S. statements
generally condemning the use of chemical weapons
would not interfere with relations between sec-
ular Iraq and the Reagan administration which
took Iraq off the terrorist nation list. There
is a heck of a lot of folk that want Old Sad-
dam’s neck stretched, so he won’t be around to
testify against them. At some point I believe
there has to be some trials. Some people are
bad mouthing Speaker Elect Pelosi because she
said EMPEACHMENT is off the table. That was a
VERY,VERY,VERY SMART move. Anyone that doubt
this ask yourself this question. Would SIXTY
SEVEN (67) senators vote YEA. Well thats what
it would take 2/3rds MAJORITY. He can be got
later. Before the War Bush, Cheney, Rice,
Rumsfeld and others said they knew Saddam had
WMD’s. Do you know how come they were so pos-
itive. The U.S. had given them to him in the
EIGHTIES, However he crossed them up. He des-
troyed them.

As you know, we went to war with the Defense Secretary we had, not the Defense Secretary we wanted.

scheer’s take on what goes on in rummy’s head is funny, and full of the horseshit down-home rummy-isms we’re so familiar with. but at the end, and i don’t mean just this piece, i still keep asking myself, what the hell were these neo-con nitwits thinking? not why they did what they did. it wasn’t for the stated reasons, for sure. but regardless of their motives, how could they be so clueless, blind to the catastrophic consequences they were about to unleash? daddy bush didn’t go into baghdad for a reason, and that was just as obvious in 2002 as it was in gulf 1. and yet, they seem to have convinced themselves that by the end of 2003 US troop presence would be down to 30k, and iraq would be a happy and harmonious society living under bremer’s 100 edicts. of course, you couldn’t get on TV before the invasion to warn of the disaster to come. so while i think it’s fair to blame bush, cheney, rumsfeld, et al, we have an entire media and political establishment either complicit or compliant in this sordid business—and for the most part, they’re still doing the same thing they’ve been doing. rumsfeld’s sideshow is just a distraction while the real action goes on elsewhere.

“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” - Voltaire

Read these books if you can find them now.

The Secret History of How The White House Illegally Armed Iraq ‘The SpidersWeb’ by
Alan Friedman 1993

Confessions Of An Economic Hitman by John Perkins

The Creature From Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin

George Bush: The Unauthorized Biography by
Webster G. Tarpley & Anton Chaitkin

If you did’nt know there are over 800 concentration camps and more being built for us citizens after we lose our jobs, homes, and savings to these evil tyrants.

Enjoy your holidays, but never be home during the holidays.

He was born to lie ! Just throw him into septic tank.

Louis Stroud - I think you might be on to something as to the reason why.
I’ve wondered about this since day one.
I put it down to Bush family seeking revenge.
What is clear to me, is the country was lied to. I noticed during the whole build up to this “war”, each few weeks a new “reason” was trotted out, as if to gauge what degree it moved the public , then they finally rallied around “weapons of mass destruction” (hard to argue against pending nuclear destruction isn’t?)
I think if your planning on a war ,the reason/s would be clear and cogent? (if the motives are honorable ?) no?
Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld?… Hold the Republican party as a whole, responsible for all of this.
They anointed this simpleton as their standard bearer.
Bush’s character was made more than clear in the sleazy episode during the 2000 primaries. When the whole push-poll business came to light, in regards to John McCain.
These are not actions of honorable people or a party which has a sense of honor. (need I sight the Tennessee Senate race) for a recent example?
Now in this past election cycle we see the Republican rats ....fleeing a ship taking on water.....a ship of their own construction held together by lies and deviousness.
Don’t just grab the Captain or the Navigator ...as the whole mutinous crew scrambles by, to corrupt yet another day.
Say what you want about Harry Truman, on this point he was wise. He ran against the Republican Party as much as he did against any single opponent.
That it should become shorthand for corruption and sleaze, to call one a “Republican” , then and only then, would anything noble come from these last disastrous six years.

The Last Smart Move

American public is facing a dilemma that they cast off the Neocons and their policies on Iraq War and throw them out of senate and house of representative; but, Still they could not see a stop, on the run of Neocons policies on ground in Iraq.

Conservative executive power in the shape of president is likely to remain in tact for another two years. All other Neocons zealots after having relinquished and relieved of their responsibilities of government offices are totally free. Their ‘policy of fallacy and deception’ can be still found at its full swing and arrogance is as high as ever. Knowing it to be such that they are now doomed for a considerable time to come. They have very conveniently shifted their gears to ‘last smart move’ and many fact finding bodies like; Iraq study groups (that we are facing now) and few other such like wheels; have been put in motion. ISG is the first move of the many such upcoming series. This first move; as a start; has successfully deviated, the public attention and engaged the public as well as media in wasteful and superfluous trivial discussions.

We have also witnessed the unabashed display of utter arrogance thrust in, at last week Bush- Blair news conference. It is very much evident that status quo in Iraq will be maintained. There will be additional escalation of anarchy and chaos for Iraqis. No such thing as with drawl of troops or any cession in the atrocities inflicted by the troops to defenceless Iraqis at the moment. Rather we may be finding; more troops sent to Iraq.(More body bags) This way; next year will pass and there comes a New Year 2008 and new president will be sworn in (from the Democrats); to reap a colossal American defeat in his/her name!

What a smart move to escape the consequences!
----------------------------------
Love for all, Hatred for none

9/11 whips up public hysteria. We wipe out the Taliban in Afghanastan. Good. While there is some hysteria left we go into Iraq. Why? We are told it is because they have WMD and they might use them against us. Wrong! The weapons inspectors were destroying the last of the weapons we had given Sadam while he was fighting our enemy Iran.
It is time for criminal charges to be made. Extradite Rummy to Germany where he is being charged with war crimes. Investigate the president and all his criminal cronies. Do not let them off th hook!

And now it’s official: Saudis Say They Might Back Sunnis if U.S. Leaves Iraq
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/13/world/middleeast/13s audi.html?_r=1&th&emc;=th

The Saudis “might” provide financial backing to Iraqi Sunnis? The Saudi government already hides behind their millionaire class that finance the Sunnis insurgency. And did/do they not finance bin Laden too?

This administration’s effective thinktank was not only ignored, it was dictated against. The whole Bush circus would be comical were it not so destructive and costly to the American, Afghan and Iraqi people.

Even FAREED ZAKARIA on John Stewart last night indicated Bush needs therapy. Why doesn’t Capitol Hill listen to our great intellects? Like student placement, doesn’t it seem elemental that our leaders pass tests in people management, fiscal duty, religion, world history, basic science and even psychology before allowed into office of significant responsibility? After all, we test the efficacy of school children.

We could call the new program, “No Child-Like Leader Left Behind.”

Rummy had to visit the troops. It is part of his job. That is what they do.

We have had a military industrial complex for a long time (since slightly before the dawn of the industrial age).

There are those who believe, rightly or wrongly, that to maintain our freedoms we must control our share of the world’s resources, we must maintain supply lines of raw materials like metals and oil and food to maintain a cozy existence. History shows us that that and religion is what all wars are about.

Generations of military doctrine drive people like Rummy and those who lead this country. Dealing with enemies, betraying allies, spying, subterfuge, asassinations, government overthrows, etc. etc. is human legacy.

Soldiers know this. Rummy has to defend his and his country’s honor to the end—I think Rummy will never write an apologetic book during his final years.

He and other military leaders along with politicos like the Bush family must maintain a state of “We have to do what we do for the sake of our country no matter the cost” in their heads or they will appear weak to their peers and to themselves.

Perhaps they are right. Perhaps Malthus is right. I hope not.

After reading this piece, I actually wonder whether or not Rumsfeld is capable of even thinking like this....

when will people finally realize the real reason that the bushies went to war in iraq?, not sure? ok, here it is--- saddam hussein was soon to to get off of u.n. sanctions, meaning that he could sell all the oil he wanted to, and who was the leader of all these sanctions?, look it up. i’ll help you, u.s. oil interests.so, sadam would have flooded the crude market with billions of bbls. of crude thereby lowering the price of oil, and cutting the profit of american big oil, also the saudi’s as well, so now do you see the conspiracy? lets get a really sharp investigative reporter on this and i’m sure you will find this as the real answer as to why so many lives have been wasted on this absurd, stupid war, look at the background of bush and cheney and you will surely see the connection.

It really is that INSANE. It will get even better when Saddam is brought back into power to restore “order”. Great job Rummy, you must sleep well at night with all those frequent flier miles.

Questions are a burden to others; Answers are a prison for oneself.

May the Truth in Truthdig resound in our ears.  Thank you for another funny yet sadly true article Bob!

As normal Bob Scheer tells it with clarity and truth. I am pretty sure that this posting doesn’t add to the mix and contribute a lot, but what I wanted to say is that I had the chance to hear Bob Scheer on C-SPAN live right after the invasion started. I didn’t know who he was and was at the computer just listening and when I heard his words I knew he was a man that relied on facts. I will never forget that. Sincerely and thanks.

PS - The above is my main purpose of a posting but I just have to ask this: Where did the ten billion go that was lost prior to Provisional Authority Czar Paul Bremmer’s Medal ceremony and how does the Carlysle Group muster-up 27 billion to buy the corrupt Clear Channel Communications?

Golly, gee, stuff like this happens when you have no heart, no mind and no real intelligence (in both the private and political sense of the word.  And my goodness, when will I be indicted as a war criminal? My sakes alive—when thanks to my sakes, there are so many not alive.