Comments on: Milbank: Rumsfeld Memo ‘Headed for the Hall of Fame of Cover-Your-Ass Memo Writing’ http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:25:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Joeslogic http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1236686 Joeslogic Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:52:09 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1236686 The media and Democrats have gone out of their way to define Iraq as a failure. Fact is we won in the battle with Iraq. Now we are fighting a war on terror. "Mission Accomplished" What we have here right now is a humanitarian effort for the benefit of the Iraqi people. The fact is being hidden that the other oil producing countries are strategically opposed to Iraqi competition on the oil market as a democracy. You have to look at motive them simply consider that a democratic Iraq is a threat to the current status quo. And don't give this bologna about Iran being a democracy either. Once you have established that simple fact it becomes obvious considering that Iran and Syria are assisting the Mahidi army that they are indeed on the side of evil. The problem is the Democrats have been given total freedom to play armchair quarter back with impunity by the media. They are the spoilers in the War against Terrorism" once again look at who benefits and you have motive. The problem is with this strategy we all loose. I disagree with Bush caving in to their game in hopes that he will gain an ally in the war instead they will only take the knife that they have imbedded into Bush's back and twist and slash for better effect. The only way to level the playing field is if the media properly informs the public a properly informed public will do the right thing. This idea of posturing for a Vietnam scenario in order to wreak the benefit of preaching a false story of failure instead of the real story of betrayal does no one any good. Consider this if we only went after Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Our troops get hit with WMD's Shall I remind you of the 50 or so quotes by high level Democrats touting the thread that Saddam poses to National security? These going back into the 90's? If it had happened we would sure be hearing about how Bush screwed up by not covering our flank side and addressing the Iraq problem. When the world can see that Iraq is a problem that deserves to be looked at as a humanitarian issue and sees the true picture of what the problem is. Instead of a Bush vs. the world and the Democrats on the side of the world issue as it has been framed. There never will be a good ending to this story. The media and Democrats have gone out of their way to define Iraq as a failure. Fact is we won in the battle with Iraq. Now we are fighting a war on terror.

“Mission Accomplished”

What we have here right now is a humanitarian effort for the benefit of the Iraqi people. The fact is being hidden that the other oil producing countries are strategically opposed to Iraqi competition on the oil market as a democracy. You have to look at motive them simply consider that a democratic Iraq is a threat to the current status quo. And don’t give this bologna about Iran being a democracy either.

Once you have established that simple fact it becomes obvious considering that Iran and Syria are assisting the Mahidi army that they are indeed on the side of evil.

The problem is the Democrats have been given total freedom to play armchair quarter back with impunity by the media. They are the spoilers in the War against Terrorism” once again look at who benefits and you have motive. The problem is with this strategy we all loose. I disagree with Bush caving in to their game in hopes that he will gain an ally in the war instead they will only take the knife that they have imbedded into Bush’s back and twist and slash for better effect.

The only way to level the playing field is if the media properly informs the public a properly informed public will do the right thing. This idea of posturing for a Vietnam scenario in order to wreak the benefit of preaching a false story of failure instead of the real story of betrayal does no one any good.

Consider this if we only went after Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Our troops get hit with WMD’s Shall I remind you of the 50 or so quotes by high level Democrats touting the thread that Saddam poses to National security? These going back into the 90’s? If it had happened we would sure be hearing about how Bush screwed up by not covering our flank side and addressing the Iraq problem.

When the world can see that Iraq is a problem that deserves to be looked at as a humanitarian issue and sees the true picture of what the problem is. Instead of a Bush vs. the world and the Democrats on the side of the world issue as it has been framed. There never will be a good ending to this story.

]]> By: James Dokoupil http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1234927 James Dokoupil Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:34:28 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1234927 Rumsfeld is a real ring-wing low-life pretending to be a patriot. His aligance extends only to himself (just like Cheney). If you think his exit memo represents CYA instincts, wait until his book comes out. Rumsfeld is a real ring-wing low-life pretending to be a patriot. His aligance extends only to himself (just like Cheney). If you think his exit memo represents CYA instincts, wait until his book comes out.

]]> By: Tank http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1233432 Tank Wed, 06 Dec 2006 10:10:06 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1233432 <strong>“This was something of an authorized leak by Rumsfeld’s people in order to protect his legacy here,”</strong> The leaked memo between the SecDef and POTUS may have been leaked intentionally ? Gee you reckon ? A suitable lead-in to your following article on No Shit Tuesday Sweeps. “This was something of an authorized leak by Rumsfeld’s people in order to protect his legacy here,”

The leaked memo between the SecDef and POTUS may have been leaked intentionally ? Gee you reckon ?
A suitable lead-in to your following article on No Shit Tuesday Sweeps.

]]> By: Leslie Pool http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1232383 Leslie Pool Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:35:31 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1232383 So in other words; Rumsfield has known the right thing to do for all these years ‎but chose to do the wrong thing instead, compromising America's well being with ‎malice and forethought.‎ So in other words; Rumsfield has known the right thing to do for all these years ‎but chose to do the wrong thing instead, compromising America’s well being with ‎malice and forethought.‎

]]> By: jay walker http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1230625 jay walker Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:10:18 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1230625 From the memo: <strong>Clearly, what U.S. forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough.</strong> Why does Rumsfeld hate the troops so much? From the memo:

Clearly, what U.S. forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough.

Why does Rumsfeld hate the troops so much?

]]> By: M Kaj http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1230136 M Kaj Tue, 05 Dec 2006 20:49:10 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1230136 right wing are already defending Rumsfeld, and not treating the memo as a desperation. Cal Thomas' <a href="http://theleftresponse.blogspot.com/2006/12/re-cal-thomas-rumsfeld-memo-and-mine.html" rel="nofollow">article and my response</a>. right wing are already defending Rumsfeld, and not treating the memo as a desperation. Cal Thomas’ article and my response.

]]> By: M Kaj http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1230133 M Kaj Tue, 05 Dec 2006 20:47:33 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1230133 Right wing is already running to Rumsfeld's defense. Cal Thomas writes that Iraq Study Group won't put fear to the terrorists, implying that Rumsfeld was trying to do just that. here's a link to my own<a href="http://theleftresponse.blogspot.com/2006/12/re-cal-thomas-rumsfeld-memo-and-mine.html" rel="nofollow">response</a> and the original article. Right wing is already running to Rumsfeld’s defense. Cal Thomas writes that Iraq Study Group won’t put fear to the terrorists, implying that Rumsfeld was trying to do just that. here’s a link to my ownresponse and the original article.

]]> By: ForTruth http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1230104 ForTruth Tue, 05 Dec 2006 20:34:08 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1230104 Extremely self absorbed. These ass-cannon's think they are working for "the team", and its such a noble cause, give me a break. Extremely self absorbed. These ass-cannon’s think they are working for “the team”, and its such a noble cause, give me a break.

]]> By: RUCerious http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229880 RUCerious Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:36:12 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229880 PROTECT HIS LEGACY??? My WTF-Incredulometer just took off, it's almost in orbit by now. His legacy should be written on a bloody hide, with red hot barbed wire, consisting of three words. ARROGANCE, STUPIDITY, SOULLESSNESS PROTECT HIS LEGACY???
My WTF-Incredulometer just took off, it’s almost in orbit by now.
His legacy should be written on a bloody hide, with red hot barbed wire, consisting of three words. ARROGANCE, STUPIDITY, SOULLESSNESS

]]> By: Krazny http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229822 Krazny Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:19:58 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229822 When the shit hits the fan on all this, no amount of CYA'ing will keep Rummy out of prison. When the shit hits the fan on all this, no amount of CYA’ing will keep Rummy out of prison.

]]> By: Amy1022 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229630 Amy1022 Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:40:47 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229630 Rummy, it's too late. You made your bed, not lay in it. He could have been part of a brilliant legacy, part of the administration that ended extreme poverty and hunger for billions of people...but the UN Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction are not on the agenda. According to the Borgen Project, this administration has spent $300 billion on Iraq, when only $40-60 would have ended poverty. Shame. Rummy, it’s too late. You made your bed, not lay in it. He could have been part of a brilliant legacy, part of the administration that ended extreme poverty and hunger for billions of people…but the UN Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction are not on the agenda. According to the Borgen Project, this administration has spent $300 billion on Iraq, when only $40-60 would have ended poverty. Shame.

]]> By: PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229607 PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:35:53 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229607 I just hope that we are changing the direction of this country quickly enough so there will BE a future to write the history and legacy of Bush and his follies. I just hope that we are changing the direction of this country quickly enough so there will BE a future to write the history and legacy of Bush and his follies.

]]> By: spyder http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229355 spyder Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:50:16 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229355 This is yet another example of one of those "duh" moments. This is yet another example of one of those “duh” moments.

]]> By: Parrotlover77 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229132 Parrotlover77 Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:56:57 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229132 Who, exactly, are all these "legacy saving" maneuvers by BushCo designed to fool? Historians will know what is BS and what isn't. Is it to try to fool the highly evolved archeologist cockroaches that dominate the planet after we destroy ourselves? Who, exactly, are all these “legacy saving” maneuvers by BushCo designed to fool? Historians will know what is BS and what isn’t. Is it to try to fool the highly evolved archeologist cockroaches that dominate the planet after we destroy ourselves?

]]> By: PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229104 PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:47:17 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229104 I wonder if the memo listed the options in categories, like say "known knowns", "unknown knowns", "known unknowns". I know I don't know and I know I don't care because I know Rummy is now a known unknown. I wonder if the memo listed the options in categories, like say “known knowns”, “unknown knowns”, “known unknowns”. I know I don’t know and I know I don’t care because I know Rummy is now a known unknown.

]]> By: TSop http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229098 TSop Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:45:49 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229098 This was a good leak as opposed to a bad leak. Once again the NYT plays along. This was a good leak as opposed to a bad leak. Once again the NYT plays along.

]]> By: clb72 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229087 clb72 Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:42:51 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229087 No, don't you see? Rummy did it all -- all -- for the children. No, don’t you see? Rummy did it all — all — for the children.

]]> By: hit_escape http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229070 hit_escape Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:36:16 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229070 The "fired because of" angle is intriguing, but I think the memo is an example of why they took so long to fire him. They knew he would be a "Little bastard" after he was gone, so they kept him on to keep his mouth shut. Look for Rummy to hit the talk show circuit soon saying, " if they had only listened to me." The “fired because of” angle is intriguing, but I think the memo is an example of why they took so long to fire him. They knew he would be a “Little bastard” after he was gone, so they kept him on to keep his mouth shut. Look for Rummy to hit the talk show circuit soon saying, ” if they had only listened to me.”

]]> By: impeachcheneythenbush http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229065 impeachcheneythenbush Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:35:19 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229065 A list of options is NOT a strategy. A list of options is not "making recommendations." It's much more comparable to a Christmas list a family member might give to you, and you choose which gift or gifts you want to buy for them. In the case of a SecDef, I don't define this as an example of leadership, but it's probably typical of the kind of information Rumsfeld provided to Bush. Keep in mind, the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs was supposed to (<em>under law</em>) to have a direct advisory position to the President. Rumsfeld refused to allow that to occur, and all such military feedback was funneled through him. A list of options is NOT a strategy. A list of options is not “making recommendations.” It’s much more comparable to a Christmas list a family member might give to you, and you choose which gift or gifts you want to buy for them. In the case of a SecDef, I don’t define this as an example of leadership, but it’s probably typical of the kind of information Rumsfeld provided to Bush. Keep in mind, the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs was supposed to (under law) to have a direct advisory position to the President. Rumsfeld refused to allow that to occur, and all such military feedback was funneled through him.

]]> By: Jay Randal http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/comment-page-1/#comment-1229015 Jay Randal Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:15:41 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/05/milbank-rumsfeld-memo/#comment-1229015 Rumsfeld is a pro at covering his backside! We can laugh at the memo, but Rummy walks away scott-free to his ranch in Taos, New Mexico, and leaves behind the train wreak in Iraq that he helped to cause! Rumsfeld is a pro at covering his backside! We can laugh at the memo, but Rummy walks away scott-free to his ranch in Taos, New Mexico, and leaves behind the train wreak in Iraq that he helped to cause!

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