Rummy in Mosul (a letter to LA Times) [View All]

[yurbud]

Donald Rumsfeld's visit to the troops in Mosul fits the pattern of how this administration treats the troops, and average Americans in general. After that soldier asked why he had to dig through garbage to find armor, Bush responded by saying Rummy has "a good heart," prays for the troops, and visits the wounded in the hospital. This is all nice but symbolic gestures that cost nothing.

Looking at their decision-making process and spending priorities paints a very different picture.

While planning the war, they ignored the uniformed military's assessments of whether Iraq was a threat, what the outcome of an invasion would be, and even the number of troops that would be needed. Instead they listened to the advice of a handful of ideologues who never got closer to combat than a tough game of croquet at the country club.

Armor for the troops and their vehicles, combat pay, and medical care for veterans moved to the end of the budget line behind no bid contracts in the billions for Bush cronies. And those cronies threatened to stop feeding the troops when the Pentagon asked too many questions about their accounting practices.

Perhaps worst of all, they continue to hold soldiers on active duty after the end of their enlistment contract to avoid the politcal fallout of the only other way to get more bodies on the field: a draft.

No one would care how gruff Rumsfeld was or if he signed letters by machine if the substance of how he did his job showed respect for the troops. But he treats them the way the Bushies treat all of us: with platitudes, a pat, on on the head, and smirking contempt.