Rumsfeld: Criticism of Bush Strengthens U.S. Foes

[Judi Lynn]

Rumsfeld: Criticism of Bush Strengthens U.S. Foes
Mon September 8, 2003 11:26 AM ET




By Tabassum Zakaria
SHANNON, Ireland (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Monday opposition to the U.S. President was encouraging Washington's enemies and hindering his 'war against terrorism'.

Rumsfeld was speaking after a trip to Afghanistan and Iraq where he sought to highlight progress on reconstruction efforts and dampen criticism of the U.S. presence there and the almost daily casualties in a guerrilla campaign against occupation.

He said if Washington's enemies believed Bush might waver or his opponents prevail, that could increase support for their activities.

"They take heart in that and that leads to more money going into these activities or that leads to more recruits or that leads to more encouragement or that leads to more staying power," he told reporters traveling with him on his plane.

"Obviously that does make our task more difficult." (snip/...)

~~~~ link ~~~~

[underpants]

1. + a subtle blaming of Clinton (W did this twice last night)

"Terrorists studied...instances when the United States was dealt a blow and tucked in, and persuaded themselves that they could in fact cause us to acquiesce in whatever it is they wanted to do," he said. "The United States is not going to do that, President (George W.) Bush is not going to do that."

[Brotherjohn]

4. And there was this little tidbit:

"We have learned that terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness."

Now just how the F*** have "we learned" that, you moron!

And, if I'm not mistaken, Osama Bin Laden is on record as saying that the main reasons for Al Qaeda even existing are U.S. presence in the middle east and U.S. support of Israel. Both of those, I believe, are expressions of strength.

I believe the Iraq invasion was also one, big, fat expression of strength. And Iraq is now a magnet for terrorism.

[underpants]

9. I caught that too. Is W admitting that he is weak?

I mean on whose watch did 9-11 happen?

Also you must not have heard our fearless leader correctly last night, Iraq is not a "magnet for terrorists" it IS "the front line of freedom".

:eyes:

edited misspelling in subject line.

[Ganja Ninja]

41. George W Bush your the weakest link - Good By!

"We have learned that terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness."

He's America's most obvious weakness.

[DemoVet]

2. Wait a minute,

I didn't support us going into Iraq in the first place, and now I'm supposed to be a good little patriotic American and shut my mouth and join the parade so these dolts can keep on doing stuff like this? What country does Rumsfeld think he lives in?

[Zero Gravitas]

17. I want my country back

dammit!

I do not want to live in Bush*/Rumsfeld/Aschcroft/Cheney's fantasy freeper land where Corporate interests rule and the "patriotic" thing to do is not to critisise the governmant. That is not what America used to be about.

[goforit]

55. Right on!!!!.............I want our country back too!!!!!!!

I too am sick of living in the minds of paranoid psychopaths!!!


They are as twisted as they get!!!!!!!!

[Brotherjohn]

3. "If you're not helping us, you're helping the terrorists." Blah blah blah

These people (Bush, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, Cheney...) really do think they're running a dictatorship!

[kodi]

5. Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Fürher !

could it be anymore clear now that the far right equates the Furher with the nation?

but only when a republican occupies the white house.

[oldcoot]

18. That was my first response

Imagine if a Clinton appointee had said the same thing. The Republicans would have had a field day!

On a more chilling note, I wonder what they are going to do if the 2004 elections do not go their way.

[searchingforlight]

6. HA!

A. It is our right as Americans to speak our mind.
B. If our pResident and his cronies would stop being so stupid we wouldn't have to oppose this debacle.

[underpants]

12. "I can support our troops without supported the President"

Remember that little gem?

[pfitz59]

7. Rumsfield is insane......

Nice cozy cell in Guantanamo waiting for him.

[MurrayDelph]

33. Guantanamo would be nice,

preferably in a group cell, but Nuremburg would be more appropriate.


MurrayDelph
Articles of Impeachment:Bring 'em On!

[RobertSeattle]

8. Hmmm let's seen

Prior to March 2003, Iraqi's knew not to cricize Saddam Hussein. So I suppose by the same logic they supported Saddam.

[bushisanidiot]

10. Oh, Really? How do America's "Foes" Feel When the Pukes

bashed Clinton for 8 years and continue to bash him today? Are the repukes giving comfort to the terrorists or is that only when a republican "president" draws criticism?

Sorry Rumsfeld, but being patriotically correct is getting our soldiers and our economy killed.

Election '04 isn't worth WWWIII.

[arcane1]

30. yep, and they kept calling the Clinton military "weak"

"unprepared" "underequipped" "demoralized" etc

republicans are traitors :-)

[gratuitous]

11. Yeah Rummy?

And lies make baby Jesus cry, you bloodthirsty, misshapen poor excuse for a human being.

I wouldn't have been quite so descriptive, but the truth is necessary so that baby Jesus doesn't cry.

[SOS]

13. Beyond belief

"Opposition to the U.S. President was encouraging Washington's enemies."

So Robert Byrd of West Virginia is now aiding Al-Qaeda? Rumsfeld is living in a fantasy world with terrible consequences for the real world.

[loudnclear]

32. The only things encouraging our enemies is our arrogance and our

brutality in invading Iraq. They see clearly that we have little regard for lives other than rich white Americans.

[htuttle]

14. ANY policy that can be weakened by criticism....

...is a PATHETICALLY WEAK policy.

Good policy stands up to criticism, and is often strengthened by it. BAD policy can't stand up to criticism, and is weakened by it.

The problem is not the criticism, it's the policy. Criticism is what helps us understand whether a policy is good or bad.

[Minstrel Boy]

15. An uncritical Bush booster asked me this morning

"How would you make America safer?" This is how I answered.


Since when did Americans become such cowards? You're the land of the free and the brave, remember? You don't prove it by giving the likes of Ashcroft free reign, or by occupying a country which didn't strike you first, then seizing control of its resources.

Are you looking for a guarantee that terrorists will never strike America again? Of course not. Yet the Bush Administration is guaranteeing another attack will happen. Numerous officials have said over the past two years that further strikes are inevitable; "just a matter of time." So how is Bush making you safer? His policies are radicalizing moderates and supercharging recruitment to al Qaeda.

The former US federal crimes prosecutor, John Loftus, has said "the information provided by European intelligence services prior to 9/11 was so extensive that it is no longer possible for either the CIA or FBI to assert a defence of incompetence." So perhaps the best way to make America safe is to dispose of a cabal which sought strategic advantage by manipulating a national tragedy.

They call it a cycle of violence for a reason. Some people benefit from its turning. They find their power in the fear it instills. Get rid of them.

You can never be safer, nor have a better quality of life, then when you live justly and nuture freedom.

Live free or die, wasn't it?

[underpants]

19. We could spend oh I dunno $87 Billion on Homeland defense

Maybe more cops back on the street.

Radios that communicate between departments (firs /police/EMT) and through walls

Chemical suits for the first responders

Maybe bring back some of the Guard units (or not deploy them in the first place but then that could have been done by not starting a f**king war for no reason) whose deployment has been devistating to many fire and police/sherriffs departments.

Inspect more shipping containers

Be able to pay for US Air Marshalls to sleep in hotels

Fix the school buildings

Buy textbooks that don't still have the Soviet Union on its maps.


Now have I already spent all of that $87 Billion, I dunno but I would stop when it ran out. I also would run around telling people that our OIL under the Iraqi sand is going to pay for:
-The military operation
-The rebuilding of Iraqi infrastructure
-The future of the Iraqi people

(whispering) oh and some return for our non-bid buddies.

[remfan]

16. So is that what caused 9/11, Donny?

All that opposition to your terrorism policy??? Oooops, that's right, you didn't HAVE a terrorism policy before 9/12.

Fuck you and the Vice President you rode in on.

[Rose Siding]

20. OMG HERE we go AGAIN!

Moron! Fascist! UNAMERICAN booger!

[StandWatie]

21. look for more of this..

implication: The terrorists want you to vote against Bush.

[MGKrebs]

22. Well then do the right thing, you morans.

Sheesh.

"United We Stand". As long as it's on OUR side.

Dickweeds.

And oh yeah, the so-called "terrorists" are on the run due to our show of strength. Not.

For shrub & Co. Ltd, it's all about "good vs. evil", "freedon vs. tyranny". Metaphysical concepts that presuppose that Iraqi resistance, or Al Qaida, or Palestinians, could not have any legitimate grievances. Only us western industrial nations can have good intentions or legitimate goals. I guess the IRA got a pass becuase they look like us.

When a kidnapper takes a hostage in order to get ransom, we (allegedly) do not negotiate because it's just a crime for money, and it would encourage others to try it too. (Although, I believe we DO negotiate with these guys anyway.)

It is possible that what we call "terrorists" really do have problems that need addressing? Is it too hard to imagine that if a group that felt oppressed was able to "have their day in court" so to speak, they would not resort to violence?

It's so bizarre. We had to fight Communism because it was a godless system that therefore was destined to be morally bankrupt. Now we have to fight religious zealotry (Osama) because they "hate freedom".

And Saddam was neither, just a plain old oil grab.

[Rose Siding]

23. This was filed just a bit ago, *after*

Dean blasted Bush pretty good on all the AM shows.

[samsingh]

24. here we go again - if you criticize our stupidity

you're for Saddam.

Rumsy, having a stupid pResident also strengthens our enemies.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

25. Sounds like he's letting his whiskey do the talking...

The Iraqi people are doing no more than we would do if our country was invaded and occupied by hostile forces.

In fact, that did happen once...it's called the American Revolution.

One man's terrorist is another man's patriot.

[denverbill]

26. Shut up Rumsfeld, you dumbass.

It was your decision to invade Iraq that is inspiring terrorism against us. You're the one who is giving aid and comfort to the enemy. It's a lot harder to find suicide bombers to die for a cause which doesn't exist.

[Q]

27. Rummy needs to get used to the idea that criticism is always welcome...

...in a Democracy. Or is he really saying that democracy is dead?

- Strange that these Bush* cronies don't seem to remember how they constantly criticized Clinton when he had troops in the field. Were THEY helping the enemy?

[jos]

28. The same old song

Nixon redux. Maybe he should cancel the election because it would hurt the "war" effort.:eyes:

[Flying_Pig]

29. Gawd, how I wish.....

I could get Rummy, and "*" in a boxing ring for a few rounds. Both at once. I'd have them crying for mama in about 20 seconds. Wouldn't that feel goooooood!

[salin]

31. Proving yet again, that today's GOP = anti-democracy!

hear them yell through their actions:

Down with one man one vote (and all votes count)!
Down with constitutional redistricting!
Down with elections (lets just recall 10 months later)!
Down with the Bill of Rights!

[lumpy]

34. I'll be damned if I will sacrifice my personal integrity

to further Bushco's ambition for world dominence. This administration is wicked and that is all there is to it.

[proud patriot]

35. Rumfeld is wrong GIVING UP OUR FREEDOM AIDS OUR FOES

:grr: Our country was founded in the principals of open
debate and I'll be damned if Open Debate is going to end
while I'm alive .

[tom_paine]

36. As criticism of Hitler aids German foes

That Rummy has an astonishngly good idea...

[IndianaGreen]

42. Von Rumsfeld thinks he is still working for Hitler

This is desperate rightwing tactics. What's next, invoke the PATRIOT Act to hush dissent?

[Born_a_Democrat]

37. ...and in turn that leads to more LYING by us to YOU...

Rumfilled continued that "If the American people don't want to be lied to over and over, then support our President...that way you won't KNOW when you're being lied to and as we all know...what you don't know...can't hurt you"

[monobrau]

38. Interesting

He doesn't point out where any statements made aren't true, just that his little neocon adventure is being criticized.
Well I, for one, am a foe of "Washington", as long as it is occupied by the current gang of looters.

[dani]

39. they make a big mess

and it's the critic's fault. Wah wah wah.

:puke:

[rocktivity]

40. You didn't "hinder" Saddam when YOU had the chance, Rummy!

And if Bush doesn't like being criticized, he should stop doing the things that GET him criticized!


rocknation

[Betty]

43. What a fascist

I seem to remember that insane old fart Jesse Helms saying that Clinton better watch his back when he came to North Carolina.... didn't hear any repugs scolding him for not supporting the President, let alone threatening him.

[Mari333]

44. Night of the Living Dead, no one cares what Rummy has to say

He's looking worse every day, have you noticed?



DONT QUESTION MY POOOLLLLLIICIIIIIEEEESSSSS

[Pastiche423]

52. Yes, I have noticed

[Mari333]

61. LOL

beer out my nose

[Wickerman]

45. It would appear, actually that sustaining Bush as Leader

strengthens US foes.

Shut the f$ck up, Donnie.

[Voltaire99]

46. But...but...who is the most dangerous "foe" of Americans?

Sure, when your government is on the wrong side of a moral issue, as the US is in Iraq, its leaders are always wont to forge the self-serving connection between nation and regime. Apres Bush, le deluge!

But the interests of America never were synonymous with the interests of Bush or Halliburton. In Iraq, we see how little the national interest really matters--freedom, truth, credibility, and our economic future are all considered fitting tributes on the altar of this dufus Caesar.

Now is the time for America to break the spell, and tell Bushy, Rummy, Wolfie, and Perly the most American of political messages: Go fuck yourselves, you third-rate villains! And turn the lights off on your way out.

[stanwyck]

47. Teddy Roosevelt would say Rummy is the enemy

since Teddy told us that to criticize the presidency was our patriotic duty. And that to NOT criticize was...treasonous. We're living in a democracy. Bush is NOT the king. Rummy couldn't be more wrong. These people are facists.

[Whoa_Nelly]

48. Hey Rummy!

Bite me!

[stickdog]

49. "BRING 'EM ON"

And Bush's own rhetoric only helps, right?

[aneerkoinos]

50. Rummy is right!

We the people are getting stronger and our enemy getting weaker. But it is strange that he imagines that he speaks for the people of US, he's their enemy too!

[Jax]

51. Um, no that is NOT what strenghtens our 'foes'

Appointed military deserters and their ilk strenghten our 'foes'. Appointed military deserters and their ilk that start pre-emptive blood baths and use our military as mercenaries for their corporate pals like Halliburton strengthen our 'foes' and create new 'foes' daily.

I hate these scum.

Jax

[argyl]

53. He's convinced me. I'll never speak ill of Smirk again.

Anyone got the URL to Free Republic?

[damnraddem]

54. Taking that horse out for a trot again, huh?

He should stop beating it -- it's dead.

The Repukes should have thought of that when Clinton was president -- when we still had a president.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

56. phuck you rummy ..you're crazier than a shit house rat! nobody cares what

you have to say

[RainDog]

57. then why the **** did the repukes spend eight years

hounding Clinton and second guessing everything he said and undermining him at every turn??

I suppose they're just not patriots.

btw, Dewey complained constantly that FDR politicized WW2 and unfairly got "free" campaign time as a war president. The repukes felt free to criticize the prez when America was at war with Hitler, so what's different now?

Rummy should do our military a favor and resign because he's one of the worst things that ever happened to them.

[Jack Rabbit]

58. Rumsfeld must go -- NOW

This is a remarks were aimed at stiffiling discourse. If he doesn't like democracy, maybe he should move to Iraq.

[RainDog]

59. I bet the military would be happy to pack him up

and send him where the sun don't shine...which isn't iraq, but it's hotter there, so I hear.

The fact that Bush has not demanded resignations in light of the Rummy/Wolfie/Perle/Cheney fiasco is proof, to me, that they are all just as out of touch and out of their minds as before.

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

60. PHUCK YOU RUMSFELD ! Rummy covered up CIA Anthrax

Rummy is one sick bastard.

A complete ASSHOLE !

see how Rummy covered up the CIA killing -

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/nation/3822588.htm

Both Cheney and Rumsfeld were directly involved in
coverup of CIA's use of Anthrax !!!!!!!!!!!!