Rumsfeld May Soon Regret His Arrogance Toward U.S. Troops

[Tinoire]

RUMSFELD MAY SOON REGRET HIS ARROGANCE TOWARD U.S. TROOPS

Mon Dec 13,12:41 PM ET

By Georgie Anne Geyer

(snip)

Senators Joseph Biden Jr. and Chuck Hagel just returned from Iraq, saying that not one American general said we were winning. Other warnings are the same. Rumsfeld's answer to everything is to train Iraqi forces to take the place of ours (perhaps because we, poor guys, only have "the Army we have"), but they are falling apart in many Iraqi cities.

(snip)

And then Rumsfeld made things even worse. Responding to questions as to why he did not even remotely anticipate these intense "insurgencies," he answered blithely: "I don't think anyone would say that the intelligence left anyone with the impression that you'd be in the degree of insurgency you're in today." No look at Iraqi history, no attempt to match ambition to potential, no common sense --and surely no apologies!


You can see the anger beginning to build in the armed forces, with the "stop-loss" policies that force men and women to stay in uniform long after their terms are over, with the callousness about the armor, with the ludicrous analysis by the civilians in the Pentagon of what Iraq and its history were really like.


Now his unfortunate quote will go down in history to show how much he and his group, most of them remote and self-interested intellectuals, look at battlefield soldiers as chess pieces at their disposal. In the end, they care about nothing except their game.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2205&ncid=742&e=14&u=/ucgg/20041213/cm_ucgg/rumsfeldmaysoonregrethisarrogancetowardustroops

Note to mods, I posted this in LBN because of the fact that not one US General said we are winning and for me, that's great LBN, but if it gets moved, I understand.

[wtmusic]

1. Rum-speak

"I don't think anyone would say that the intelligence left anyone with the impression that anyone thought you'd be in the degree of insurgency that anyone's in today."

I, for one, never thought that anyone was as fucking stupid as to think that anyone's country which was was invaded would lie down like anyone's doormat and just accept it while we stole anyone's natural resources.

Did you, Donald? Hmm? :crazy:

[BikeWriter]

10. Are you refering to the patriots...

I mean insurgents?

[goforit]

2. Great post Tinore!!.......This has got to be the worst leadership

in History.
And it is not just Rumsfeld.
It's Cheney and most of all Bush!!!!

All are irresponsible and intentionally reckless!!

[jean]

3. 77,000 body bags - a caller to the Ed Schultz radio show said Rumsfeld

ordered about 77,000 body bags at the beginning of the Iraq quagmire.

[anitar1]

4. The Arrongance Of Rumsfield

is beyond belief. These soldiers are just so many pieces of meat to the adminstration. Rumsfield and his ilk are a disgrace to this country.

[ninkasi]

5. I fervently hope that this headline

RUMSFELD MAY SOON REGRET HIS ARROGANCE TOWARD U.S. TROOPS

is a valid prediction. Some time ago, I read about the soldiers receiving Presidential prayer suggestions. I took the sentiment to heart, and pray daily that the Chimp and his band of thieves and bullies receive justice per the Biblical admonishment, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap."

The results of their sowings have been death, bloodshed, destruction, and grief. I only hope that their reward is the one the Bible they claim to believe in metes out.

[knight_of_the_star]

9. For he who hath sown the wind

Shall reap for themselves a whirlwind.

[Qanisqineq]

6. The whole thing makes me want to cry

"Now his unfortunate quote will go down in history to show how much he and his group, most of them remote and self-interested intellectuals, look at battlefield soldiers as chess pieces at their disposal. In the end, they care about nothing except their game."

This is true. They don't care. To sit here and watch as they play with my husband and his friends like they are exactly that, chess pieces, is the most frustrating thing. Threats of immediate deployment and no promotions for the remainder of their contract if they do not reenlist. Many reenlisted because of these threats plus the money held in front of them. My husband refused and said he would extend for a short time... wasn't good enough. They are now refusing the promotion he was to get this month plus sending him overseas for 18 months. (It could all change if he reenlists, he is told.)

And that doesn't even include to how thinly stretched they were while in Iraq. They got to eat one or two MRE's per day, had little water, slept only 3-4 hours a night or didn't sleep at all because there weren't enough people to rotate guard duties. There was never enough supplies. Weren't getting paid the supposedly huge *cough* amounts of money you make while in a war zone -- I know so many people that didn't get the hazardous duty pay and/or the separation pay. My husband is still owed over $3,000 of back pay from the military.

I could go on and on.

[burrowowl]

8. Bad Chess Player, Rummy!

Rummy is not an intellectual, he is a GREEDY ASSHOLE!

[Swamp Rat]

16. Greed is the defining personality trait of alien lizards

[Tinoire]

12. Hugs to you

I am so sorry.

I don't know why I, as an ex-soldier, feel so ashamed unless that it's that we're so helpless in the face of your pain.

I feel for you and your husband and the many military families going through this.

May he stay safe.

:hug:

[fleabert]

27. your story, and countless others like it, make me cry.

I am so sorry. I wish there was something I, little ol' me, could do.

I hate this for everyone, but especially the military and the families of the military. I have a brother in the Navy (not currently in a war zone thank god) and multiple cousins in the Army (in Iraq, Kuwait, and stateside)

[Gloria]

7. Great piece by Geyer. I remember watching her years ago

on Washington Week in Review, along with other "old timers" like Peter Lisagor and Charles Corddry. I suppose Geyer is considered to be a "conservative" but I've always found her to be straight in her reporting. Sort of like a female David Gergen...capable of offering a balanced assessment of an issue.

[berni_mccoy]

11. I don't think it stops with Rumsfeld...

This goes to the top... Cheney and Bush...

they never gave a damn about the soldiers... headed straight for the oil instead of guarding the weapons depots. They ignored good advice from the best warriors and generals, and even shamed them out of their prestigious positions. They picked a fight with the CIA and the intelligence system. Their attitude is only faintly reflected by Rumsfeld's recent idiotic comments. The real ugliness would be so damning the whole administration would go down. The GOP is finding it harder and harder to stand by these guys every day.

And finally the soldiers are starting to see this war for what it is.

[Dr Fate]

13. On what television channel did those DEMS say this?

Are they saying this on TV where everyone can here it, or is this just for the informed base to know about for when its time to ask for money again?

[Tinoire]

22. Oh you are as cynical as I am.

I'm no huge fan of either Biden or Hagel but they've always struck me as having more integrity than most of the shits up there ;)

I would like to hear them saying this LOUD and CLEAR and every chance they get also.

[Just Me]

14. We LOST,...before the neoCONfascists did their drive,...

(for personal benefit,...they believe their human existence is worth all of ours,...fleshy-obsessed assholes).

The most profound world-wide human protest took place before these "radicals" spun a web of obfuscation.

No soldier was condemned.

The greedy, power-laden, PRO-DEATH, war-profitteers were CLEARLY separated from those whose loyalty and lives were being spent by these scum of the earth, anti-American, anti-democracy profitteers.

I am sick, every single day,...at how REAL loyalty and compassion and Americanism is being USED by these MoFos!!!

[jaysunb]

15. Good Post !

:hi:

[Tinoire]

23. Hey!

:hi: It hasn't gotten any better has it? But God knows we tried and we're still trying!

Thanks for all the news you sent me btw!

Peace

[madrchsod]

17. the buck stops where?

on president/commander in chief george bush. rummy does george`s bidding. why hasn`t bush fired him? george doesn`t have the guts to fire him?

[donheld]

18. Dummy's just as incompetent as Rummy

Why didn't McCain etc. voice no confidence in him*

[chicagojoe]

19. Rumsfeld ought to quit saying stupid things to armed, trained killers.

[Disturbed]

20. Betrayed

When the percentage of troops reaches around 40% that finally realize that they have been betrayed by Bush and the Junta the blowback will arrive. There will probably be a whole lot less of Bush and Rumsfailed talkin' shit in front of troops from now on.

[bvar22]

21. Gee, I guess Rummy must be next in line for a.....

George bush* Freedom Medal

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....Oh stop me....I'm dyin.......

[BeHereNow]

24. I think you're spot on Tinoire!

The neocons have a BIG wake up call coming.
They thought they could tkae over the ME- all of it.
That the citizens of this country would simply come running at their
beck and call.
I don't think they counted on this...
Even if they do activate a draft, I don't think
they are going to have much luck getting anyone to
show up...
YES!
No Soldiers=No US Hegemony.
I feel some hope.
BHN

[Tinoire]

25. I'm with you. They couldn't have miscalculated more than they did

First the whole world was supposed to join us as an expression of support for our horrible grief of 9-11

young men were supposed to go RUSHING to the nearest recruiting station to sign their mind, lives and limbs over to the Chimp Brigade

and then the Iraqis were supposed to throw flowers and candy at us.

Oh these neo-fairy tales!

:hi:

[dave123williams]

26. Maybe it's better that Kerry didn't inherit this disaster...

It'll be fun watching these douchbags implode, though not so great for the Country.

[cliss]

28. They ought to nail RumsFailed's ass.

The biggest fool on the Government payroll.

I called the White House this summer and ranted and raved about this man. This was shortly after the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.

Just imagine, sweet little me, doing something like that. Kinda tells you my level of anger at this guy.

[llmart]

29. Well, it's a toss up......

who's the biggest fool - Bush or Rumsfeld. These guys including Chickenhawk Cheney are evil people in addition to being fools.

[bunny planet]

30. I think the reason Rumsfeld is still in office is because he has

information on *, in relation to Iraq, Plame affair, Abu Ghraib, you name it, scandal abounds, and only a few people can bring * down. Rummy is one of them. They don't want to rub him the wrong way so he has to be let down very carefully. I can't think of any other explanation for him not being given the boot, aside from the fact that * never admits making a mistake.