Rumsfeld acknowledges rocky turn in Iraq

[Barrett808]

Rumsfeld acknowledges rocky turn in Iraq
By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld acknowledged Thursday progress in the Iraq war has not been going "well enough or fast enough" in his first extended remarks since announcing his resignation under political pressure.

Rumsfeld said little about his impending departure when speaking to a friendly audience of students, teachers and military personnel at Kansas State University. Instead, he offered a retrospective of sorts on his two tours as defense chief while echoing President Bush's appraisal that the conflict has been going poorly in recent months.

"I will say this — it is very clear that the major combat operations were an enormous success," he said, of the March 2003 invasion in which Baghdad fell within weeks. "It's clear that in Phase 2 of this, it has not been going well enough or fast enough."

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rumsfeld

[xultar]

1. Now he's got diarrhea of the conscience? Kiss off Rummy. Soldiers died

because he didn't do his fuckin job. Now he is recognizing that shit has gone bad? This is too fuckin sick.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. turn?

[Amonester]

3. a corner... (/sarcasm)

rumsferatu to the hague

[gratuitous]

4. "Major combat operations were an enormous success"

Well gee, I'd hope to shit and shout, Mr. Rumsfeld. We sent in the American wehrmacht against a foe that had neither the men nor the materiel to mount an effective military defense of their country, no navy, no air force, and damn few ground troops. The country had been under international embargo for over a decade. And they had about as much chance to resist the billion-dollar-a-day American war machine as the Poles did on their cavalry horses of beating the German Panzers in 1939.

I'd like to think the Indianapolis Colts could similarly take the measure of a six-man football team from the quad ward at Walter Reed. And how many thousands of people, military and civilian alike, died while you and your team of Keystone Kops were trying to figure out Phase 2?

[arewenotdemo]

5. Excellent point. When it gets down to it, though,

I'd have to give the Iraqi Resistance most of the credit for Phase 2 being so problematic.

It's a good thing, too, since according to Wesley Clark Phases 3-8 involved the invasions of Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Iran.

[cliss]

6. Absolutely, and that's a good point.

Thanks for pointing that out.

The U.S. marching into Baghdad was kind of like the Green Bay Packers against the Cub Scouts..... a little skewed.

Right, Don?

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. The only thing Rummie was good at

was Shock and Awe. He put on a hell of a fireworks show.

:sarcasm:

[Kikosexy2]

8. Rummy...

we've come to know you..but now you can become an unknown known...so STFU and go away now...