Rumsfeld cancels plan to join Bush at NATO summit in Europe

[DoYouEverWonder]

November 13, 2006

WASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has dropped plans to join President George W. Bush at a NATO summit this month in Latvia, in light of his announced resignation, a Rumsfeld spokesman said Monday.

The Pentagon will instead be represented at the meeting by Eric Edelman, the undersecretary of defense for policy, according to Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Karen Finn. Other officials had said earlier Monday that Gordon England, the deputy secretary of defense, might fill in for Rumsfeld at the summit meeting.

The NATO summit is Nov. 28-29 in the Latvian capital of Riga.

Pentagon press secretary Eric Ruff reaffirmed that Rumsfeld plans to remain at his post until his successor is confirmed by the Senate. Bush last week announced that he is nominating former CIA director Robert M. Gates to replace Rumsfeld, but no confirmation hearing date has been announced. Ruff said it could happen as early as the week of Dec. 4.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/13/america/NA_GEN_US_Rumsfeld_Summit.php

I'm sure the folks at NATO are so disappointed. :sarcasm:

[mike_c]

1. umm, in light of his resignation? I don't think so-- more likely...

...in light of his pending indictment for war crimes in a German court.

[Judi Lynn]

6. He would only need a one-way ticket, I'm sure.

It's true, he just might not make it back, unless he'd have some special forces spiriting him outta there.

[54anickel]

7. Bwahaha, thanks Judi Lynn, I had forgotten all about those pictures of

Rummy and his Super Heros.

[myrna minx]

12. LOL! I was totally unprepared for that.

:rofl:

[Tight_rope]

13. Yup...Sounds like he might be afraid of alotta hard time!

[IndianaGreen]

15. Rummy is a wanted criminal, like Henry Kissinger

Kissinger can't even show his face in Spain, there is an outstanding warrant for him for the deaths of Spaniards at the hands of the Pinochet regime during the CIA-sponsored coup.

[AlamoDemoc]

2. I doubt Rummy would want to travel to Europe...now he's war criminal awaiting trial

[DinahMoeHum]

3. Odds are, Rumsfeld would be busted as soon as he stepped off

the tarmac.

:evilgrin:

[MethuenProgressive]

4. He's afraid of ARREST

no more, no less

[Olney Blue]

5. Bush told him he didn't want any quitters at the conference.

[HooptieWagon]

8. You go to the summit...

...with the SoD you have, not with the SoD you'd like. ;)

[Peace Patriot]

9. He's still Secretary of Defense...???

"Pentagon press secretary Eric Ruff reaffirmed that Rumsfeld plans to remain at his post until his successor is confirmed by the Senate."

??????!!!!!!

[lovuian]

10. He's going to jail do not pass Go

do not collect 200 Go to Jail

[tabasco]

11. Rumsfeld doesn't give a damn about this country.

Once the paychecks stop he stops showing up.

A Democrat would be expected to work through a transition period, but not ol' Rummy.

I'm not complaining. He should have quit or been fired a long time ago.

[Tight_rope]

14. Hell...RummytheDummy should have never had the job!