Rumsfeld to personally sign all condolence letters

[mary195149]

Rumsfeld to personally sign all condolence letters

By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, December 17, 2004

(See Secretary Rumsfeld's statement at end of story)

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will begin personally signing condolence letters sent to families of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, after receiving criticism over his use of mechanical signatures.

In a statement provided to Stars and Stripes on Thursday, Rumsfeld tacitly admitted that in the past he has not personally signed the letters, but said he was responsible for writing and approving each of the 1,000-plus messages sent to the fallen soldiers’ families.

“I have directed that in the future I sign each letter,” he said in the statement.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=26085

[TheFarseer]

1. So your son dies but on the bright side

You have that asshole's autograph

[Turn CO Blue]

10. That is so awful - so why am I laughing at your quip?

[Garbo 2004]

22. Yeah, no kidding. They think this is a big deal that's good PR for Rummy?

They are sooo out of touch with reality.

Screw the personal autograph. They should make him show up at the door and talk to each of the families of the dead and wounded troops. He can explain his brilliant strategy and why the troops weren't better protected and why the hell the Administration really attacked Iraq since all that imminent WMD threat was BS. And maybe he can comfort them by telling them "bad things happen" and "free people sometimes make bad choices" and that's why their loved ones are dead or maimed.

That should keep him occupied for a while.....

[tuvor]

2. Huh? He's now directed himself to sign each letter?

I'll bet he gave himself and that autopen a damn good dressing-down :eyes:

How dumb do you have to be to take this administration's announcements at face value?

[texpatriot2004]

3. Why was he not signing them already? n/t

[seito]

24. Damn good question n/t

[jmowreader]

4. This is like something out of "The Wall"

(This is not on the album, it's only in the movie.)

It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black 'forty four.
When the forward commander
Was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn.
And the Generals gave thanks
As the other ranks held back
The enemy tanks for a while.
And the Anzio bridgehead
Was held for the price
Of a few hundred ordinary lives.

And old King George
Sent Mother a note
When he heard that father was gone.
It was, I recall,
In the form of a scroll,
With gold leaf and all.
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away.
And my eyes still grow damp to remember
His Majesty signed
With his own rubber stamp.

It was dark all around.
There was frost in the ground
When the tigers broke free.
And no one survived
From the Royal Fusiliers Company C.
They were all left behind,
Most of them dead,
The rest of them dying.
And that's how the High Command
Took my daddy from me.

[selmo7]

20. thank you for posting such poignant lyrics -n/t

[genieroze]

5. I would use it as toilet paper and send it back. eom

[mary195149]

6. I heard it on the news a week ago,

that he wasn't personally signing these letters. He is such an embarassment to our country. He has no respect for our troops that have been killed in this unjust war. Have we ever had a white house with such screwed up priorities??

[Carolab]

7. Oh that will help

shithead

[purduejake]

8. Maybe he'll get sick of signing and finally provide armor.

[Turn CO Blue]

12. Oh, that's just sad AND funny! n/t

[n2mark]

9. So now he is trying to save face?

Not acceptable. He is just feeling the heat.

[ccarter84]

11. Kinda a PR oops there eh? ...mumble mumble 'dumbass'

[Turn CO Blue]

13. Chimp should have to sign them - can he read or write? n/t

[texpatriot2004]

16. Yeah, since when does a "war" President not sign those letters?

I use "war" President because B* is a warmongering Pres and it's not the same as others who were more honorable in wartime.

Of course, I could use "President" cause that's appropriate too.

[Turn CO Blue]

17. Yeah, we all understand that we use the term "president" loosely

when referring to *

[Niche]

14. They don't care about the Soldiers that's why they never sign....

Sick Bastards! Hey, how much do you think DS's signature will go for when he's serving time for war crimes? Murderer!

[Al-CIAda]

15. In related news...

...Bic has reported to alligations that 'pens are readily available', but they had never been requested. Halliburton is expected to now ramp up production of uni-balls to the tune of $295.00 per.

[BrotherBuzz]

23. Hmmm, you're going to fit in well at DU!

Welcome! :)

[Stephanie]

18. Do the people who lost limbs get a letter?

Who will sign theirs? Wolfowitz?

[texpatriot2004]

21. Good question. Those soldiers should get so much more than

a letter and there are so many of them. What is it now, like 8,000 or 10,000 wounded? Or are those only the reported ones and then there were like 15,000 to 30,000 "non-combat" wounded that weren't being reported. What about those with mental health issues now? What do they get? Not even health care.

[sundancekid]

19. HEARTLESS STAMPER -- PRO-LIFE NO DOUBT (sarcasm off now)

[Withywindle]

25. it's haaaaaaarrrrrd wooorrrrk....

Asswipe.