There was one thing about which I agreed with Rumsfeld.

[Stinky The Clown]

Today, at the Pentagon, Obama announced his intention to do it.

A smaller, lighter, consolidated military. A smaller Army and a smaller Marine Corps. Fewer boots.

That's a good thing.

[jimlup]

1. It makes a great deal of sense.

This would be something that I strongly support Mr. Obama for.

[RZM]

2. From what I remember

Rumsfeld encountered so much opposition from within the Pengaton that he eventually had to abandon the plan. I wonder how it will shake up this time.

I imagine 10 years passing will have made a bit of difference. But it still could lead to a major dustup.

[grantcart]

4. Rumsfeld anatagonized the heirarchy and they ambushed them

For the first time in history we have a President that actually joined the review process and brought the DOD bureacracy with him.

In Asia we have a saying "If you want to go really fast, go slower", meaning that by bringing people along with you, you can achieve your result faster.

[RC]

3. Bill Clinton had a pretty good start on doing that.

Rummy bitched for years about not having the military he wanted or needed or something along those lines.

[bhikkhu]

5. "you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want..."

http://crooksandliars.com/2006/12/15/remebering-rumsfeld-you-go-to-war-with-the-army-you-have-not-the-army-you-might-want-or-wish-to-have-at-a-later-time

[arcane1]

6. What Rummy meant by that:

"Privatize as much as we can"

He damned sure wasn't endorsing cutting the "military" budget, or attacking fewer countries, or killing fewer people.

I'm hoping Obama doesn't follow in his footsteps.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. That's too simplistic a summary

Yes, he wanted to privatize and outsource. But he also made some concrete toward tearing down walls that kept interservice turf wars alive. The brass resented that.

[renegade000]

8. as long as we don't try to occupy large countries

which is what Rumsfeld tried to do with it, hence the several tours of duty for everyone including all the national guard... use of private security contractors and such.

other than that bit, yes i'm in agreement!