Bush Speaks out for Rumsfeld

[Wetzelbill]

Bush Speaks Out for Rumsfeld
'My Full Support' For Defense Chief

By Peter Baker and Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, April 15, 2006; Page A01

President Bush interrupted his Easter vacation yesterday to offer an unequivocal vote of confidence in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, in a move aimed at countering a growing wave of criticism from retired generals calling for the Pentagon chief to resign over his leadership of the Iraq war.

In an unusual statement issued from Camp David, where he had already retired for the weekend, Bush stepped directly into the debate over Rumsfeld's performance to offer his "strong support" and make it clear he will keep the embattled defense secretary. Rumsfeld separately declared that he will not go.

I have seen firsthand how Don relies upon our military commanders in the field and at the Pentagon to make decisions about how best to complete these missions" of fighting terrorists while simultaneously transforming the military, Bush said. "Secretary Rumsfeld's energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period. He has my full support and deepest appreciation."

The president's decision to interject himself so forcefully stands in contrast to his mild reaction to recent reports of dissatisfaction with Treasury Secretary John W. Snow and reflected a calculation by Bush and his advisers that attacks on Rumsfeld by prominent former military commanders strike at the heart of his presidency. As Bush's choice to run the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rumsfeld serves as his proxy, and most of the judgments that have come under fire were shared by the president and Vice President Cheney as well.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/14/AR2006041401649.html

[NYC]

1. He's on vacation again?

Relentless vacations. We get permawar, and he gets permavacation.

[Wetzelbill]

3. yeah, imagine that

Bush on vacation, I mean who would have thought? :)

[riona]

17. Since W and his cabinet share only one brain

it doesn't really matter if he's in DC. It's always incompetence, all the time.

[Golden Raisin]

10. So is Congress.

I never saw a bunch of Mother-effers who take more vacation. And of course Congress has no serious business to attend to just now.

[saigon68]

13. They are out lining their pockets

At $1,000.00 a plate fundraisers

[Wetzelbill]

16. oh man that is so depressing

even moreso since it's true. :)

[racaulk]

2. "You're doing a heckuva job, Rummy!"

You know you're in trouble when * goes to bat to defend you.

[truthisfreedom]

4. rummy could be roasting Iraqi children on a spit and bush would defend him

to the ends of the Earth.

oh, wait... he is.

[Wetzelbill]

5. that's because Bush is essentially defending himself

What's he going to do rip Rummy a new one for implementing policies that he and Darth Cheney set up and signed off on? He'll never admit Iraq was a disastrous mistake, no matter how bad it gets. :)

[dweller]

6. "most of the judgments that have come under fire

were shared by the president and Vice President Cheney as well."


the 3-ring circus is still in town.

dp

[rodeodance]

7. AP Rumsfeld Stays, Says Commander-in-Chief

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060415/ap_on_go_pr_wh/rumsfeld_generals;_ylt=AuCzgs2UUWDC.jBVXs4Fv6ys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

Rumsfeld Stays, Says Commander-in-Chief

By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer 24 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Pulling rank,
President Bush on Friday rebuffed recommendations from a growing number of retired generals that he replace Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. "He has my full support," said the commander-in-chief.


Bush said Rumsfeld's stewardship at the
Pentagon was crucial for the United States.

"Earlier today, I spoke with Don Rumsfeld about ongoing military operations in the global war on terror," the president said. "I reiterated my strong support for his leadership during this historic and challenging time for our nation."

Bush's strong endorsement, conveyed in a statement released by the White House while Bush was at Camp David, Md., for the weekend, appeared designed to blunt a rising clamor from within the ranks of retired commanders for Rumsfeld's ouster.

[rodeodance]

8. I do not think the criticism has blunted.

.....Bush's strong endorsement, conveyed in a statement released by the White House while Bush was at Camp David, Md., for the weekend, appeared designed to blunt a rising clamor from within the ranks of retired commanders for Rumsfeld's ouster.

[rodeodance]

9. "designed to tamp down speculation," on Sunday news shows/press

.....The timing of Bush's statement on Rumsfeld seemed designed to tamp down speculation, particularly in Sunday newspapers and on weekend television news shows, that Rumsfeld might be on his way out.

Bush's statement also appeared directed at criticism from some of the retired generals that Rumsfeld ignored military recommendations from his commanders on missions in Iraq and in the broader war on terrorism.

"I have seen firsthand how Don relies upon our military commanders in the field and at the Pentagon to make decisions about how to best complete these missions," Bush said. "Secretary Rumsfeld's energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this period.

"He has my full support and deepest appreciation."

One of those calling for Rumsfeld's replacement, retired Gen. John Batiste, earlier Friday called the recent series of critical statements "absolutely coincidental" and said he did not know of any coordinated effort to discredit the defense secretary.

[rodeodance]

11. NYT, upper fold, p. 1: Rumsfeld Gets Robust Defense From President

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/15/washington/15rumsfeld.html?_r=1&th=&oref=slogin&emc=th&pagewanted=print

April 15, 2006
Rumsfeld Gets Robust Defense From President
By JIM RUTENBERG and MARK MAZZETTI

WASHINGTON, April 14 — President Bush strongly endorsed Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Friday, in an effort to quell widening criticism from retired generals who have urged Mr. Rumsfeld to resign.

"Secretary Rumsfeld's energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period," the president's statement read. "He has my full support and deepest appreciation."

The statement, issued as Mr. Bush interrupted a family holiday at Camp David, was part of a strong effort by the White House to fend off criticism of the handling of the war that has come from six retired generals, several of whom were involved in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The generals are weighing in as polls show support for the war waning significantly in an election year.

Mr. Bush's statement was followed hours later by supportive comments from Gen. Richard B. Myers, the retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Tommy R. Franks, the retired commander of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Both appeared on cable news programs, and General Myers pointedly criticized former colleagues for publicly questioning civilian leadership.

[allemand]

12. Karpinski: attack on Iran the reason for generals' unease over Rumsfeld

Janis Karpinski, a former Army Reserve general who commanded the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and was punished for the prisoner abuse scandal, said the retired generals were able to openly voice concerns while officers still serving may be afraid to risk their jobs if they speak out.

The retired generals' unease over Rumsfeld could be linked to concerns the Bush administration is considering military action in Iran, Karpinski said in a telephone interview. "'Stop this insanity' seems to be the underlying message," she said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060415/ts_nm/bush_rumsfeld_dc_7

Bush: "Secretary Rumsfeld's energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4910950.stm

[yellowcanine]

14. A "vote of confidence" by a president 60% of the people have lost

confidence in. How does that help Rummy? Just askin'.

[Wetzelbill]

15. from a public standpoint it doesn't

but since Bush is the actual guy who has to fire him it may mean Rummy is sticking around for a while. However, it's probably just the administration's way of refusing to admit the Iraq War was a mistake in the first place and a biblical fuck up ever since the initial phase was deemed over.

[cliss]

18. There is a very interesting thread over at

Daily Kos speculating the same thing. One person wrote that "the retired generals are in fact in touch with the active duty generals. They are the ones complaining, but it's seen as less dangerous for the retired ones to speak out".

We all know how supportive Rummy is of differences of opinion.

So it's the retired AND active duty commanders who are upset. NOW we're talking about "thousands and thousands" like Crummy said yesterday.

Now here's the question: if nothing is done, can the generals mutineer on Rummy?

[Wetzelbill]

19. they can mutiny but they won't

:)

Yeah, Rummy is so supportive of different opinions that if you give one as an active general you get to be like Eric Shinseki and become a retired one. :)