DNC Press Release: You're Doing a Heckuva Job, Rummy!
Fri Apr 14, 1:19 PM ET
To: National Desk
Contact: Karen Finney of the DNC Press Office, 202-863-8148
WASHINGTON, April 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a release from the Democratic National Committee:
When was the last time we heard the president say, you're doing a heck of a job? The last time, President Bush heaped praise on former FEMA head Michael Brown, who resigned only a few weeks later in the wake of enormous public outcry over the incompetent federal response to Hurricane Katrina. But, in the latest example of the Bush Administration's appetite for incompetence, despite twice offering his resignation and despite the news of six former Generals calling for him to step down, President Bush beleives that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is doing a "fine job" and "a heck of a good job."
"President Bush's refusal to recognize that its time to make a change and fire Secretary Rumsfeld is symptomatic of his Administration's incompetent and failed leadership," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "Hasn't President Bush realized that its time to stop ignoring the advice of our military experts and commanders with direct experience in Iraq? Democrats will continue to fight for change, not more of the same failed Bush policies on Iraq."
Rumsfeld Has Twice Offered His Resignation To President Bush. "Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld says he twice offered President Bush his resignation during the height of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal, but the president refused to accept it. In an interview Thursday on CNN's 'Larry King Live,' Rumsfeld said: 'I submitted my resignation to President Bush twice during that period and told him that ... I felt that he ought to make the decision as to whether or not I stayed on. And he made that decision and said he did want me to stay on.'" (CNN.com, 2/5/05)
But, Bush Continues To Heap Praise On Rumsfeld...
Bush: Rumsfeld Is Doing A "Fine Job." "US President George W. Bush has full confidence in embattled Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld despite calls from several retired generals for his resignation, the White House said Thursday. 'Yes, the president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very fine job during a challenging period in our nation's history,' said White House spokesman Scott McClellan when asked if Bush still had confidence in the defense secretary." (AFP, 4/14/06)
Bush: Rumsfeld Is Doing A "Heck Of A Good Job." "Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of Rumsfeld's departure from Bush's Cabinet. But the president said in an interview being aired Wednesday on Fox News Channel that the Pentagon chief wasn't leaving anytime soon. 'End of my term is a long time, but I tell you, he's done a heck of a good job,' Bush said, 'and I have no intention of changing him.' ... Bush's 'heck of a good job' remarks about Rumsfeld recalled the wording of his praise of then-FEMA chief Michael Brown during a visit to the Gulf Coast in early September to inspect damage from Hurricane Katrina. 'Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job,' Bush said. Brown later resigned in the face of heavy criticism of his performance." (AP, 12/14/05)
... Even As 6 Retired Generals Have Recently Called for Rumsfeld's Resignation
Army Maj. Gen. John Riggs: Rumsfeld Ignores, Discounts Military Advice. Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Riggs said Rumsfeld created an "atmosphere of arrogance" at the Pentagon in which military advice on Afghanistan and Iraq was ignored or discounted. "We just grossly underestimated the numbers of soldiers we would need," said Riggs, who was forced to retire in 2004 minus one star after he gave an interview in which he said the Army had been stretched thin in Afghanistan and Iraq and needed thousands more troops. He said Thursday that it was time for someone to lead the Pentagon who could work with the top military brass in a more practical manner. "They only need the military advice when it fits their agenda," he said of Rumsfeld and his civilian deputies. "I think that's a mistake, and I think that's why he should resign." (Knight Ridder, 4/14/06)
Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack Jr.: Rumsfeld Responsible For "Absolute Failures" In Iraq War. "We need to continue to fight the global war on terror and keep it off our shores," said Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack Jr., who led troops on the ground in Iraq as recently as 2004 as the commander of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division. "But I do not believe Secretary Rumsfeld is the right person to fight that war based on his absolute failures in managing the war against Saddam in Iraq." (New York Times, 4/14/06)
Maj. Gen. John Batiste: "We Need A Fresh Start In The Pentagon." Asked whether Rumsfeld should resign, retired two-star Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the Big Red One - the Army's 1st Infantry Division - in Iraq until November, said, "I believe we need a fresh part in the Pentagon. We need a leader who understands team work, a leader who knows how to build teams, a leader that does it without intimidation... I think we need senior military leaders who understand the principles of war and apply them ruthlessly, and when the time comes, they need to call it like it is." (New York Daily News, 4/13/06; CNN, 4/12/06)
Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton: Rumsfeld "Not Competent To Lead Our Armed Forces." Retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton said that, "Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld is not competent to lead our armed forces. First, his failure to build coalitions with our allies from what he dismissively called 'old Europe' has imposed far greater demands and risks on our soldiers in Iraq than necessary. Second, he alienated his allies in our own military, ignoring the advice of seasoned officers and denying subordinates any chance for input. In sum, he has shown himself incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically, and is far more than anyone else responsible for what has happened to our important mission in Iraq. Mr. Rumsfeld must step down. In the five years Mr. Rumsfeld has presided over the Pentagon, I have seen a climate of groupthink become dominant and a growing reluctance by experienced military men and civilians to challenge the notions of the senior leadership." (New York Times, 3/19/06)
Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold: "We Don't Need To Be Fooled Again." Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold argued that, "We need fresh ideas and fresh faces. That means, as a first step, replacing Rumsfeld and many others unwilling to fundamentally change their approach. The troops in the Middle East have performed their duty. Now we need people in Washington who can construct a unified strategy worthy of them. It is time to send a signal to our nation, our forces and the world that we are uncompromising on our security but are prepared to rethink how we achieve it. It is time for senior military leaders to discard caution in expressing their views and ensure that the President hears them clearly. And that we won't be fooled again." (Time, 4/17/06)
Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni: Rumsfeld Should "Absolutely" Resign. Asked if anyone should resign in the face of the crisis in Iraq, retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, who was the chief of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees Iraq and the rest of the Middle East, said, "Absolutely." Asked who, Zinni responded, "Secretary of Defense, to begin with." Zinni also said, "there's a series of disastrous mistakes. We just heard the secretary of state say these were tactical mistakes. These were not tactical mistakes. These were strategic mistakes, mistakes of policy made back here. Don't blame the troops. They're the ones that perform the tactics on the ground. They've been magnificent. If anything saves this, it will be them." (NBC News, Meet the Press, 4/2/06)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060414/pl_usnw/dnc_press_release__you_re_doing_a_heckuva_job__rummy301_xml
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