Frustration with Rumsfeld

© Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, May 7, 2006

I am sorry, but Donald Rumsfeld is the Republican version of Robert McNamara.  His arrogance is exceeded only by his idiocy.  He led American troops to a magnificent victory over the Iraqi Army only to allow our military men and women to become fodder for a violent insurgency arising during the occupation for which he was too incompetent to plan.  Now, our people face the possibility of a sectarian civil war. 

If I sound angry, frustrated, and hostile, it is because I am.  Rumsfeld could have managed our forces to a more effective occupation of Iraq.  The problem was and is that this pitiable excuse for a human being was and is hell bent upon fighting this war “on the cheap.”  He has, and our military people have died.

There is no doubt that we needed an additional 100,000 troops to sustain our victory, but the good Secretary did not see it that way.  It is true that the generals did not ask for the additional troops, but I believe that they were intimidated and felt that they should submit to the Secretary’s whims.

I am almost in favor of a Constitutional amendment that will require that NO Secretary of Defense can be appointed who has NOT served in the armed forces of the United States.

Last week, Rumsfeld was harangued by protesters in Atlanta.  In particular, former CIA analyst, Ray McGovern, questioned the Secretary about the validity of a number of his statements prior to the invasion of Iraq.  The Secretary looked like a wayward child that had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

There is no doubt that Secretary Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney presented an inaccurate picture of the situation in Iraq just prior to the time we invaded.  I have been honest and admitted that they sold me on the importance of intervention.  I supported the invasion.   It is crystal clear now that the Secretary of Defense and the Vice President were either grossly deceived or were among the best liars of the age.

This mess isn’t going away. 

Likely, we will have to engage the Iranians in the not to distant future.  Ever present in the background, are the North Koreans.  It, also, appears that we are ratcheting up the “Cold War” again with Cheney’s “shots” against the Russians.

Troubling is the fact that our military forces are tired.  Our National Guard and Reserves have performed brilliantly, but they are wearing down.  Is there a draft in our future?

And as for George Bush…he’s still lost in Alabama.

Where are the Harry Truman Democrats or the Chester A. Arthur Republicans?

Where are the leaders, who will do what is right for the country and let party, petty interest groups, and factions be damned?

We have too many politicians.

Where have all the statesmen gone?