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April 22, 2006Is Rummy Getting Desperate?Who wants to get into a cat-fight with former President Gerald Ford? But it does seem something of an act of desperation on the part of the pro-Rumsfeld camp that the 92-year-old Ford, who was the first president to hire Donald Rumsfeld as a defense secretary, issued a statement supporting Rummy. My hunch is that Ford wouldn't have done so without first consulting Rumsfeld, who also served as Ford's chief of staff at the White House. Below is the complete statement--and I have a reason for posting the whole thing, so read on: I have been extremely troubled by the efforts of a group of retired generals to force the resignation of our Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. President Bush is right to keep him in his post. It is the President's decision -- and his alone. Allowing retired generals to dictate our country's policies and its leadership would be a dangerous precedent that would severely undermine our country's long tradition of civilian control of the military. It would discourage civilian leaders at the Department from having frank and candid exchanges with military officers. And, today, at a time of war, such an effort sends exactly the wrong message both to our troops deployed abroad and to our enemies who are watching for any signs of weakness or self-doubt. When I carried out my duties as Commander in Chief, I relied on a man who I appointed first as White House Chief of Staff and later asked to serve the country as Secretary of Defense. In those times, I needed someone with creativity, vision, and courage. And I found those qualities -- and much more -- in Don Rumsfeld. President Bush came to office with an ambitious agenda to reform and modernize America's military. He knew that Don, who had been in the job before, was extremely well suited to take on this challenge and contend with a bureaucracy that has a built-in resistance to change. The President knew that successfully carrying out these missions, against stiff resistance, takes someone with a certain amount of steel. When America's security remains under threat and terrorists plot to attack us at home, our country is fortunate that we have a Secretary and a Commander-in-chief in President Bush with the character and steadiness to hold firm to the right course. Millions of Americans are proud and grateful for what they are undertaking. Betty and I count ourselves among them. Pop quiz: how many times did Ford mention Iraq in that statement? Not once. If a Rumsfeld advocate cannot say, "he's done a heckuva job with Iraq," then there's no reason to view their praise of Rumsfeld as a true vote of confidence. Of course, anyone who did say such a thing about Rumsfeld and Iraq would not be credible. Sort of a Catch 22 for Rummy's side. Posted by David Corn at April 22, 2006 11:06 PM |
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"HUBRIS is a bold and provocative book that will quickly become an explosive part of the national debate on how we got involved in Iraq." --Tom Brokaw |
Comments
Mr. David Corn,
It made me laugh when I heard about Ford.
Beyond desperate. Tragic!
HA!
Thanks
Kirk
Posted by: capt at April 22, 2006 11:22 PM
Who did Karl Rove assign to write this for Gerald Ford's 92-YO signature?
Posted by: caroline at April 22, 2006 11:25 PM
Ford sez: our country is fortunate that we have a Secretary and a Commander-in-chief in President Bush with the character and steadiness to hold firm to the right course.
Yeah, Mr. Ford, this team stays the course all right...they are holding back the sea with a pitch fork.
Posted by: micki at April 22, 2006 11:35 PM
They're all the same. No one with any balls out there whatsoever. The Bushies are on par with God Himself no matter WHAT they do wrong.
Posted by: ¼C¼arol at April 22, 2006 11:41 PM
I just can't quit you George!
Sunday, April 23, 2006
ÔBush asked Blair to quit Iraq coalitionÕ
* British PM pledged to stay even if it cost government
LONDON: US President George W Bush told Tony Blair in 2003 that he should quit the coalition confronting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein rather than risk a collapse in his support at home, Bush said in an interview published Saturday.
The president said heÕd made the suggestion to his close ally as the British prime minister faced a revolt from lawmakers after Britain and America failed to get a UN resolution that the vast majority of Britons wanted if their country was to go to war against Iraq.
ÒOf course, we were watching this very closely,Ó The Daily Telegraph quoted Bush as saying in an Oval Office interview. ÒAnd it was during that period of time, in a phone call, when I told Tony, I said, ÔRather than lose your government, withdraw from the coalition,Õ because I felt it was very important for him to be the prime minister at this point in our relationship.Ó
ÒAnd thatÕs when he told me, ÔIÕm staying, even if it costs me my government,ÕÓ Bush said. ÒAnd I remember reporting the story back here to my National Security Council, all of whom were as equally as impressed as I was, because I appreciate courage, and I appreciate somebody standing for what he believes.Ó
The House of Commons backed Blair on the war, but the majority of the public was against it and the continuing violence in Iraq has damaged him politically.
BlairÕs office had no immediate comment on the report. ap
Posted by: micki at April 23, 2006 12:05 AM
Mr. Corn,
Upon careful examination this letter proves itself to be nothing more than the same type of letter Ford would write if Rumsfeld were looking for a job at Citibank, or General Motors. It was most likely a form letter that one of Ford's assistants polished up and made relevant for Rumsfeld. The letter does not address Rumsfeld's actions in the war, it talks in an ambiguous way about personality and character qualities. My mother possesses all of the same qualities, yet most anyone would agree that she should not be in charge of the US Military.
Posted by: True Patriot at April 23, 2006 07:05 AM
True Patriot, your mom would probably do a better job than Rumsfailed!
Posted by: Kid Charlemagne at April 23, 2006 08:57 AM
One of the things that surprised me about the WaPo report on this was that it failed entirely to mention anything about the Ford administration whatsoever. There are millions of US citizens who have no clue about Ford, and to simply suggest he was a former President does a disservice to history as well as to reality. For example, who replaced Rummy as Ford's chief of staff when he moved to SecDef? Oh, yes, that's correct, Dick Cheney. And to what position did the puppet masters (VP was Rockefeller and SecState Kissinger among others such as Schlesinger, Simon, and Haig) appoint the former post '73 Ambassador to China GHW Bush? Yes, you are correct again, Director of the CIA.
Ford was, until Bush, considered to be the dumbest president ever ("he played too many games of football without a helmet" was the oft-repeated statement, along with "he couldn't chew gum and walk at the same time"). The cabal that controlled him 30 years ago is the same one that controls W now. IF that doesn't get reported in the MSM there must be a reason?????
Posted by: spyder at April 23, 2006 11:31 AM
I have no problem with trying to modernize our military forces but Bushitler's approach of endless wars will destroy military morale and our men and women who serve in our military armed forces.
Posted by: Gerald at April 23, 2006 02:50 PM
I GUESS YOU'VE ALL SEEN THIS:
The Plans for Iran/Seymour Hersh
It came out when I was sick, so I assume you all have. If not, it is essential reading.
I am in a state of shock.
Posted by: Carey at April 23, 2006 08:21 PM
My image is a crazed Rummy threatening and terrorizing Betty and Gerald to sign the piece. Give me a break. Ford, nice guy, but could not have written that at his prime.... and he is far gone from what I hear. His kids should be POed with the exploitation.
Time to exhume Ron Reagan??? Nancy would tell Rummy and little George where to go....
Posted by: jason at April 23, 2006 10:26 PM
Does Mr. Ford have anything to say about ex-presidents trying to impact personel and policy decisions? At least a lot of those generals were working in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Posted by: John at April 23, 2006 10:26 PM
Ford is right that it is not the generals' decision but the president's. However you'd have to be a dumbass not to seek the the council of the military leaders when pertaining to military matters.
Posted by: Ryan at April 25, 2006 07:42 PM
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