Which Is/Was Worse: Rumsfeld or Gates?

[MannyGoldstein]

Are you glad that Rumsfeld was replaced? Or wish he were still there?

[juno jones]

1. Gates seems more pragmatic...

...probably remembers some historical lessons vis a vis land wars in Asia. Still a republican toady tho...

[napi21]

2. So far at least, Gates is much better. He actually speaks English!

Not whatever that language was that Rummy always reverted to with hisknown, knowns, and unknown unknowns crap! Inever felt I could believe a word Rummy ever said.

Maybe Gates is just more clever, I don't know yet. But at least most of what he says sounds believable.

[stillcool]

3. the Gitmo statement threw me...

and now that I think of it... his statements seem to reflect reality. Odd.

[Pirate Smile]

4. Gates actually seems somewhat decent and sane, unlike Rumsfeld.

[davekriss]

5. Rumsfeld = worst Defense Secretary in US history

Rumsfeld has set the standard for biggest nincompoop ever at the helm of the US military. It will take a lot and maybe another 200 years for anyone to exceed it.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Gates is an all-right guy, for a water-carrier. Rumsfeld was seated

at Satan's right hand. Satan = Cheney.

[Cabcere]

7. One of my very conservative friends

(who claims not to associate with any particular party, but yet is very pro-war and believes liberals are traitors and terrorist-supporters :eyes: ) hates Rumsfeld. We actually had a conversation online a week or so ago, and he just started bashing Rumsfeld, which was kind of surprising for me. (He had no idea what position Rumsfeld had served in or what that entailed, however.) :shrug:

As for myself, I'm leaning towards the idea that Gates is okay - he does at least seem to have some sense of decency, and the fact that he publicly acknowledged the Walter Reed issue instead of trying to dodge it with some "you get treated in the hospital you have, not the hospital you want" bullshit is a plus for him in my book. I'm still wary of him, of course, but he seems like a step in the right direction (which, for this administration, isn't saying a whole lot). :shrug: We'll see, I guess.

[SharonRB]

8. So far I've been surprisingly impressed by Gates

He's no Rummy, who was a disaster. Maybe Gates just looks good in comparison, but he's definitely an improvement. His initial reaction to the travesty at Walter Reed was what one would hope for -- I'm sure Rummy wouldn't have seemed as honestly disturbed by what was going on there.

[Vidar]

9. Gates by several light years.

[bemildred]

10. Is this a trick question? nt