Rumsfeld "clarifies and expands" recent remarks for the LAT

[Rose Siding]

-If, that is, by "clarifies and expands" he means "restates, amplifies and moves a step closer to calling critics terrorists, with bonus attacks on the press"

The secretary of Defense clarifies and expands on what he said in his recent speeches about appeasing extremists.
...
• Can we truly afford to pretend that the threats today are simply "law enforcement" problems rather than fundamentally different threats requiring fundamentally different approaches?

• Can we truly afford to return to the destructive view that America — not the enemy — is the real source of the world's troubles?
...
The last question is particularly important, because this is the first war of the 21st century — a war that, to a great extent, will be fought in the media on a global stage. We cannot allow the terrorists' lies and myths to be repeated without question or challenge.
...
Consider that a database search of the nation's leading newspapers turns up 10 times as many mentions of one of the soldiers punished for misconduct at Abu Ghraib than of Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in the global war on terror.

Then there is the case of Amnesty International, a long-respected human-rights organization, which called the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay the "gulag of our times" — a reference to the vast system of Soviet prisons and labor camps where innocent citizens were starved, tortured and murdered. The facility at Guantanamo Bay, by contrast, includes a volleyball court, basketball court, soccer field and library (the book most requested is "Harry Potter"). The food, served in accordance with Islamic diets, costs more per detainee than the average U.S. military ration.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-rumsfeld1sep01,0,1646854.story?track=mostviewed-homepage

[rodeodance]

1. He also wrote letters to top Dems.

[rodeodance]

2. here, Rumsfeld reaches out to Democrats

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060902/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/r...

Rumsfeld reaches out to Democrats

By ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 9 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld reached out to Democrats late Friday, opening up the door for them to retract their stinging indictment of him as Pentagon chief.


In a letter to Congress's top Democrats, Rumsfeld said recent remarks he made during a speech in Salt Lake City were misrepresented by the media, including by the Associated Press. Rumsfeld said he was "concerned" by the reaction of Democrats, many of whom called for his resignation and said he was treading on dangerous territory.........

"I know you agree that with America under attack and U.S. troops in the field, our national debate on this should be constructive," Rumsfeld wrote Friday.


"Thought and careful preparation went into what I said," Rumsfeld wrote in the letter. "It is absolutely essential for us to look at lessons of history in this critical moment in the war on terror." I was honored by the reception my statements received from our veterans.......

[C_U_L8R]

3. That's not reaching out..

that's the great cornholio of the pentagon demanding "are you threatening me?"

[rodeodance]

6. yes, they are threatening him with a Resolution of no confidence.

[rodeodance]

5. rummy is a whinner

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/01/AR2006090101414_pf.html


......Pentagon press secretary Eric Ruff said the letter "reaffirms his Salt Lake City speech, and it suggests lawmakers who have criticized his remarks move beyond politics and read it for what it is."

Democrats said yesterday that they stood by their remarks.

"We did read the speech, and he makes comparisons to World War II" that are unjustified, said Brendan Daly, spokesman for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.). "He needs to explain that. We stand behind what we said."

Pelosi had said: "If Mr. Rumsfeld is so concerned with comparisons to World War II, he should explain why our troops have now been fighting in Iraq longer than it took our forces to defeat the Nazis in Europe."

[Rose Siding]

7. Hah! "Thought and careful preparation went into what I said"

"I REALLY meant every word! You ARE terrorist appeasers!"

[Rose Siding]

4. It's a Rummy Rant

He uses the same tired argument about appeasement, which Keith Olbermann so eloquently refuted, and piles with his slurs against a free press. Then he completely avoids the concept of redeployment and mischaracterizes the position of (most) critics as isolationists.

At first I thought the LAT felt they owed him column inches after calling his speech "cranky", but he just sounds more and more like a doddering old fool. It's good for people to see how advanced the rotting of his mind has become.

[w13rd0]

8. Rumsfeld...

...most clearly resembles Old Yellah. He should take a hunting trip with Cheney.