2008 Woodie Awards
Donald Rumsfeld has two choices: face the music or resign
Jonathan Pearson
Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: Forum
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The 74-year-old secretary of defense has endured much scrutiny recently with the conflict in Iraq - more specifically with his remarks two weeks ago at the American Legion convention comparing war critics to those wanting to negotiate with Adolph Hitler in the 1930s, according to Capitol Hill's "The Hill."
Rumsfeld blamed the media for "dividing our country" and war critics for the "challenges in efforts to confront the rising threat of a new type of fascism."
"Those who know the truth need to speak out against these kinds of myths and distortions that are being told about our troops and about our country," Rumsfeld said. "America is not what's wrong with the world."
Democrats didn't wait to see if Rumsfeld would resign - they took on the initiative themselves.
On Labor Day, top Democrats in the House and Senate wrote a letter to President Bush "demanding a new direction in Iraq" and included a "phased withdrawal of U.S. troops starting before the end of 2006," according to a Reuters report.
That letter led many more Democrats, and surprisingly some Republicans, to last Wednesday's push for a no-confidence vote on Rumsfeld.
"These assertions were offensive and indicative of a secretary of defense who has lost his way," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., "[and] who is not capable of overseeing America's defense or certainly a new direction in Iraq, who is more concerned, it seems, with the Bush administration's political fortunes than the safety and security of the American people, and who must be replaced."
"The [American Legion] speech proved that Rumsfeld isn't willing to listen," New Jersey Republican Senate candidate Tom Kean, Jr. said. "It's time for a fresh approach."
That didn't stop Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., from voicing his support of Rumsfeld and President Bush on NBC's "Meet the Press."
"I think Secretary Rumsfeld has done a fine job as the defense secretary," Santorum said, who also believes that President Bush is doing "a terrific job."
Rumsfeld blamed the media for "dividing our country" and war critics for the "challenges in efforts to confront the rising threat of a new type of fascism."
"Those who know the truth need to speak out against these kinds of myths and distortions that are being told about our troops and about our country," Rumsfeld said. "America is not what's wrong with the world."
Democrats didn't wait to see if Rumsfeld would resign - they took on the initiative themselves.
On Labor Day, top Democrats in the House and Senate wrote a letter to President Bush "demanding a new direction in Iraq" and included a "phased withdrawal of U.S. troops starting before the end of 2006," according to a Reuters report.
That letter led many more Democrats, and surprisingly some Republicans, to last Wednesday's push for a no-confidence vote on Rumsfeld.
"These assertions were offensive and indicative of a secretary of defense who has lost his way," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., "[and] who is not capable of overseeing America's defense or certainly a new direction in Iraq, who is more concerned, it seems, with the Bush administration's political fortunes than the safety and security of the American people, and who must be replaced."
"The [American Legion] speech proved that Rumsfeld isn't willing to listen," New Jersey Republican Senate candidate Tom Kean, Jr. said. "It's time for a fresh approach."
That didn't stop Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., from voicing his support of Rumsfeld and President Bush on NBC's "Meet the Press."
"I think Secretary Rumsfeld has done a fine job as the defense secretary," Santorum said, who also believes that President Bush is doing "a terrific job."
Be the first to comment on this story