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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Americans want Rummy to Stay on Job |
| 2004-05-07 |
| Most Americans express dismay about the abuse of Iraqi detainees by U.S. soldiers, and the nation divides on whether the Bush administration sought at first to investigate the scandal — or to cover it up. Let’s start with the good news Yet more than six in 10 also see these incidents as isolated, and say they should not cost Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld his job. 69% but let’s round down Three-quarters of the public are closely following the story, a level of attention reserved for some of the most gripping news events. Two-thirds favor criminal charges against the soldiers involved; fewer — but still a majority — 54 percent, say punishment should go up the chain of command to higher-level officers who allowed a breakdown of training and discipline. |
| Posted by:Mr. Davis |
| #15 Aris, in our system, the civilian leadership of the DOD is there for oversight which can in the extreme can become micro-management. You are right that a SecDef can be derelict with regard to oversight, but the operational chain-of-command is separate and I believe skips the Sec Def and goes directly to the Commander-in-Chief. It has been several years since I had to memorize my two chains-of-command. Regardless, I don't think that Rumsfeld should be the bagman on this one. I would like to see him appoint a Pentagon working group to reorganize logistics and procedures for war zone detention facilities and practices. I believe that the military did an excellent job with regard to the logistics of getting the chicken wire and plywood where is needed to be, but we didn't do so well with regard to training. I don't have a problem with using contract personnel in detention centers or even with contracting out the entire detention operation, but it has to be done effectively by a qualified contractor. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-05-08 5:25:55 AM |
| #14 Aris, this is an American thing. Don't butt in. I'm not a cultural relativist to think that this matters. But as you wish. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2004-05-07 11:53:55 PM |
| #13 Barbara, you should suggest it in an email! Welcome aboard as a "dues-paying member" of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy! Aris, this is an American thing. Don't but in. (Asking Rummy to resign over this is outrageous.) |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-05-07 11:40:45 PM |
| #12 "The notion that Rumsfeld-- or anyone else, for that matter, other than personnel in the unit where this incident took place-- should resign over this, is completely asinine. " In democracies the political authorities are responsible for the deeds and misdeeds of the army. Resigning in response may be an exaggeration, but hardly "completely asinine". |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2004-05-07 11:35:06 PM |
| #11 Jen - Already done both. I'll transfer some money out of my PayPal account to cover it. A check's even more of a pain, since there's the envelope to address, stamp to find, etc. I'm just saying any of the candidates could probably get more money if they had PayPal buttons. They need to make it as easy as possible for people to part with their money. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-05-07 10:56:13 PM |
| #10 I'm sure they'd take a check, Barbara, but why not drag out the credit card and head on over to GeorgeWBush.com? And we want Thune to kick Daschle to the curb BIG TIME! |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-05-07 9:24:21 PM |
| #9 Jen, I think both Thune and Bush are missing out on some money by not having a PayPal button. I'm pissed enough right now to drag out the credit card, but I would have donated sooner if I could have tapped by PayPal account. Wonder why they don't have PayPal and Amazon buttons? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-05-07 9:17:09 PM |
| #8 Barbara, hon, being on a political mailing list isn't so bad... I loved getting a White House Christmas card, postmarked Crawford, from George and Laura Bush! Now, maybe if I hock my mink, I could donate enough to get invited to one of those parties to meet them! |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-05-07 8:55:59 PM |
| #7 Join me in not only telling the White House to keep Rumsfeld, and writing a check to Bush/Cheney 04, but also donating to Thune in South Dakota. We need to get rid of the obstructionist Daschle. As loath as I am to get on a political mailing list, our country's future is just too important to sit this one out. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-05-07 8:50:39 PM |
| #6 The radical left & crack pot Islamo's hate the Rummy, thus he must remain and continue battling the enemy overseas so we do not have to combat these jihadists on a death wish, in the streets of NYC! Back the Rummy, dump the Dems. |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-05-07 8:32:49 PM |
| #5 I'm 55. I learn slow. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2004-05-07 8:20:05 PM |
| #4 Dave, You must be very young. This event has given the Democrat leadership the opportunity to relive the most golden moments of their youth, forcing LBJ and Nixon out of office. It just doesn't get any better than that for political boomers, and you're just going to have to put up with it until they die or are voted out of office. |
| Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-05-07 8:11:04 PM |
| #3 This whole incident has left me deeply ashamed. How could I have ever been a member of the Democratic Party? How, oh HOW, could I have ever believed that any of them were anything other than roaring assholes? HOW?????? The notion that Rumsfeld-- or anyone else, for that matter, other than personnel in the unit where this incident took place-- should resign over this, is completely asinine. And our endless hand-wringing over this months-old incident has got to leave the rest of the world wondering if we're a bunch of neurotic sissies. Fuck that. Let's get on with the damn war, and win it. As for me, I shall atone for my former Democratude by writing a check to Bush-Cheney '04. Let's win that war, too. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2004-05-07 8:05:01 PM |
| #2 Jen - Consider it done. However we have to shame the MN folks for electing a nitwit like "Sen" Mark Dayton And this bozo is the direct descendant of Johnathan Dayton who signed the Declaration of Independence? Grandpa must be spinning in his grave! |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-05-07 7:34:11 PM |
| #1 I hope you'll do what I did and send an email to President Bush saying you support SecDef Rumsfeld! Go to the White House site for the email link. |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-05-07 7:19:06 PM |