Article

2003-10-22 Terror Networks

Damn Rumsfield.... never happy with the status quo

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Posted by Damn_Proud_American 2003-10-22 10:28:55 AM|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I agree that this memo shows Rumsfeld in good light as he challenging his people.

But, whoever leaked this should be punished severely.

Posted by JAB 2003-10-22 10:51:38 AM|| 2003-10-22 10:51:38 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 How do we stop those who are financing the radical madrassa schools?

Cut all ties between Saudi Arabia and the civilized world?

Posted by Robert Crawford 2003-10-22 10:56:44 AM|| [http://www.kloognome.com] 2003-10-22 10:56:44 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 I agree, at the very least whoever leaked this should be fired immediately. If there is a possiblity of criminal charges then they should be filed as well.

Posted by Damn_Proud_American 2003-10-22 10:57:19 AM|| 2003-10-22 10:57:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 From the AP...

"Three members of Congress who met with Rumsfeld Wednesday morning said the defense secretary gave them copies of the memo and discussed it with them. "

I guess we know how the memo got to the public now ;)

Posted by Damn_Proud_American 2003-10-22 11:02:56 AM|| 2003-10-22 11:02:56 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 I don't see how the media will be able to spin this negatively, but I'm sure they will!

Posted by g wiz 2003-10-22 11:07:35 AM|| 2003-10-22 11:07:35 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 The memo makes clear that Rumsfeld is challenging his subordinates to confront the problem of global terrorism head-on, and come up with solutions even if they entail drastic changes to our way of operating.

Unfortunately, this is being spun (and I'm sure this is just the beginning of the spin) as "pessimism" in some cynical political game to erode public confidence in the Administration's conduct of the WoT.

Forget dismissal or criminal charges against whoever leaked this memo; whoever did it deserves to be shot.

Posted by Dave D. 2003-10-22 11:22:41 AM|| 2003-10-22 11:22:41 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 "Do we need a new organization?"

Don't think so,we have SOC(Special Operations Command),give them more troops,more/better/state of the art equipment,all the support they want.Give them the authority to go where they need to go,do what needs to be done and let them get on with buisness.

Posted by Raptor 2003-10-22 11:24:46 AM|| 2003-10-22 11:24:46 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 It is so refreshing to see a real person dealing with the issues, instead of pretending the world actually runs on sound bytes and that policies should be carved in stone - so they can bash you with it the instant reality passes them by. I worked for a real person, a thinking and creative person, like this once - and it was challenging and fun. I don't know how this leak will play out, but this memo has renewed my faith in Rummy - and our chances of seeing the WoT to the end and, thus, the survival of the US and our way of life. I hope it gives all of the leaf-eaters a massive case of heartburn.

Posted by .com 2003-10-22 11:52:53 AM|| 2003-10-22 11:52:53 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Slightly OT : about the pace of the WOT (not an original thought; read it on a forum yesterday. Original thoughts are not my style).
Given the various reports of islamofascists longing for GWB's demise during your next elections (or even "a democrat president that would bring back the US in the UN"), and the hatred he seems to generate among fundamentalists, wouldn't it make sense for AQ & co. to launch attacks now or in the near future. Shortly before the election would be counterproductive (americans would rally behind him); after would be pointless; but acting while the iraqi situation is not yet undercontrol, media coverage is not favorable and legitimacy of the war uncertain, would certainly harm the candidacy of GWB.
Does anybody believe US politics may be taken in account by AQ strategists?

Posted by A real Anonymous 2003-10-22 12:07:41 PM|| 2003-10-22 12:07:41 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 The spin has already started, and as predicted here by Dave D. - USA Today is reporting Rumsfeld's "pessimism" on the WOT. If Rummy stays true to form, he'll set the record straight....not that it will stop the spin machine of the leftist media.

Posted by Rex Mundi 2003-10-22 12:44:11 PM|| 2003-10-22 12:44:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 I don't know whether AQ takes into account US politics... I personally think they are far to unorganized now to have strategic focus of that nature. Before our response to 9/11, I think they most likely did view things in that nature but now they strike me as a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off. They are killing more muslims with their recent attacks than us infidels... Any attack on the US from now till the election would make a Bush re-election more likely. Most rational people are at the very least unsure of whether the democrats can prosecute the war on terror. The only thing the Democrats can hope for is that enough people forget 9/11 before the election for them to win.

Posted by Damn_Proud_American 2003-10-22 12:47:23 PM|| 2003-10-22 12:47:23 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 AQ is very aware of US politics. They believe that they can weaken our resolve and run us out of the middle east. Their actions in that region are, and have been, calibrated to make it politically painful for US leaders to be there. September 11 hopefully changed this by forcing us to view our presence in the ME as worth the cost in blood, treasure and political capital. But AQ and other islamofascists are still betting they can prevail as they did in Mogadishu.

Posted by JAB 2003-10-22 12:56:06 PM|| 2003-10-22 12:56:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 I guess we know how the memo got to the public now ;)

Yes, and if this memo were supposed to be confidential in any way, I hope it had some sort of "canary" built into it so the leaker can be arrested and slammed in jail.

We're at war; it's time we started acting like it.

Posted by Robert Crawford 2003-10-22 1:49:47 PM|| [http://www.kloognome.com] 2003-10-22 1:49:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 The only problem with this memo is that it misses the most critical premise: do current members of the government, at any level and in any branch, feel comfortable with the status quo? If they do, they need to be fired. There's a lot of work to be done, and the biggest handicap we have are people who are too stubborn, too stupid, or too deeply ingrained in the way things "have always been done" to make the necessary changes to meet the challenges we face. There needs to be a massive firing spree in DC and elsewhere, with new faces willing to do things that need to be done, instead of pissing and moaning about "we've always done it this way". That's what led to the problem in the first place.

Posted by Old Patriot 2003-10-22 3:03:22 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm] 2003-10-22 3:03:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#15 I am not so sure they are aware of U.S. politics. If they were, then the timing of 9/11 was a major mistake. It would have better served thier purposes if GWB was not in office. Could this be a problem of contracting-out terrorist ideas and plans to cells without direct control?
It is hard to believe that UBL would have chosen to kill 3,000 Americans on Bush's watch instead of Clinton's.

Posted by Sgt.DT 2003-10-22 3:16:35 PM|| 2003-10-22 3:16:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#16 It is hard to believe that UBL would have chosen to kill 3,000 Americans on Bush's watch instead of Clinton's.

He had no reason to believe Bush would be any different; the previous Bush had left Saddam in power and had not seized control of Kuwait's oil fields.

Posted by Robert Crawford 2003-10-22 4:21:48 PM|| [http://www.kloognome.com] 2003-10-22 4:21:48 PM|| Front Page Top

#17 Rummy is a man among mice. Unfortunately, the mice control the entire Democratic party.

Posted by someone 2003-10-22 4:33:01 PM|| 2003-10-22 4:33:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#18 About troop numbers there's hundreds of thousands soldiers laid off in the past few years in China,Nepal,Nigeria,Europe,Canada and Central America that can be screened,recruited and re-trained in short time by promising citenzenship after ten years of service. The US does this already but in a limited basis with immigrants.By placing already trained officer and NCOs over them and deploy them like the French Foriegn Legion we can bring most of the overseas troops home

Posted by Observer 80 2003-10-22 7:00:53 PM|| 2003-10-22 7:00:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#19 I don't see the memo as damaging at all and I doubt Rummy would care that much that it is on the street. I watched a facinating CSPAN show where the camera person tagged along with different members of Rummy's staff throughout the workday and conducted mini-interviews.

Most of what is in this memo was in the show as well. I liked watching Peter Pace explain what his function was. The camera person hung with Victoria Clark and you got a feeling for how the different meetings were arranged.

Rumsfeld is so active that his desk does not have a chair. I read some criticism in Rantburg the other day that implied that the DOD won the war and then just went status quo until the other day when oversight was handed to Condi Rice. That story didn't jibe with the flavor I got from CSPAN.

As for A'Quedas goals and strategy, someone on Rantsburg recommended this article called Al Qaedaâs Fantasy Ideology By Lee Harris. I found it enlightening and encouraging. Don't let any quagmire dwellers get ahold of this article as it would ruin Christmas.

Posted by Super Hose 2003-10-22 8:31:52 PM|| 2003-10-22 8:31:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#20 Observer said:
About troop numbers there's hundreds of thousands soldiers laid off in the past few years in China,Nepal,Nigeria,Europe,Canada and Central America that can be screened,recruited and re-trained in short time by promising citenzenship after ten years of service

That isn't much different than what the Romans did when they became so ennervated that they wouldn't fight to defend themselves. This isn't a good idea at all.

Posted by R. McLeod 2003-10-23 1:26:53 AM|| 2003-10-23 1:26:53 AM|| Front Page Top

#21 Why not I have no problem with other races

Posted by Observer 80 2003-10-23 9:00:01 AM|| 2003-10-23 9:00:01 AM|| Front Page Top

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