AP: Rummy stepping down

[xrayzebra]

^^Another confirmation of my beliefs. And he/she claims to be a Christian.

[ChumpDumper]

X, my biggest problem with Bushy is that he let Rummy and Cheney set the agenda as opposed to his father, who, if you remember, had Cheney agreeing that removing Sadaam would cause more problems than it would solve. Bushy looks like he has seen the light somewhat, and brought in all his daddy's realist compadres to advise him on Iraq, and now put one in as Secretary of Defense. It's too bad he forced out all his realists three years ago to accomodate Cheney and Rummy, it would have saved this country alot of problems had he listened to them.

[Crookshanks]

The hate just keeps coming and coming...

[SA210]

^^Another confirmation of my beliefs. And he/she claims to be a Christian.

Your President claims to be a Christian, and he has murdered thousands of innocent people and sent other innocent Americans to their death over an illegal war.

That's very Christ-like, huh.

Don't even answer that, I know how you think Xray, you should feel sad. You support a murderer and a liar who runs on being a Christian but does absolutely nothing Christian-like whatsoever.

[xrayzebra]

X, my biggest problem with Bushy is that he let Rummy and Cheney set the agenda as opposed to his father, who, if you remember, had Cheney agreeing that removing Sadaam would cause more problems than it would solve. Bushy looks like he has seen the light somewhat, and brought in all his daddy's realist compadres to advise him on Iraq, and now put one in as Secretary of Defense. It's too bad he forced out all his realists three years ago to accomodate Cheney and Rummy, it would have saved this country alot of problems had he listened to them.

Well Chump, you may be correct. But ultimately the boss is the boss and
must make the decisions. I was a boss for many years. And I always welcomed
and solicited suggestions. But like I told those that did come to me, I
must make the decision so don't be disheartened if your suggestion is not
taken. Because I have the responsibility for how the place is run.

So I don't blame Rumsfield or Cheney. Their job was advising. Bush
job was decision/policy making. The problem is, which I suspected,
when he was Governor of Texas, he is more liberal than conservative.
His Father had the same problem.

Did you hear what he said on minimum wage and immigration. Oh, boy.
It is going to be a long two years.

[xrayzebra]

Your President claims to be a Christian, and he has murdered thousands of innocent people and sent other innocent Americans to their death over an illegal war.

That's very Christ-like, huh.

Don't even answer that, I know how you think Xray, you should feel sad. You support a murderer and a liar who runs on being a Christian but does absolutely nothing Christian-like whatsoever.

No I feel sorry for people like you. That can't see pass their nose.
You think feeding a few people makes you an expert on helping others.
Really sad, really sad. There is so much more to life. But you will learn,
hopefully. There are many more people that need help than those that
live under a bridge and claim all kinds of problems with how they have
been treated. Look around. Please.

[boutons_]

November 8, 2006

Gates Faces Major Challenges at Helm of Pentagon

By THOM SHANKER and MARK MAZZETTI

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 — If he is confirmed as defense secretary, Robert M. Gates would take over a Pentagon whose ground forces are stretched and strained by an expensive war with no end in sight, and whose officer corps yearns to give unvarnished military advice without fear.

Senior military officers and Pentagon civilians, speaking today just after President Bush announced the resignation of Donald H. Rumsfeld, said that Mr. Gates’ long experience in intelligence would serve him well in the global campaign against terrorism. Ultimately, it is intelligence that guides the military’s firepower, they said.

But it will not be easy for Mr. Gates to repair communications with the uniformed military, said one officer. Sessions with the outgoing defense secretary have been nicknamed “the wire-brush treatment.”

One Air Force general said he thought the first month of Mr. Gates’ tenure would “make or break” his stint at the Pentagon, and that the new defense secretary’s first move should be to meet with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and listen candidly to the officers’ concerns about the strains on the all-volunteer force.

A senior civilian official at the Army said that, above all else, Mr. Gates must make the uniformed officer corps believe that he expects and even welcomes dissent.

“Inside the Pentagon, the belief is this current chairman and this current vice chairman were selected for their ability to get along with Rumsfeld,” he said, referring to Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his deputy, Adm. Edmund Giambastiani.

Other officers said that Mr. Gates’ biggest challenge would be balancing civilian control of the military with free rein for independent advice to filter up from the ranks.

Course corrections for Iraq are anticipated, but officials predicted that Mr. Rumsfeld’s push for future military transformation — the word itself, although without precise definition, came to define Mr. Rumsfeld’s goals — would be shelved while officials deal with immediate challenges that threaten to overwhelm both the military and its budget.

“Gates will focus less on transformation and more on understanding the world around us,” said one Pentagon official. “We all agree that needs to happen.”

Mr. Gates will face a Congress that is certain to be less hostile to him than it would have been to Mr. Rumsfeld had he stayed in. But Democrats were already laying down their markers today.

Rep. Ike Skelton, the Missouri Democrat in line to become chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said today that he intends to make oversight of the Pentagon and of the Administration’s military policies a top priority.

He said he would seek to recreate the subcommittee on investigations that was abolished in 1994 when Republicans took control of the House.

Pentagon officials said that they were waiting to see whether a number of senior commanders who had been asked, and even pressured, by Mr. Rumseld not to retire as scheduled would now decide to leave.

As for Mr. Rumsfeld’s top civilian aides, officials said it was likely that Mr. Gates would seek to retain Gordon England as the deputy defense secretary; Mr. England previously was Navy secretary, and has received high marks managing the day-to-day business of the Pentagon.

[SA210]

No I feel sorry for people like you. That can't see pass their nose.
You think feeding a few people makes you an expert on helping others.
Really sad, really sad. There is so much more to life. But you will learn,
hopefully. There are many more people that need help than those that
live under a bridge and claim all kinds of problems with how they have
been treated. Look around. Please.

When did I say this? You continue the spin and lies that you are known for. You really don't know anything about me. I know you think you do, but you don't.

I ask that you look around X, More than half the country wants change.
Amen to that.

[ChumpDumper]

I know Bush is The Decider. He showed terrible judgment listening to those two and he is to be held responsible for it -- but he's the guy who can do something about it over the next two years. There's no need for him to resign or be impreached -- who wants a President Cheney?

The problem is, which I suspected,
when he was Governor of Texas, he is more liberal than conservative.
His Father had the same problem.

I really don't have a clue what Bush really believes as far as foreign policy goes -- that's how badly eclipsed he has been by Cheney and Rummy. He's just realized those guys were wrong and removed the guy who was easier to remove. It will take months, but there will be some big changes in foreign policy coming.

For the better.

Did you hear what he said on minimum wage and immigration. Oh, boy.
It is going to be a long two years.

It'll go by pretty quick. Minimum wage is pretty much a nonissue and if the Democrats want to be elected in 08, there will be some kind of border strengthening.

[01Snake]

there will be some kind of border strengthening.

I ing hope so!

[01Snake]

When did I say this? You continue the spin and lies that you are known for. You really don't know anything about me. I know you think you do, but you don't.

By the you post, it doesn't require much to form a pretty good opinion of you.

[SA210]

By the you post, it doesn't require much to form a pretty good opinion of you.

[xrayzebra]

I know Bush is The Decider. He showed terrible judgment listening to those two and he is to be held responsible for it -- but he's the guy who can do something about it over the next two years. There's no need for him to resign or be impreached -- who wants a President Cheney?I really don't have a clue what Bush really believes as far as foreign policy goes -- that's how badly eclipsed he has been by Cheney and Rummy. He's just realized those guys were wrong and removed the guy who was easier to remove. It will take months, but there will be some big changes in foreign policy coming.

For the better.It'll go by pretty quick. Minimum wage is pretty much a nonissue and if the Democrats want to be elected in 08, there will be some kind of border strengthening.

Well Chump, never thought I would say it, but I have agree with you.
I don't really know, now, what his foreign policy is.

About border issues. I feel fairly certain what they are and I don't
agree with them. But that is me. The illegals need to get in line
and wait their turn. Otherwise just more of the same on down the line.

[xrayzebra]

I ask that you look around X, More than half the country wants change.
Amen to that.

You are going to get it. Back to the future. We have been there and
done that.

[ChumpDumper]

Well Chump, never thought I would say it, but I have agree with you.
I don't really know, now, what his foreign policy is.

About border issues. I feel fairly certain what they are and I don't
agree with them. But that is me. The illegals need to get in line
and wait their turn. Otherwise just more of the same on down the line.

The dirty little secret of continued economic expansion is continued hiring and employment of immigrants, legal or otherwise. Bush hasn't really found a way to package that in a way we can accept.

[xrayzebra]

The dirty little secret of continued economic expansion is continued hiring and employment of immigrants, legal or otherwise. Bush hasn't really found a way to package that in a way we can accept.

Real simple in my mind. Allow more in legally. I have no problem with
legal immigration. I just don't want to lose the country to a population
that doesn't wont to become a member of our society.

[PixelPusher]

I know Bush is The Decider. He showed terrible judgment listening to those two and he is to be held responsible for it -- but he's the guy who can do something about it over the next two years. There's no need for him to resign or be impreached -- who wants a President Cheney?I really don't have a clue what Bush really believes as far as foreign policy goes -- that's how badly eclipsed he has been by Cheney and Rummy. He's just realized those guys were wrong and removed the guy who was easier to remove. It will take months, but there will be some big changes in foreign policy coming.

For the better.It'll go by pretty quick. Minimum wage is pretty much a nonissue and if the Democrats want to be elected in 08, there will be some kind of border strengthening.

Chris Matthews on MSNBC says Cheney objected to Bush's decision to fire Rummy/hire Gates. I never thought I'd say this but...props to Bush for growing a pair and taking off the training wheels.

[Ocotillo]

Boy I'm glad I was wrong about this. I predicted Rummy would be out but that Lieberman would replace him so the Republican Governor could appoint a Republican replacement which would nullify the victories in Virginia and Montana.

Of course, John Bolton's recess appointment expires in December, maybe that is when it will happen.

[j-6]

I'm still trying to figure out if firing Rumsfeld a week ago (since this Gates replacement was entirely preplanned and all, right?) would have added a measly percentage point to the GOP tallies in Virginia, Missouri, or Montana Senate races.

[IceColdBrewski]

"accountability"

far from it, retiring costs him nothing.

Rummy was seen as the scapegoat, the lightening rod for criticism of the war, protecting dubya.

With rummy gone, let's get out the long(er) knives for dubya and head.

Gee, that's funny. You're always screaming that W is nothing more than an ignorant puppet to his administration (i.e. Cheney, Rummy, Condi, etc), yet now you're talking out of the other side of your ass. Now one of your so-called puppeteers is just a "scapegoat." By your logic, you want to disregard this puppeteer and stick the knife in the puppet.

I new you'd find a way to expose yourself for the bull artist that you are. It was only a matter of time.

[boutons_]

That Rummy was seen as the scapegoat, the lightening rod in front of dubya doesn't mean that dubya himself planned that, or anything else.

Assuming dubya is a dumb tool is assuming the sky is blue. I realize such subtleties escape you dubya suckers, esp on the day after the USA punched dubya right in his tiny balls.

[IceColdBrewski]

That Rummy was seen as the scapegoat, the lightening rod in front of dubya doesn't mean that dubya himself planned that, or anything else. Assuming dubya is a dumb tool is assuming the sky is blue.

Uh- huh. A bull artist of the highest order. Thanks for proving my point.

I realize such subtleties escape you dubya suckers, esp on the day after the USA punched dubya right in his tiny balls.

I guess you don't pay attention to anyone's posts except your own. I've mentioned more than once that I'm an independent. But I guess anyone who doesn't take every opportunity to bash the current administration, and clown on the American "sheeple", is a "dubya sucker" in your book.

No, I'm no "dubya sucker." I just know you're a fake who loves to take potshots at America and its people every chance you get.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

weak , Aggie, you're way out of your depth here.

rummy will be the scapegoat for losing Iraq by mis-managing it, while dubya tries to escape responsbility for losing Iraq by "mis-starting" the war.

up to now, rummy has been the lightening rod, dubya's proxy, taking criticism for the Iraq war rather than dubya seeing the bucks stopping on his desk.

weak , less, really weak .

Out of my depth? Croutons, you ing drowned in the kiddie pool, don't even pretend you can swim in the deep end.

The only thing less about this whole discussion is you. Rumsfeld deserved all the criticism directed at him, and the fact that you're still sitting here like a walking, talking vagina trying to blame it all on Bush is ing re ed. But then again, you are the poster child for the short bus on this forum.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I realize such subtleties escape you dubya suckers, esp on the day after the USA punched dubya right in his tiny balls.

The only subtlety you can recognize is when you stroke off to your Michael Moore bikini calendar with your left hand instead of your right.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

On a more serious note...

http://www.cfr.org/content/publicati...ts/Iran_TF.pdf

For someone who wants to have an informed opinion about Gates, here's some of his thoughts on Iran. The conclusions/recommendations start about page 40.