It Kinda Makes Me Wish I Believed In Hell
"I'm not into this detail stuff. I'm more concepty." -Donald Rumsfeld
"First, his failure to build coalitions with our allies, what he dismissively called 'old Europe' has imposed far greater demands and risks on our soldiers in Iraq than many. Second, he alienated his allies in our own military, ignoring the advice of seasoned officers and denying subordinates any chance for input." -Major General Paul D. Eaton, United States Army, commanded training of Iraqi security forces until 2004, on why Mr. Rumsfeld should resign; written in a New York Times OpEd article published March 19, 2006.
"We are paying the price for the lack of credible planning, or the lack of a plan. … Ten years worth of planning were thrown away; troop levels dismissed out of hand. … These were not tactical mistakes. These were strategic mistakes, mistakes of policy made back here. Don't blame the troops," -General Anthony C. Zinni, United States Marine Corps, head of United States Central Command until 2000, on mistakes made by the war planners; on Meet the Press on April 2, 2006.
"My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions-or bury the results. The troops in the Middle East have performed their duty. Now we need people in Washington who can construct a unified strategy worthy of them." -Lieutenant General Gregory Newbold, United States Marine Corps, director of operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2000 to 2002, written in a Time magazine article published April 9, 2006.
"I think he should step aside and let someone step in who can be more realistic. I think we need a fresh start. We need leadership up there that respects the military as they expect the military to respect them. And that leadership needs to understand teamwork." Major General John Batiste, United States Army, commander, First Infantry Division in Iraq until 2005, on why Mr. Rumsfeld should resign; quoted in The Washington Post on April 12, 2006.
"They only need the military advice when it satisfies their agenda. I think that's a mistake, and that's why I think he should resign," Major General John M. Riggs, United States Army, director, Objective Force Task Force until 2004, on Mr. Rumsfeld and other civilian war planners, National Public Radio, April 13, 2006.
"I agree it was right to go ahead and try to establish a stable government in Iraq. We need to continue to fight the global war on terror and keep it off our shores. But I do not believe Secretary Rumsfeld is the right person to fight that war based on his absolute failures in managing war against Saddam in Iraq." Major General Charles H. Swannack Jr., United States Army, commander, 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq until 2004, quoted in the New York Times, April 14, 2006.
"I believe Secretary Rumsfeld hasn’t done an adequate job. He should go." -Former NATO Commander and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate General Wesley Clark
"Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war." -Donald Rumsfeld