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REPORT: Rumsfeld to resign!; ...Jon-Nyc, you were right on the money!
Topic Started: Nov 8 2006, 09:57 AM (738 Views)
George K
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Finally
American Troops concerned with the loss of Donald Rumsfeld spoke to Martin Fletcher of the Times of London, worried that the new Secretary of Defense would pull them out of Iraq before they could complete the mission:

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Half of America and the upper echelons of the US military may be cheering Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation from the post of Defence Secretary, but there was no rejoicing yesterday among those most directly affected by his decisions: the frontline soldiers in Iraq.
Troops expressed little pleasure at the departure of the man responsible for their protracted deployment to a hostile country where 2,839 of their comrades have died.

Indeed, some members of the 101st Airborne Division and other troops approached by The Times as they prepared to fly home from Baghdad airport yesterday expressed concern that Robert Gates, Mr Rumsfeld’s successor, and the Democrat-controlled Congress, might seek to wind down their mission before it was finished.

Mr Rumsfeld “made decisions, he stuck with them and he did what he thought was right, whether people agreed with it, liked it, or not”, Staff Sergeant Frank Notaro said. He insisted that Iraq was better off now than before the war.

Staff Sergeant Michael Howard said: “It’s a blow to the military. He was a good Secretary of Defence. He kept us focused. He kept the leaders focused. It’s going to be hard to fill his shoes.”

The American troops believe in the mission they serve. Interestingly, the Times -- which does not back the Iraq war -- gives an extended forum for these men to express their support for their mission and the man who sent them there to complete it. They want to see Iraq succeed, and even now want to stay until it happens.

It's an interesting point of view, and one that may surprise many who claim that the best way to support the troops is to have them retreat. Will that "support" turn to scorn when they realize the troops want to stay? After all, these men will have openly endorsed the policy of forward engagement that critics find so objectionable.

Fletcher reports that the troops also fear the impact of the new Democratic Congress on the war. They see the elections and the sudden departure of Rumsfeld as an ominous turn in domestic support, not without reason. Many of these men have built relationships with Iraqis, especially in the new security units, and will have bonds of friendship with the Iraqis that will be left in the lurch in the event of a precipitous withdrawal.
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- Mik, 6/14/08


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jon-nyc
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Cheers
There's a tendency for frontline troops (be it an army or a corporation) to be looking through the wrong end of the telescope thinking they have the big picture.

I don't think they need to worry to much about Gates. Also, as he'll probably broadly implement the recommendations of the bi-partisan Baker/Hamilton commission, he'll likely have decent (though far from total) support form the new regime in congress.


In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
And you have the right view from NYC. Right. :lol2:
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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jon-nyc
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My point, Mik, was that they need not worry about Gates.

We should all be glad he's come on board.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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QuirtEvans
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
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Interestingly, the Times -- which does not back the Iraq war -- gives an extended forum for these men to express their support for their mission and the man who sent them there to complete it. They want to see Iraq succeed, and even now want to stay until it happens.


Damn the bias of that liberal media, refusing to show us the points of view of any soldiers who agree with the Iraq war and think it's going well!!!
It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Jon, I got the point. Your first sentence just struck me as funny, that's all.

Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
QuirtEvans
Nov 10 2006, 08:38 AM
Quote:
 
Interestingly, the Times -- which does not back the Iraq war -- gives an extended forum for these men to express their support for their mission and the man who sent them there to complete it. They want to see Iraq succeed, and even now want to stay until it happens.


Damn the bias of that liberal media, refusing to show us the points of view of any soldiers who agree with the Iraq war and think it's going well!!!

The Times is owned by the same group that ownes Fox. The idea of liberal media bias in British newspapers is laughable, to be honest, although the Times did ally itself with Tony Blair, this had more to do with the fact that the British Conservative Party was completely out of touch with reality than anything else. I believe Mr. Murdoch isn't known for being particularly liberal.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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