Clown Prince von Rumsfeld

“You can't blame the President on all the Rumsfield media attention. The media does not take orders from the White House.

My theory is that the media attacks on the President during the election backfired. The media has changed tactics and refocused their coverage. Plus Rumsfield has been more interesting than the President since the election.”

“Funny though that many Republicons are bashing ole Rummy. And its not just McCain.

I don't think it's a conspiracy either way (media attack or White House designated scape goat), there were lots of things that were poorly planned and Rummy has been unilateral and high handed enough that a lot of the responsibility goes to him.”

“So BBW were you making this up or what? Let me repeat the question.


"Anyone remember the comments that we did not have enough body bags for Afghanistan?"
bbw
5:38:31 PM
12/16/04


Who said that?
pedxing
7:41:43 PM
12/16/04”

“I also think the whole presidential medal of freedom thing was really funny.

Paul Bremer did nothing good. George Tenet only allowed the biggest attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. Tommy Franks was a good choice.

But here's the dynamics I see on that one. These guys were probably made to do lots of things they didn't like for the sake of this administration. Then, with the exception of Franks, they've been eviscerated in public discussion.

It's kind of like bringing flowers to your wife after doing something bad. "Yeah, honey, I'm sorry. Have some of this."

Total makeup F---”

“And maybe it will keep the tell-all books off the market until 2009.”

“Who said that?
pedxing
7:41:43 PM
12/16/04”
pedxing
9:59:12 AM
12/21/04

It was a talking head on CNN or FOX. Do you not recall the 'expert' discussions of the mass casualties prior to going into Afghanistan?”

“No I don't. It sounds more like a rhetorical straw man.

I heard discussion about the risk of big casualties for going into Iraq, but I din't think there would be big casualties in taking Iraq either. In fact, I think I underestimated the casualties in taking Iraq. I thought it would be like the Israeli invasion of Lebanon - almost no casualties coming in, but murderous trying to hold on and control the peace.

I'm willing to believe someone thought there would be big casualties in going to Afghanistan - but I didn't hear anyone suggest it. It's hard to believe any serious student of the region would have believed that. If the US did an all out invasion there would have been more casualties and some risk of high casualties, but the US had a significant anti-Taliban insurgency working for them.”

“McCain bashed Rumsfeld? I wonder if he bashed the man totally or the man's actions. You know how the both can be separated.

Well, McCain is in the news everywhere these days lining himself up for the presidential election in 2008. If he doesn't run, I will be surprised, and it would have something to do with his health or an offer of more money to do something less stressful.

He is making himself well known before election time when his opponent would have to get equal air time. Now he can go on tv and promote himself without anyone debating him on his opinions.”

“The Poetry of D.H. Rumsfeld
Recent works by the secretary of defense.
By Hart Seely
Posted Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at 10:03 AM PT



Rumsfeld's free-speaking verse

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is an accomplished man. Not only is he guiding the war in Iraq, he has been a pilot, a congressman, an ambassador, a businessman, and a civil servant. But few Americans know that he is also a poet.

Until now, the secretary's poetry has found only a small and skeptical audience: the Pentagon press corps. Every day, Rumsfeld regales reporters with his jazzy, impromptu riffs. Few of them seem to appreciate it.

But we should all be listening. Rumsfeld's poetry is paradoxical: It uses playful language to address the most somber subjects: war, terrorism, mortality. Much of it is about indirection and evasion: He never faces his subjects head on but weaves away, letting inversions and repetitions confuse and beguile. His work, with its dedication to the fractured rhythms of the plainspoken vernacular, is reminiscent of William Carlos Williams'. Some readers may find that Rumsfeld's gift for offhand, quotidian pronouncements is as entrancing as Frank O'Hara's.


Continue Article

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


And so Slate has compiled a collection of Rumsfeld's poems, bringing them to a wider public for the first time. The poems that follow are the exact words of the defense secretary, as taken from the official transcripts on the Defense Department Web site.

The Unknown
As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know.

—Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing

Glass Box
You know, it's the old glass box at the—
At the gas station,
Where you're using those little things
Trying to pick up the prize,
And you can't find it.
It's—

And it's all these arms are going down in there,
And so you keep dropping it
And picking it up again and moving it,
But—

Some of you are probably too young to remember those—
Those glass boxes,
But—

But they used to have them
At all the gas stations
When I was a kid.

—Dec. 6, 2001, Department of Defense news briefing

A Confession
Once in a while,
I'm standing here, doing something.
And I think,
"What in the world am I doing here?"
It's a big surprise.

—May 16, 2001, interview with the New York Times

Happenings
You're going to be told lots of things.
You get told things every day that don't happen.

It doesn't seem to bother people, they don't—
It's printed in the press.
The world thinks all these things happen.
They never happened.

Everyone's so eager to get the story
Before in fact the story's there
That the world is constantly being fed
Things that haven't happened.

All I can tell you is,
It hasn't happened.
It's going to happen.

—Feb. 28, 2003, Department of Defense briefing

The Digital Revolution
Oh my goodness gracious,
What you can buy off the Internet
In terms of overhead photography!

A trained ape can know an awful lot
Of what is going on in this world,
Just by punching on his mouse
For a relatively modest cost!

—June 9, 2001, following European trip

The Situation
Things will not be necessarily continuous.
The fact that they are something other than perfectly continuous
Ought not to be characterized as a pause.
There will be some things that people will see.
There will be some things that people won't see.
And life goes on.

—Oct. 12, 2001, Department of Defense news briefing

Clarity
I think what you'll find,
I think what you'll find is,
Whatever it is we do substantively,
There will be near-perfect clarity
As to what it is.

And it will be known,
And it will be known to the Congress,
And it will be known to you,
Probably before we decide it,
But it will be known.

—Feb. 28, 2003, Department of Defense briefing


Hart Seely writes for the Syracuse Post-Standard newspaper. He is co-author of 2007-Eleven and Other American Comedies.”

“McCain said he had no confidence in Rumsfeld.”

“Here's an article that discusses three Republican senators who have criticized Rumsfeld lately:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4794-2004Dec16.html”

“Rumsfeld poetry?

Ok, who thinks this is normal media coverage?

It is entertainment and Rumsfeld is an entertaining guy :-)”

“He's the best political entertainment since the Ev and Jerry Show of the mid-60s.”

“This is really hilarious!: Rumsfeld Fighting Technique

Here are a couple:



Twin Cobra Fist!



Drunken Temple Boxing!




Spider Hand Technique!”

“So much for bandwidth theft! Go see them all.”

“Looks like he's trying to cast some type of mind control spell. LOL!”

“It's time for that old man to be put out to pasture.”

“Dang it all MarkO, Rummy's at least amusing when he spouts $hit.”

“http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/03/23/rumsfeld.venezuela.ap/index.html


Rumsfeld criticizes Venezuelan arms bid
Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Posted: 8:15 PM EST (0115 GMT)

MANAUS, Brazil (AP) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is criticizing
Venezuela's reported efforts to purchase 100,000 AK-47 assault rifles from
Russia, suggesting that Venezuela's possession of so many weapons would
threaten the hemisphere.

Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez, has warned that he will cut off shipments
of his country's oil to the United States if the Bush administration supports
an attempt to force him from office.

Venezuela is the world's fifth largest oil exporter and provides about 13
percent of U.S. crude oil imports.

Harsh accusations and increasing animosity have marked the relationship
between the United States and Venezuela.

Rumsfeld, during a four-day trip to Latin America, raised concerns about the
reports of Venezuela's rifle purchases Wednesday.

"I can't imagine what's going to happen to 100,000 AK-47s," Rumsfeld said at a
news conference in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, which shares a border with
Venezuela.

"I can't understand why Venezuela needs 100,000 AK-47s. I personally hope it
doesn't happen. I can't imagine, if it did happen, it would be good for the
hemisphere," the defense secretary said.

Rumsfeld appeared with Brazil's vice president and defense minister, Jose
Alencar, who declined to offer similar criticism of Chavez. Alencar would only
say that Brazil respects the right of self-determination of other countries.

Venezuela says its military has about 100,000 troops, plus 30,000 reservists.
The United States is concerned that the weapons are intended for domestic
militias or foreign guerillas.

Venezuela had no immediate reaction to Rumsfeld's comments. Chavez has
insisted that his government poses no threat to the region, and top Venezuelan
officials have defended the purchases as necessary replacements for existing
weapons. Venezuelan officials also have said the weapons are solely for the
military.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking about Venezuela only on condition of
anonymity, said weapons are expected to arrive in a few months. Venezuela also
is negotiating for the purchase of at least 40 Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum
fighters, at least 30 Russian attack helicopters and possibly some Spanish
naval vessels, the official said, citing public statements from Venezuelan
officials and U.S. intelligence.

Some of the larger weapons systems, such as the helicopters, are useful in
border patrol and other operations that the Pentagon regards as legitimate.
But the small arms are harder to track and could end up more easily in
criminal or guerrilla hands, even if Chavez does not intend so.

In addition, the U.S. official said Chavez is looking to build a small arms
ammunition factory that could make the 7.62mm bullets that are in common use
among guerillas, criminals and some militaries. That deal is in negotiation.

The chief guerrilla group in neighboring Colombia, the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Columbia, or FARC, has faced a shortage in such ammunition and is
paying $1 a round or higher in some cases, the official said. The State
Department considers FARC a terrorist organization. Brazil does not.

Many of these groups are armed with weapons and ammunition from Nicaragua, a
former Soviet client. That source has dried up with a pro-U.S. administration
in power in Nicaragua.

Many Latin America nations have reduced the size of their militaries since the
violence of the 1980s. Officials fear Chavez's actions could lead to a new
arms race.

Also Wednesday, Rumsfeld met with Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da
Silva, before flying to the jungle city of Manaus to visit the headquarters of
what the Brazilians call "SIVAM" -- a powerful array of radars and other
sensors networked to monitor both criminal activity and environmental
conditions in the Amazon, the world's largest wilderness.

Known in English as the Amazon Surveillance System, the $1.4 billion network
of airborne and ground-based radars and computers can monitor illegal landing
strips, climatic and soil conditions in some of the two million square miles
(five million square kilometers) of Amazon jungle.

Drug flights over the area covered by the network have decreased by 30 percent
since it went online, according to defense officials.

SIVAM was built by U.S. defense contractor Raytheon Corp. Critics have argued
SIVAM focuses too much on security issues and not enough on regions where
illegal logging and other environmental damage take place”

“and this is a bad thing?”

“considering they supply the US with 13% of our oil..doesn't look to great to me.

when will the US stop meddling in other countries business. Look where we have sold weapons to in our past..Iraq, Iran..we really don't have much to say about it”

“Come on Ewker, we are getting all our oil from Alaska now.”

“Read a little of the recent history on Chavez.
He's making himself into another dictator, having political enemys arrested, turning off the free press....ect.
He's well on the way to being another Castro, the hero of the lefties.”

“I think Chavez is trolling Uncle Sam. Tweaking his beard a little. And what have we got to fear from 100,000 AKs. It's not like we're going to invade Venezuela or anything.......
>
But wait, maybe we have drawn up contingency plans to grab that oil should the crap ever hit the fan? Who knows but I would imagine that the War College has played out senarios like this. If anyone were to cut the shipping lanes from the Middle-East and maybe we were fighting a war with China it might be a gambit our leaders would have to plan on.
>
I sure wish I could get one of those AKs. Probably full auto mode. All Americans need a full auto mode AK. There would be a lot less crime.
last edited: 3/24/05 2:38:46 PM”

“He's well on the way to being another Castro, the hero of the lefties.”
StoveStomper
2:26:50 PM
3/24/05


really, news to me..care to explain,show links, etc,etc,etc”

“use google”

“use dogpile..you brought it up..you supply info”

“Your lazyness isn't my problem. LOL”

“Recently the U.S. acquired over 100,000 AK47's for the Iraqis.

Maybe von Rumskull is pissed that the U.S. didn't get the commission on the sale.

The Bush regime has been trying to undermine Venezuela and Chavez for years.

He was elected by his people.

If the U.S. administration doesn't like it, tough crap.”

“Your the one who spouted it out, not me. I have nothing to prove or disprove.
Of course you could be right since a millimeter to your left is leftist. That would also include anyone in the middle...lol”

“http://www.vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/200503240637

slacker
last edited: 3/24/05 2:54:59 PM”

“I think this is another case of "any enemy of Bush and America is my friend".”

“Ewker, you is correct.

I suppose Castro would be a hero to actual leftists, whoever they are.

Castro would likewise be an anti-hero to the ruling class.

"(sniff).....that bastard took away my plantation....."

"...any enemy..."
Life must be real simple in StoveStomperWorld.
last edited: 3/24/05 2:57:48 PM”

“He was elected by his people.

MarkO
2:51:04 PM
3/24/05

you mean they voted in a Democratic fashion. I thought that is what Bush and Rumsfeld wanted throughout the world.”

“hehehe...see Stove that wasn't hard
last edited: 3/24/05 3:02:42 PM”

“It seems the reactionaries in Venezuela(and the U.S.) are afraid Chavez will do too much for the poor.”

“Isn't it odd that the US gooberment doesn't like this man? I mean he's the legally elected El Presidento of one of the democratic countries of South America.
>
I like the man. But then I like Castro and OBL too. Now we have three great visionaries fighting the great Republican Satan.
last edited: 3/24/05 3:04:18 PM”

“Isn't it about time for you to call me a homo, MarkO?”

“We've really got to keep this thing off of this public forum, Big Boy.”

“I like the man. But then I like Castro and OBL too. Now we have three great visionaries fighting the great Republican Satan.
last edited: 3/24/05 3:04:18 PM”
solitary hiker
3:03:01 PM
3/24/05

LOL, I sure hope your sarcasm font was on.”

“lol@SS and MarkO are yall and item now. SS did you give up on women...lol”

“I will not share my Kiva with that man!!”

“No, in all seriousness. Those three are some tuned-in dudes. You should study them.”

“No Ewker, MarkO thinks it's cute to call me homo. All it does is make him look like a homophobic a$$hole.”

“SS, whew you had me worried”

“Sorry to hear that sh.”

“Come on Stovie, lighten up. Weapons proliferation is a good thing! I mean, every South American countries who's gotten ahold of a lot of weapons have always been responsible with them. Let’s help Iran get their bomb done too.”

“Dude, did you read what sh wrote above?
last edited: 3/24/05 3:48:14 PM”

“I reserve comments for only those posts I find surprising.

-Castro tried to get Nikita Khrushchev to nuke several southern cities in the US in the early 1960's, including New Orleans and probably Baton Rouge.

-He incarcerates more people as a percentage of population than Hitler or Stalin.

-He murdered 17,000 Cubans and (several dozen U.S. citizens) with firing squads and dumped their bullet-riddled bodies in mass graves.

-He has impoverished and brutalized Cuba to the point where 20 percent of its population risked their lives to flee. And prior to his glorious reign, Cuba took in more immigrants per capita than any country in the Western Hemisphere. More Americans lived in Cuba than Cubans in the U.S., and Cuba even had to turn away European immigrants.

-Castro sent his agents to torture to death American POWs in North Vietnam's Cu Loc POW camp outside Hanoi in 1967.

-Fidel by Humberto Fontova

What’s not to love?”

“Yeah SS, Castro is a great hero of the past and future. He's the standard bearer of all that is to come in Latin America and Aztlan. And if a few old fat oligarchs and reactionaries get lined up and shot along the sindero luminoso so be it. Viva la revolucion!!!!!”