Tammy Bruce: Rumsfeld Resigning, Ex-CIA Gates to Succeed Him

Rumsfeld Resigning, Ex-CIA Gates to Succeed Him

Rumsfeld

Republican White House official White House officials have confirmed that Rumsfeld is resigning. The President has announced ex-CIA chief Robert Gates as his replacement.

This move is appropriate. Don't think this is a concession to Democrats. This is a statement to the American people that the White House heard the majority last night. Dems won only because there was no alternative, but it still was a protest vote about the nature of what's happening in general, including with Iraq.

We certain do not want to cut-and-run out of Iraq, that's not the issue. It is a front on the WoT, but we need our troops to engage the enemy, even (especially) if that enemy is a Muslim cleric in Iraq. There were many stories last week about the troops and how they want to stay and complete the job. At the same time, they complained that they are not allowed to engage the enemy; they have to wait until they're fired upon. This is unacceptable.

Yesterday's election is a statement from Americans that yes, there must be a change in Iraq, and it's a change that will allow us to take care of business. Not even necessarily more troops, but units that are charged with killing the enemt, the few men in that nation who are fomenting terrorism. Men like al-Sadr, paid by Iran to kill Sunnis and American soldiers. We will know that there's been "a change in direction" when al-Sadr is taken out. He is essentially Hezbollah in Iraq.

UPDATE:

Gates

The WSJ Blog is reporting that Gates' attitude toward Iran is one for "dialog," comparing the success we had with China and the Soviet Union. This is very troubling. There's a big difference between those two Communist countries and Iran--no matter how tyrannical Mao and Stalin were (and every other so-called leader in those pits) neither thought themselves the return of the Messiah, requiring Armageddon for their final success.

We cannot consider Radical Islamists to be on a par with Communists. One thing you can say about the Soviets and the Chinese--they want(ed) to live. They want(ed) their regimes to survive. The Soviets pulling their missiles out of Cuba was an indication that they were not willing to go to the end against America.

Islamists, on the other hand, love death. Iran and every other Islamist nation is run by a Death Cult. They want to die. Why is it that someone like Gates does not understand this?

Posted by Tammy · November 8, 2006 09:52 AM · Permalink
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Looks like a case of closing the barn doors after the horses have gone. Had he resigned sooner the election outcome may have been more favorable for the Republicans.

Posted by: RichDaytonOH at November 8, 2006 10:02 AM

Too little. Too late!

Posted by: RichDaytonOH at November 8, 2006 10:13 AM

The right move would have been to occupy Iraq until it got it's act together, the way we did in Germany after WWII. Sure, the Left and the French would have gone coo-coo for cocoa puffs, but they're going to go ga-ga no matter what happens. Might as well give them something to cry about, no?

Two years until 2008. Someone better lay a tarp down.

Posted by: PeteRFNY at November 8, 2006 11:21 AM

Shoot! I want an "in your face take no prisoners" kind of guy. Quit the pussy-footing around for pete's sake! These are not rational human beings that can be trusted or reasoned with. That has been made very apparent. Aargh!!

I need some good news and I need it soon...

Posted by: Kimj7157 at November 8, 2006 01:08 PM

Negotiation with Iran is futile, since they will only exploit this as a sign of weekness.

Well, who to blame for this? Both sides are equally at fault. That was certainly the mantra from the left leading up to the mid-terms. Everyone wanted Rumsfeld gone( "Dumsfeld", as the intellectual civil tongues of the left prefer to call him).

The left will get their chance now. As for Gates, good luck negotiating with Ahmadinejad. I forget, but didn't one of the 1982 hostages, either Dave Jacobsen or Terry Anderson, finger him as one of their kidnappers?

There is a great little interview of Charles Krauthammer on the dems taking over, published today at www.newsmax.com:

"Interviewer E.D. Hill asked Krauthammer if it would hurt the Democrats should they not accomplish anything significant by 2008.

Krauthammer answered, "Absolutely.”

"There are some people who want to argue that ... this was what the Republicans needed, a kick in the pants," he said. "But it’s also a shift of responsibility to the Democrats. They now have to join in the government in a very hard situation in Iraq and elsewhere. If things don’t go well, they will share in the blame, whereas had the Republicans maintained the House and the Senate they would be the fall guys for every calamity or misadventure between now and then."

E.D. Hill's questions always get to the heart of the matter, and Charles Krauthammer never misses a beat.

Posted by: CinderellaMan at November 8, 2006 01:21 PM

>>The WSJ Blog is reporting that Gates' attitude toward Iran is one for "dialog," comparing the success we had with China and the Soviet Union.

Sigh. Anyone else still unsure about why the Republicans lost the house last night?

Posted by: PeteRFNY at November 8, 2006 01:26 PM

Tammy I have to disagree with you on this. I really don't think that Rumsfeld was ever the problem,and replacing him with Robert Gates,who is part of the Iraq Study Group,will only make things worse. James Baker and Sandra Day O'Connor are also part of that study group,and I guarantee you that their recommendation will be that we should pull out of Iraq,and President Bush,now basically a lame duck president,will be hard pressed to go against their advice.

At this moment it still hasn't been decided who will control the senate but it's looking like the Dems will win the majority. President Bush is already talking about needing a change,about working together with the Dems,so is there any doubt that he will go along with the Iraq Study Group,especially with James Baker on board? I believe....and it makes me sick to my stomach...that the groundwork is being laid for our withdrawl from Iraq,and President Bush,with the spectre of impeachment in the air,will have no choice but to order our troops out.

The Iraqis will be left to their own fate.Iran will start sending highly trained and equipped soldiers across the border,as will Hezbollah and Al Queda,for the purpose of establishing a Muslim state,and the fledgling Iraqi government will be powerless to stop it. We will have lost credibility in the eyes of the world,and it will be close to impossible to get any future president to take this country to war,even in the face of a vicious enemy like Bin laden.

I do think that Rumsfeld was wise to step down,but only for one reason...he would have spent the next two years going before committees and senate panels,whose members would accuse him,and second-guess his decisions,and that would render him ineffective as Defense Secretary. Unfortunately, men like him and President Bush,people who are willing to fight for this country,are being pushed aside and will no longer be welcomed in our government.That's the truly sad part.

Posted by: David Jerome at November 8, 2006 02:16 PM

Oh good, now we are going to try to talk to these Islamic pricks? Maybe our troops will be afforded additional sensitivity training on how to "dialog" with the enemy so as not to offend! C'mon! Start killing these bad guys and bring our people home now! Enough is enough!

Posted by: SLABBOTT at November 8, 2006 03:57 PM

I guess I should get ready to duck for saying this but I think that the least we could do is see Gates go through the process of being approved, then see how he does. Give the man a chance. I think at some point or another all of us have asked to be given a chance. Who knows, he might end up being a welcome surprise.

Posted by: ltlme at November 8, 2006 09:19 PM

Okay, why am I hearing nothing on Letterman's comments last night about the Rumsfeld move. I usually try to avoid CBS but last night my hubby had it on and I caught this.....(in short)

---Donald Rumsfeld has found a new job, he is taking over as Defense Secretary of Al Qaida. Kind of a lateral move don't you think?----

Now call me crazy but don't you find this a bit insulting to the U.S., the troops and to our gov't. To even suggest that our Defense system is equivelent to a bunch of lunatic terrorist is horrifying. Yet, I'm not hearing it even mentioned by the media.

Posted by: sue at November 9, 2006 05:24 AM

George Bush will unite this country before he's done.
Politics can be brutal, but Dubya won't hold a grudge.
He has worked across the aisle before with good success.
There is one issue we absolutely should be united on: terrorism.
He's already shown conciliatory gestures, a clear bouquet to the Dems.
He fired Rumsfeld and was classy/smart enough to know that he should not do it during the campaign, even if it hurts his political party.
If the Dems and political left meet Bush halfway and accept his hand in friendship, we will all be much better off.
Dems: Shake hands with the guy and let's move forward. Are you listening nancy and harry?

Posted by: ConnecticutBruce at November 9, 2006 07:12 AM

"Dialog"???????????????????? Ex-CIA chief?????????? Is there any agency in government that has been as consistently wrong as many times as the CIA? From Kennedy and its analysis of Castro to Reagan and its analysis of the Soviet Union to Bush II and its analysis of Saddam's nuclear program, this bunch of Ivy-League misfits has been consistent only in its shoddy analysis and idiotic policy suggestions. Nobody from the CIA should ever be put in any other governmental position--state, federal, or municipal--ever.

Posted by: St. Thor at November 9, 2006 07:23 AM

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