Rumsfeld Rocks By Donnel Jones, August 17, 2003	Home   Search   Forum   Terms

Superb article on Donald Rumsfeld in, of all places, the Los Angeles Times. It focuses on the Defense secretary's desire for change in the Pentagon bureaucracy and the armed forces. Portrayed as the crusty, relentless, and condescending figure I've grown to admire, Rumsfeld in the flower-power liberal newspaper comes out looking like a man we need for our times.

"There's no question he's one of the strongest and most powerful secretaries of Defense we've had," said Robert S. Strauss, the longtime Democratic Party patriarch. "Whether you like him or dislike him, you have to recognize that he's smart as hell, and he understands bureaucracy and bureaucratic infighting better than almost anyone in town."

Opportunity to lower him down a peg comes from his very success. The lean and mean fighting force that invaded Iraq has been ill-prepared to deal with the guerilla insurgency that has taken many more American lives than the invasion itself. Naturally, Rumsfeld denies this but he knows better. But admitting such a mistake would undermine morale and the very leadership he has inspired (a.k.a. fear and loathing).

Gen. Abizaid is in control now. Abizaid sees the problem on the ground and is acting accordingly. If Rumsfeld didn't want Abizaid there, it is highly unlikely he would have him there. Abizaid is young, brilliant, and a new man for a new military who adapts to unpredictable changes and shifts in fortune. He recognizes the need to fight guerillas, not through a massive deployment of manpower but strategic transfer of patrol and operations to Iraqi fighters under American control. It is interesting that Abizaid openly disagrees with Rumsfeld over the fact there is a guerilla war going on.

Rumsfeld will allow disagreement after all. Only if, however, the man on the ground knows what he's doing. In the meantime, Rumsfeld will not allow the press and his detractors to steal the polish of his Iraq invasion victory.