Rumsfeld: US failing in Iraq
In a move that will send shockwaves through the
White House a leaked memo from former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in
which he admitted American failings in Iraq and called for a major change in
policy, emerged Friday.
Donald Rumsfeld \ Robert McNamara
In a move that will send shockwaves through the White House a leaked memo from former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in which he admitted American failings in Iraq and called for a major change in policy, emerged yesterday.
The classified memo, obtained by the New York Times, revealed that the ultra-hawkish Rumsfeld believes that US forces in Iraq are not achieving their aims. He submitted the memo to the White House just two days before he resigned his post at the Pentagon.
In the memo Rumsfeld calls for a major change in US actions in Iraq. ‘In my view it is time for a major adjustment,’ he writes. ‘Clearly, what US forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough.’
Rumsfeld urged the White House to embark on a public relations course to lower expectations of what could be achieved in Iraq, saying US goals in the war-torn country should be talked about in ‘minimalist’ terms. Rumsfeld also wanted a reduction in US troops in the country and seemed to think the idea of sending more American soldiers into Baghdad to secure the capital was not a feasible option. He also attacked the Iraqis’ failings, saying they ‘must pull up their socks’, and wanted to use the threat of cutting off reconstruction aid in certain areas to discourage violence.
Rumsfeld’s call for change will disturb White House officials on two levels. First, in public Rumsfeld has always been a strong advocate of the US commitment to Iraq and of staying the course. Second, it flies in the face of recent statements by President Bush that indicate he is unlikely to change strategy. That could mean Rumsfeld and Bush, formerly seen as close allies, are in fact starting to oppose each other.
Everyone ready for sixteen more choruses of “Stay the course”?
It took McNamara decades of staying the course to admit he was wrong -- and culpable for his participation in deceiving the American electorate about continuing the VietNam War. I guess Rumsfeld is beginning his transformation into a "good German" with a bit more alacrity.
Posted: Sun - December 3, 2006 at 06:32 AM