Rummy Emblematic Of Failure At The Top

by Steve

It’s hard to read the comments from some GOP senators today about Don Rumsfeld and not come away with the conclusion that sometime after the January 30 Iraqi elections GOP support for him will erode further. Sure, Bill Frist, Mitch McConnell, and John Warner made comments in support of Rummy by the end of the week, with Frist making the absurd statement in defending Rummy "we shouldn't confuse style with substance."

Exactly what substance Mr. Frist are you proud of when talking about Rummy? Can you point to one thing, from the decision to let Osama walk at Tora Bora; the illegal redirection of resources from Afghanistan to Iraq planning; the inadequate number of troops and logistical support for the Iraqi campaign; the ignoring of expert opinion on the problems of an Iraqi occupation; the enraging of key allies that crippled our efforts in Iraq; the fingerprints on war crimes at Abu Ghraib; the failure to properly safeguard the troops and provide adequate armor, equipment, and training. Where exactly Mr. Frist is the substance in Rummy’s record to warrant his continued service as the GOP’s version of Bob McNamara?

As more and more GOP senators come out and state their tepid "not at this time" support for Rummy, and as the security situation in advance of next month’s elections deteriorates further and further, it appears that Democratic senators such as Carl Levin and Joe Biden have correctly concluded that it makes no difference to dump Rummy if the Bush policies stay the same. The problem isn’t Rummy, his insensitivity, his ineptitude, and his lies. The problem is with the two men at the top, and their policies.

Bush and Cheney's real character flaws are that, unlike Reagan, they never change course or admit error, nor do they look at the world positively. And in a second term, Bush has surrounded himself with likeminded people who are valued more for their lockstep loyalty than for their effectiveness and willingness to think differently.

It's too late for sacking Rummy to make any real difference.