Items to consider
Rumsfeld reportedly recommended major changes in Iraq War policy just two days before he was fired. . .er resigned. Does most of the blame for the failed policies fall at his doorstep or is it Bush's pride that continues to fuel this fiasco? Now, don't be confused, Rumsfeld didn't call for a withdrawal of troops. He in fact requested more troops to speed up the transfer of power and to secure borders, but it does look like he was on the outside looking in. How long has he not been part of determining policy in Iraq?
AND
Retail gasoline prices continue to rise after falling PRIOR to the mid-term elections.
posted by Bill Eseltine at Sunday, December 03, 2006
11 Comments:
OR
Rumsfeld realized that he was on his way out the door and leaked this memo as some sort of desperate attempt to distance himself from this debacle but it didn't actually reflect any change in his thinking.
ALSO
Wasn't it actively reported in the last few weeks before the election that the President ordered that deposits stop being made into the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, thus increasing supplies?
I don't think the man is that cunning.
AND
Define "actively."
Dickerson has a good column about this here:
http://www.slate.com/id/2154855
Dickerson posits that Rumsfeld, or someone close to him, leaked that memo to show that Rumsfeld isn't completely clueless about Iraq--Sort of a clumsy stab at legacy preservation.
I think Dickerson's more interesting poitn, though, is about why the Bush administation as a whole is leaking a lot more than it usually does (Hadley's memo on Maliki). His take is that the Administration's credibility is so low that the public won't listen unless they think that they're getting secret information.
As to your point about Rumsfeld not being that cunning: I would whole-heartedly disagree. The man is a total behind the scenes political animal. As a young staffer in the White House he was always a rival of George H.W. Bush and was even seen to prevail against him by having Bush shipped out--to China, I believe. I think if you look it up you'll find that he has gut punched any number of other would-be rivals as well.
What he isn't, though, is a military tactician. At all. And he has always had disdain for the uniformed military and has constantly refused to listen to them.
As for the Petroleum Reserves thing. Hmmmm. Maybe that was just one of my fever dreams, but I swear I saw stuff about that. I can't find it now, though.
My top-ten all-time favorite NFL players:
1. Eric Dickerson
2. Earl Campbell
3. Matt Hasslebeck
4. Kellen Winslow Sr.
5. Lofa Tatupu
6. Kenny Easley
7. Julian Peterson
8. Ladanian Tomlinson
9. Bernie Kosar
10. Jack Lambert
Willie,
How do I put a picture next to my post? Do I need a blog?
Goddammit! You HAVE a blog!
Seriously? I have a blog? I didn't think we set it up.
Adam, I dont know who you are, but that is THE most incredible list I have ever seen. God it is bizarre. I couldn't agree with you more about The Dick up there at #1, but Hasselbeck? Are you kidding? Julian Petersen? Your team is like a fantastic mix of the awesome and the boring. Hmm.
Yea, seriously. Bernie Fucking Kosar? How about a 'Niner in there. Jerry Rice? Ronnie Lott? Joe Montana? Ray Wershing?
And Housman. . .you met Adam at my house in SLO. It was New Year's.
Thanks for responding substantively, assholes. Although, to be honest, I had a strong hunch that Eric Dickerson would be brought into this when I referenced John Dickerson.
Hasslebeck is the guy who when the Seahawks went into Lambeau for a playoff game in 2004 and said upon winning the coin flip, "We want the ball and we are going to win." He then threw an interception to Mike Mackenzie, breaking my heart. He then two years later took my beloved Seahawks to the Super Bowl. I'll be goddamned if he isn't a better choice than any of those puss Niners. ps, I know Ronnie Lott is not a puss. But I don't like the 49ers.
And what is wrong with Julian Peterson? He is a man among boys. Rushing the quarterback or playing man on man with a wide receiver he is one of the best athletes in the game. Now that he is a Seahawk, of course.
Sorry Cooley. Don't say Dickerson if you don't want a football list.
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