Donald Rumsfeld's Long Career

(CBS/AP)  Donald Rumsfeld's second tour of duty as Secretary of Defense is coming to an end. Most likely, so is his 44-year career in public service.

The sharp-tongued architect of the war in Iraq resigned one day after midterm elections in which the execution of the war had become one of the key issues.

His resignation will not be effective immediately. He'll continue in his post until his replacement is confirmed by the Senate.

Rumsfeld's tenure at the Pentagon is not without achievement. By next month, he will become the longest-serving Secretary of Defense in the history of the nation. As President Bush pointed out during a news conference on Wednesday, Rumsfeld worked to save lives at the Pentagon in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks. He also planned the successful and unconventional attack on Afghanistan in response to those attacks.

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Watch the president's news conference.

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But the 74-year-old Rumsfeld had become a prominent target for Democrats, a growing number of Republicans and some former generals who have lost confidence in the U.S. policy in Iraq.

Rumsfeld's public image was hurt by comments he made about the war that ended up being untrue.

Rumsfeld tried to downplay the looting and civil unrest in Iraq after Saddam's regime had fallen in April 2003. In a televised briefing from the Pentagon, he said the media was misusing the scenes of chaos being broadcast from Baghdad to the rest of the world.

"The images you are seeing on television," he said. "You are seeing it over and over and over, and it's the same picture, of some person walking out of some building with a vase. And you see it 20 times. And you think, 'My goodness, were there that many vases?'"

It later became obvious that the looting and destruction of both artifacts and records in Iraq was widespread and caused many problems for the redevelopment and security of the country.

He also infuriated his critics with flippant quips, which were often seen as arrogant, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

In December 2004, while being questioned by troops about the lack of armored Humvees, Rumsfeld replied with the memorable and controversial answer, "As you know, you have to go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you want."

His brusque attitude has also rankled many in the military with his management style and his constant push for modernization and transformation of the armed forces.

In April, a group of retired generals made a very public effort to oust the Secretary of Defense.

"He went to war with a flawed plan. He didn't account for the hard work to build the peace after we took down the regime," retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who served as an infantry division commander in Iraq for 2½ years until last November, said on CBS News' The Early Show at the time.

Rumsfeld was also pilloried by journalist Bob Woodward in his book, "State of Denial." The book claims that Rumsfeld was not only abusive to his military staff and dismissive of other members of the Cabinet, but also that he mismanaged the planning and execution of the war.

Woodward wrote that a top general said Rumsfeld had so emasculated the military brass that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has become "the parrot on Rumsfeld's shoulder."

"State of Denial" also claimed that White House Chief of Staff Andy Card and First Lady Laura Bush wanted the president to fire Rumsfeld.

Many of Rumsfeld's colleagues, friends and bosses from his many years in Washington rushed to support him.

Former President Gerald Ford, who appointed Rumsfeld as his Chief of Staff and later made his Secretary of Defense, released a statement condemning the retired generals and congratulating the current president on his choice.

Mr. Bush "knew that Don, who had been in the job before, was extremely well-suited to take on this challenge and contend with a bureaucracy that has a built-in resistance to change," Mr. Ford's statement said. "The president knew that successfully carrying out these missions, against stiff resistance, takes someone with a certain amount of steel."

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[jlutsi-2009]

Donald Rumsfeld summed it up neatly when he said that Iraq is a largely misunderstood conflict which is why many Americans don't recognize the considerable achievements that Donald Rumsfeld achieved during his tenure as Defense Secretary.

The media has largely manipulated the American Public with false premises:

First, that we are losing the war. The broad military conflict ended some time ago--with a coalition victory-- and the insurgent activity and quasi-civil war that has ensued should be seen for what it is and not be manipulated for political gain.

Second, that the US actually has the ability to influence the 'conflict' between the Shia and Sunni factions in Iraq which only they can resolved once either a) The Iraqi public grows tired of being complacent or b) The insurgents--on both sides--grow tired of killing each other. The US military can not ealistically hope to 'end the insurgency'. In short, that should not be the measure of 'victory'.

Lastly, is that it is in the National Interest for the US military to be 'based' in the region where much of the terrorist planning takes place for intelligence gathering purposes. September 11th taught us the consequences of disengaging from the Middle East which led to poor intelligence leading up to September 11th.

So before you condemn or dismiss Donald Rumsfeld's tenure as a 'failure' take some time to understand the real issues and stakes in Iraq and not simply read from the simplistic Democratic talking points.

[jwprocopio]

Although I agree that the President's decision to replace Mr. Rumsfeld is advisable, we should be mindful that Donald Rumsfeld has served our Nation for more than four decades, that he has done so with fervent fidelity, and that he has every reason to hold his head high.
Donald Rumsfeld is an American hero.

[grumpas]

Rumsfeld needs to be retired from politic's period! He is one of the mothballs Bush drug out of the old Republican cronies closet and rewarded with an exalted post! But, that was to be expected! Incompetence has been the keynote of his administration! Anyone who was half way competent was gotten rid of early in the game! And he defended the incompetent with his dying breath! I don't think any of this administration has enough intelligence to conduct a war. But, sadly enough, the mess in Iraq has been made. I personally think it is to little way to late to cure what went wrong in Iraq! Because now they have a full scale civil war going on with our troops caught in the middle! That in itself is a nightmare situation that was predicted by numerous people before he invaded Iraq! I am no expert on the subject! But, I think it is time to just leave! If we do that, the civil war might burn itself out! Because the gasoline that kept the fire raging is no longer going to be there!

The situation in Iraq will never improve until politicians stop interfering and let the Generals and those on the ground do what they need to succeed.

Now that Rumsfeld is on his way out, it's time to put my heads on the chopping block - Cheney, Rice, Rove and the rest of the corrupt and amoral morons, including Bush, should go.

[stick130]

Gen Bastiste at a hearing under oath stated Rumsfeld told all the Officer's he didn't want to hear any bad news that about what was going on in Iraq. He was Hell Bent on never being wrong on anything. How can you make an intelligent decision without knowing all the facts? I think the Officer's on the ground in Iraq should report what's going on and the Pentagon give them everything they need to end this Civil War quickly as possible. Take the Politics out completely.