Bush Comes to Defense of Rumsfeld
By Bob Kohn
Wouldn't it be great to have a boss stand up for you this way?
Perhaps you already have such a boss. A false perception has been created about your work, but he knows you're doing a good job and is willing to stand up for what is right. Or perhaps he just understands that it is his ass on the line, and that he is the one who is screwed if he fails to separate perception from reality.
Bush Comes to Defense of His Defense Secretary
By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) on Monday brushed aside criticism of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over his handling of the Iraq (news - web sites) war and described him as a "caring fellow" who will win over doubters on Capitol Hill.
Photo
Reuters Photo
Reuters Photo
Reuters
Slideshow Slideshow: Defense Secretary Rumsfeld
"He's done a fine job and I look forward to continue to work with him," Bush told a news conference.
Bush said Rumsfeld would "reach out to members of the Hill, explain the decisions he's made. And I believe that, in a new term, members of the Senate and House will recognize what a good job he's doing."
Rumsfeld over the weekend came under barrage of fresh criticism and accusations of "insensitivity" after admitting he did not personally sign his name on letters of condolence to families of soldiers killed in Iraq.
Rumsfeld acknowledged that letters to family members of more than 1,000 U.S. troops killed in action had been signed by machine and in a statement said he would now sign them in his own hand.
Bush defended Rumsfeld. "I know Secretary Rumsfeld's heart. I know how much he cares for the troops," Bush said. "I have heard the anguish in his voice, and seen his eyes when we talk about the danger in Iraq and the fact that youngsters are over there in harm's way. He's a good decent man. He's a caring fellow."
"Sometimes, perhaps his demeanor is rough and gruff. But below that rough and gruff, no-nonsense demeanor is a good human being who cares deeply about the military and deeply about the grief that war causes," Bush said.
Rumsfeld got himself into trouble earlier this month for appearing to brush off a soldier headed to Iraq who complained that military vehicles did not have sufficient armor and troops were having to piece together scraps of metal for extra protection.
Some prominent Republicans in Congress, including Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, have questioned Rumsfeld's performance.
But two key Republicans, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Richard Lugar of Indiana and Senate Armed Services Committee (news - web sites) chairman John Warner of Virginia said on Sunday that it would be too disruptive to change the leadership at the Pentagon (news - web sites) given the pending elections in Iraq on Jan. 30.
Pointing to the coming Iraqi elections, Warner said on NBC's "Meet the Press," "We should not at this point in time entertain any idea of changing those responsibilities in the Pentagon." |
