Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DuckTapeSunroof who wrote (473679)	10/9/2003 3:13:28 PM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

No, I want you to post the link. What's the matter, you afraid to for some reason?

To: DuckTapeSunroof who wrote (473679)	10/9/2003 3:20:47 PM
From: Krowbar	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 769670

Washington's warlord Leader Wednesday October 8, 2003 The Guardian Signs abound that Donald Rumsfeld's star is waning. One year ago, the abrasive US defence secretary was a formidable political force. Buoyed by the overthrow of the Taliban, masterminding the military build-up against Iraq and regularly outflanking the state department's Colin Powell in Washington power games, the Pentagon chief dominated policy-making to a remarkable degree. His brusque manner and sharp suits made him a media celebrity and an unlikely pin-up. Mr Rumsfeld had become the unchallenged warlord of George Bush's "war on terror". What a difference a year makes, as Geoff Hoon might say. Mr Bush's decision, announced this week, to take overall executive control of political, counter-terrorism and reconstruction policy in Iraq and Afghanistan out of the Pentagon's hands amounts to a vote of no confidence in Mr Rumsfeld. Officials insist that is not the case. But that is how it will certainly be seen as power shifts to a newly expanded national security council led by Mr Bush's close confidant, Condoleezza Rice. This is damage control at it most dramatic, for never before has the NSC been afforded an overt operational role. And yet the reasons for it are plain enough. US soldiers are dying; the financial cost grows ruinous, even for America's deep pockets. Other countries are still mostly refusing to help out; there is diplomatic stalemate at the UN. Afghanistan may be turning sour, too. And all this amid an alarming deterioration in overall Middle East security. With the war now widely discredited, Iraq is fast becoming a millstone around Mr Bush's neck. All the polls show it. The White House fears it. For much of this, Mr Rumsfeld bears frontline responsibility. When once he took the credit, now he increasingly takes the blame. This is only fair. Mr Rumsfeld's Iraq campaign plan was fatally flawed from the start. He underestimated the number of troops required and was unable to halt Iraq's descent into post-Saddam, post-sanctions chaos. His appointment of Jay Garner as Iraq's overseer was a disaster, symptomatic of a deeper, astonishing failure to grasp the sheer scale of the reconstruction challenge.... guardian.co.uk Not only is Rummys thinking flawed, so is that of Cheney, Rice, Rove, Bush and all Neocons. Refusing to fess up to the blunder that was made in invading the WRONG country is a sign of poor leadership. 16 of the 19 WTC terrorists and the funding were from Saudi Arabia, and they still don't get it. Del