Rumsfeld Calls for Unity in War on Terror

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050212/ap_on_re_eu/rumsfeld_europe



Referring to his earlier critical description of European nations that opposed the Iraq (news - web sites) war as "old Europe," he said, "That was old Rumsfeld," drawing laughs from the assembled officials.


"Our collective security depends on our cooperation and mutual respect and understanding," Rumsfeld told the conference, which included U.N. chief Kofi Annan (news - web sites), NATO (news - web sites) Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and German Defense Minister Peter Struck.


Rumsfeld called for further cooperative efforts to counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism.


"Our Atlantic alliance relationship has navigated through some choppy seas over the years. But we have always been able to resolve the toughest issues. That is because there is so much to unite us: common values, shared histories, and an abiding faith in democracy," he said.




German Defense Minister Peter Struck, left, and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, right, talk at the beginning of the Munich Conference on Security Policy in Munich, southern Germany, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005. (AP Photo/Jockel Finck)

[applegrove]

1. Now they insist that the Whole World have ADD

[Califooyah Operative]

2. First thought was - Rummy/unity? haha. 2nd thought........

Rummy Read Lakoff:
Our collective security depends on our cooperation and mutual respect and understanding,"

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Republicans, who don't respect anything, or anybody, demand it

in return. We've become a truly self-serving country.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. uh-oh

When they preach unity it means that they are about to do something very bad and they need cover.

[MGKrebs]

5. Let's unite behind getting the hell out of there.

[chelsea0011]

6. What a comedian. How many thousands dead?

Let's work together. We forgive you for not joining along as we slaughtered thousands.

[Magleetis]

7. Typical behavior

from the Booosh administration. First they tell Europe to stuff it, then they they decide that Europe can be our friend. I hope the Europeans are not as stupid as 53% of Americans.

[Benhurst]

8. Shut-up, Donald! Who cares what you think? NT

[neweurope]

9. This article invokes wrong impressions.

It says there: "Rumsfeld came out strongly against a suggestion to move away from NATO as the main vehicle for trans-Atlantic dialogue. . ...
Struck, the German defense minister, had opened the conference by suggesting a move away from NATO and proposing more direct coordination between the European Union (news - web sites) and the United States."

Struck – who was reading a paper from Schröder who is sick – did NOT suggest a move away from NATO (I wish the hell he had!). Schröder is of the opinion that BECAUSE “NATO is no longer the primary venue where trans-Atlantic partners discuss and coordinate strategies," NATO has to be REFORMED. In order to reform NATO Schröder suggests a “high level panel” which should work out some suggestions. That was all.

Of course Rumsfeld had not read Schröders paper nor heard Struck reading it because he came late.

The French representative wanted to know the for EU countries most important thing: If in the future Rumsfeld would insist on his opinion that “The mission determines the coalition” or if – as just promised by that Rice-woman :puke: – the NATO members would in future discuss and decide together. After talking a lot without saying anything Rumsfeld in fact said no: “Sometimes things just have to happen quickly”, ending with insulting the French by arrogantly telling the poor man: “I love open questions. But the construction of your question was not perfect.”

God, how I hate them.


-------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[pinniped]

10. Old Dumsfeld, same asshole.

.

[NYC Liberal]

11. For Dummy Rummy, "unity" means

everybody has to agree with what HE is saying.

[ckramer]

12. He's right

[neweurope]

14. Huh? Right about what?

-------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[jamesinca]

13. The world is united in the "War on Terror"

the U.S. is the one that is out of step. It is the moral cowardice of this administration that won't let us get back in line with the world. This administration is afraid to admit that it did something wrong and it lacks the courage to fix it and do what is right. Their morals are not strong enough to overcome this cowardice.