Rumsfeld: Iraq fight worth cost in lives, dollars

[Nambe]

CHICAGO (AP)

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld delivered a ringing defense of the nation's Iraq policy Friday, saying the effort to free that country from dictatorship and build it into a modern democracy is worth the price in lives and dollars.

Rumsfeld told a luncheon sponsored by the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations that a key question many people ask is whether the effort is worthwhile.

"I suppose in money, they mean. Is it worth it in lives, is it worth it in lives not lived, is it worth it in lives lived differently," Rumsfeld said. "The answer is that it is worth it." ..

Cycle Oregon It’s Global Cool

[Dover]

1. If it was worth it, why did he and the rest of the Bush cabal have to LIE

They couldn't trust us to agree?

[cthrumatrix]

9. just becuase "they say it ...doesn't mean it's true"

[lottie244]

23. I am disgusted with Kerry for not responding to the question

"If you knew then what you know now would you have supported invading Iraq?" HE NEVER ANSWERED THE QUESTION! If you can't say "no" to this question, you don't deserve to be President. If you knew there were no WMDs and that Iraq was not a threat to the US, you would have sent over 900 American children to die, over 13,000 to be wounded, and 40,000 innocent Iraqis to their deaths anyway? Bush said "yes" Kerry didn't answer. WTF is wrong with him? I am now voting against Bush but I will work very hard to get rid of Kerry if he wins. I want someone with the ideas and ideals of Dennis Kucinich in the oval office...nothing less.

[Algomas]

46. My sediments eggzakly lottie. "Kucinich '08" bumper sticker please!

[leftchick]

2. Times change.....

I guess he wasn't an evil dictator back then, eh rummy?

[UpInArms]

14. times have not changed - asserts this POS

In answer to a question from a reporter, Rumsfeld shrugged off their presence, saying not much has changed since he served as secretary of state in the 1970s.

so I guess that means that SH was a great business partner.

:nuke:

[missile_bender]

3. Speaking of stupidity,

"Rumsfeld also fielded questions about proposals to create a national intelligence director. He said it's a good idea but warned that centralizing all intelligence under one individual could stifle competing views that need to be heard. 'The last thing you want is everyone thinking alike,' he told reporters."

What, like everybody in the Black House thinking Iraq is behind 911 and Iraq is aiding al Qaeda? Yeah, such lock-step thinking could be bad. It could cause us to illegally invade a sovreign nation, for example.

[the Kelly Gang]

4. as long as they are someone else's lives you f****** creep

[tabasco]

17. That is the truth, plain and simple.

The elite rulers of our corrupted republic consider citizens as expendable. The rulers consider themselves above fighting in combat. It is their place to rule us, not to lead us in battle. They have created the conditions for a revolution, and I hope it comes soon.

[MisterP]

36. Rummy hisself said that people are "fungible"

oh my God

[saigon68]

37. He is an EVIL WAR CRIMINAL

Say that to the mothers of the children who have died you EVIL PIECE OF CRAP

[kcwayne]

5. The only way it would be worth it would be

if Rumsfeld, Bush, Wolfowitz, Rice, and the rest of the chicken hawks died on the field of battle with the thousands they condemned to this fate. Then at least millions of lives would no longer be negatively impacted by their decisions.

[number6]

31. then it would be worth it

"if Rumsfeld, Bush, Wolfowitz, Rice, and the rest of the chicken hawks died on the field of battle"

[psychopomp]

6. He's baaaaack!

Hide the children!

[Malva Zebrina]

7. OMG--they are just plain insane

this is so absolutely pathetic--so Orwellian that I cannot believe it has reached this far without complete and total exposure of the lies and cover up of lies by somone interested in destroying this fascist Bush regime.

No one but Moore, it seems--can put it all together

Gone from memory are the lies and the lies and the lies told to the American people about the imminent threat Saddam posed to the US with his WMD aimed at us and ultimately exploding in a mushroom cloud

Anybody remember that? It seems like a bad dream-- what has happened here over the past four years

Gone from memory and not only that we have more than forty percent of the population clinging to the notion that it was truth the greatest presidential liar of all time, has told them and will defend this piece of shit to their dying days.

They will believe this prick that it was worth it.

And they are Christians.

Now the bombing and the murders of ten thousand innocents who were no threat ever, including babies and children, was "worth it"

This from the cesspool mouth of an insane man who has wielded great power in Bush's fascist regime.

Worth it.

[saigon68]

51. Break out the Drugs

They need to control their insane thoughts.

[indepat]

8. Unless it is worth it because of the profits to be made by Halliburton

and their likes, Rummy's statements are ludicrous in both concept and fact.

[Seabiscuit]

10. Yo, Rummy!

CHENEY YOU TOO!

[riverwalker]

11. one way to find out , Rummy

Rummy, I dare you, I double dare you, to spend a day roaming the halls of Walter Reed. Talk to the families, the wives of those whose mangled bodies are clinging to life.
I am astonished that this ghoul is able to function without angry pitchfork mobs
demanding his arrest everywhere he goes. What is wrong with this country?

[Seabiscuit]

13. None of these vampires

has the guts to go out in public in the light of day.

Otherwise they'd all be "pitchforked".

[WyLoochka]

12. What an odious ass

Leo Straus would be so proud of the presumptious Mr Rumsfailed. This question is one for the people to answer - not the perpetrators.

[Mari333]

15. Put that asshole in a room with the Military Families Speak Out Mothers

I wont say another word.
http://www.mfso.com

[Bullshot]

19. You don't see Donnie Rumdum campaigning on behalf of Bush, do you?

It's pretty common for cabinet members to do such a thing. Agriculture Secretary Ann Venneman was in NW Ohio last week, primarily to stump for votes for Bush. However, in this very Republican area of the country, only a few-hundred farmers (another group that primarily votes Republican) bothered to attend this show.

[Kool Kitty]

45. Ann Venneman-ugh. What an odious woman she is.

In fact-look at all of the creatures of the Cabinet. I wouldn't give you ten cents for the lot of them. And Rumsfeld is back. Where has he been hiding?

[lostnfound]

16. He doesn't even KNOW how many lives it cost!!!!

Because they don't COUNT dead Iraqis.

[cmd]

18. Where are the WMD?????????

Isn't that why we are there? There is no way to justify the cost in lives or dollars. Don't give me the excuse that Saddam was evil and killed his own people. That is true, but that is not why we went to war.

[shockingelk]

40. here ya go: rumsfeld explains lies:

"you've got a group of people who are out telling the world things that are not true, and yet people have a pretty good center of gravity.  They've got reasonably good sense, and their inner gyroscopes adjust to that, finally.  They see things happen, and they see what's being said about it, and they say they know that there's a disconnect.  There's a discontinuity there.  And pretty soon, when they see it on television, they don't believe it."

Of course he was talking about al-Jazerra, not this administration ... http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040806-secdef1121.html

[cmd]

41. Thanks for the explanation

and the gyroscope in his head spins on.

[CJCRANE]

50. At leat he's articulate...

Anyone got in touch with their "inner gyroscopes" yet?

[Libby2]

20. He needs to be asked

if it's worth his life and his dollars.


POS

[TahitiNut]

21. No, it's OTHER people's lives and OTHER people's money.

These corrupt bastards have no comprehension whatsoever of what it means to serve or sacrifice for others. Only the 'little people' pay taxes and serve in the military.

[gratuitous]

26. Got it in one, TahitiNut

It's easy enough for Rumsfeld to say it's all been worth it: After all, this little debacle hasn't cost him a dime and he's still alive. Gets to be on TV all the time. Has the chattering classes all in a swoon over him. War's a great deal for Rumsfeld!

[Geo55]

22. Replace the code

"the effort to free that country from dictatorship and build it into a modern democracy "

with
Control the OIL flow from the ME

and you will realize he is speaking his own truth.

[leesa]

24. He made his dough. Well worth it...his porfolio is smashing

[scarface2004]

25. are more people gonna die??!!

you bet!!

[cliss]

27. Typical RumsFool:

"Is it worth it in lives, is it worth it in lives not lived, is it worth it in lives lived differently"

This is typical RumsFathead "notables and quotables". This is actually an extremely mediocre man who prides himself on being a "Renaissance Man". Not only does he order the deaths of untold thousands of innocent people, but he writes poetry. He can do it all.

He's taking the opportunity to promote his latest book of poetry, which was released on Amazon.com. For $29.95, you can read all the confusing sonnets, double-speak and lies all baked into "poetry".

What a loser.

[daleo]

47. And Hitler painted watercolours n/t

n/t

[amber dog democrat]

28. as long as those lives and monies are not tied to him.

He is perfectly happy to throw more lives and treasure onto the pyre.

[saigon68]

53. He never lost anyone in this Cluster-Fuck

I'd love toi see him debate some Gold star Mothers

[bobthedrummer]

29. In order to make any sense out of what Rumsfeld says, you should read

up on his ideological foundations, like this USAF study on the efficacy of military coup in the USA-Revolution In Political And Military Affairs/RPMA
http://www.guerrillacampaign.com/coup.htm

:nuke:

[cliss]

58. Thanks, B for the link.

I started reading the article, and it looks really good.

[number6]

30. HEY, ..Rumfool pay with your life and your dollars

:puke: :nuke:

[sandraj]

32. exactly

as long as it's not *his* life on the line or *his* dollars, who the hell cares?

[primavera]

33. Korea's kind of an unfortunate analogy

"Why was it important for our people to go over to Korea 50 years ago?" Rumsfeld said. "It's because freedom is important. Terrorism and intimidation and accommodation to terrorism is dangerous."

We intervened in Korea because it had been invaded and we sought to restore the pre-invasion borders. When MacArthur got greedy and decided to invade North Korea, that's when China interceded to do what we had but a few weeks earlier been saying we were there to do, namely, to restore territorial sovereignty, and everything went to shit, with us ultimately abandoning the enterprise with our tail between our legs and licking our wounds. In the case of Iraq, the only invasion has been by us. So according to Rumsferatu's analogy, somebody should be coming along to kick us out to restore Iraqi sovereignty. Personally, I agree, but somehow I don't think that's the lesson he was trying to draw.

[MisterP]

38. and S. Korea was democratic for what, 15 years out of 50?

doubtless he loves the fascistic Park.
http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Asia.html#Card%2019

[Pastiche423]

34. Did he steal Albright's line?

Or are they both sick fucks? (Rhetorical question)

[llmart]

35. Well, Rummy.....

why don't you go and take a bullet if you think it's "worth it?" Sick f...... idiot.

[Zorra]

39. In the eyes of redruM, we are all expendable in the service of corporate

global domination, courtesy of the PNAC:

PNAC Statement of Principles, which redruM signed:
snip--------
We aim to change this. We aim to make the case and rally support for American global leadership.

As the 20th century draws to a close, the United States stands as the world's preeminent power. Having led the West to victory in the Cold War, America faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does the United States have the vision to build upon the achievements of past decades? Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new century favorable to American principles and interests?

Of course, the United States must be prudent in how it exercises its power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global leadership or the costs that are associated with its exercise. America has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th century should have taught us that it is important to shape circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire. The history of this century should have taught us to embrace the cause of American leadership.

http://www.newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm

It is the American people that bear the financial costs, American troops and innocent civilians in other nations that pay with their lives and limbs. redruM pays nothing.

Him and his PNAC and their corporate masters only reap the financial profits. They never pay the price.

One word for this war criminal:

Nuremberg.

[Fleshdancer]

42. I agree Rummy. It's worth a few lives...so get your ass over there

and take Cheney, Bush, Wolfowitz, Perle, and all the Faux news corospondents with you. Jackass.

[struggle4progress]

43. He never gave a damn about converting Iraq into a "modern democracy," ...

... and he has never given a damn for other people's blood and treasure, either.

American foreign policy has been completely driven by Rove's political polling results, and a******s like Rummy are put out front from time to time to make happy noises.

[Tight_rope]

44. "is worth the price in lives "....WTF....send his ass then....Fucknut!

[truthisfreedom]

48. presumptious, pompous ass repeats the rovian talking points...

yawn. wake me up when ALL of these f*ckt*rds are out of office for GOOD.

[Aidoneus]

49. Coming from one who has lost neither

big fucking shock.. Perhaps if he were to personally feel the sting of it, his thoughts would change.

[jimshoes]

52. Hey rumm,

If it were your own life and fortune in the balance, would it still be worth it? I didn't think so.

[sandraj]

54. According to Robert Fisk's latest columns

it's not going well over there - in fact, things sound like they've taken a turn for the worse (as if it wasn't bad enough before). The murder rate in Baghdad has gone up, the morgues can't handle the number of dead so the stench of death permeates the air, the coalition is only in control of portions of Iraq. There's much more. It sounds like hell on Earth.

So it's nothing short of insanity to get up and publicly declare that things are just fine and it "was worth it." Or that this has anything remotely to do with democracy.

www.robert-fisk.com (for full text of his columns)

[yelladawg]

55. It is worst than Nam

The Iraqi war is for one reason and one reason only,... greed.

[TexasSissy]

56. Ludicrous. But what else CAN he say?

[Gyre]

57. Oh yeah,

And while we're at it, the "economy's doin great!" Haw haw!

[Kimber Scott]

59. If Rumsfeld thinks Iraq is worth anybody's life, he should go give his own

I'm sure everyone would appreciate the sacrifice.

[scarface2004]

60. at a luncheon??!!

how adorable...between stuffing his craw he revels in death and destruction!!

[demigoddess]

61. only to him and his group

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR