Under Rumsfeld, Pentagon published Bible verses on top-secret intell reports.

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/17/rumsfeld-bible-versus/

Under Rumsfeld, Pentagon published Bible verses on top-secret intell reports.


In a lengthy article on Donald Rumsfeld’s rocky tenure as Defense Secretary, GQ published never-before-seen cover sheets from top-secret intelligence briefings produced by Rumsfeld’s Pentagon. Starting in the days surrounding the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the cover sheets featured inspirational Bible verses printed over military images, “and were delivered by Rumsfeld himself to the White House” to the president, “who referred to America’s war on terror as a ‘crusade,’” GQ writes. Below are some examples of the Bible quotes (view the images at link):

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” {The quote appears over an image of a tank at sunrise}

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” {The quote appears over an image of a soldier in Baghdad}

“It is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” {The quote appears over an image of Saddam Hussein}

“Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, The nation that keeps faith.”

GQ’s Robert Draper writes that when colleagues complained to the Pentagon official who came up with the cover sheets, he replied, “‘my seniors’ — JCS chairman Richard Myers, Rumsfeld, and the commander in chief himself – appreciated the cover pages.”

[polichick]

1. "With God on our side..."

But now we got weapons
Of the chemical dust
If fire them we're forced to
Then fire them we must
One push of the button
And a shot the world wide
And you never ask questions
When God's on your side.

http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/god-our-side

[jwirr]

2. Talk about misinterpretations! not to mention failing to separate church

and state. Anyone know what dummy rummy is up to now that all this is coming out. We never hear about him anymore.

[babylonsister]

3. Read this this a.m....

wherever he is, I hope he's miserable.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5671186

And he went to the correspondent's dinner and got an earful...this is awesome, and brave.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=311468

[Fumesucker]

4. Here you go...

[RainDog]

6. thanks for posting these

I'll be watching for this edition to hit the news stand.

the use of religion in this nation is genuinely creepy.

[Fumesucker]

11. And another..

[Fumesucker]

13. Another..

[KittyWampus]

16. nice touch, photoshopping in the swords crossed in an arch.

[Fumesucker]

17. I dion't think it's a photoshop..

[KittyWampus]

24. Oh man, even more creepy somehow

[Posteritatis]

37. That's a real monument, it's been there for awhile (nt)

[ReverendDeuce]

5. I reaaally hate to be the nay-sayer on these...

I do believe that these men were capable of this sort of inane fluff, but those things don't look like scans. They look like photoshoppery...

Are these supposed to be scans of official, leaked documents? If these were delivered "by hand" to W by Rummy, why do we now have these strangely "sized just right for the web", pixel perfect versions?

I find these highly suspect, especially coming from GQ.

[Fumesucker]

9. Scans can be done at any resolution you wish..

I have a scanner here that will bring out detail that is entirely invisible to the naked eye, I do so on a regular basis when I use it for restoring damaged and faded heirloom photographs.

[ReverendDeuce]

15. Not what I am saying...

I am saying they do not look like scans. I didn't say anything about resolution.

Scanning a letter sized document with pixel precision without any trace of aliasing would require a degree of effort. Not only that, but scanning with such a degree of color saturation would simply not be possible without work done in post.

However, kudos to whomever forged these for at least almost getting the page size to landscape letter... Scaled, it would be about 11x8, about half an inch shy of being correct. Almost like a PowerPoint document...

But why would Rummy deliver printed PowerPoint slides to W? That seems silly. Of course, W was a silly President so I guess it makes sense...

[Fumesucker]

20. I can easily adjust all those things, including saturation and aliasing..

During the prescan process.

Edited to add: You can be sure that if these really are forgeries someone will let us know very soon.

[JHB]

38. These were cover sheets for a dailly intelligence update...

to quote the GQ article:

This document, known as the Worldwide Intelligence Update, was a daily digest of critical military intelligence so classified that it circulated among only a handful of Pentagon leaders and the president; Rumsfeld himself often delivered it, by hand, to the White House.

[RainDog]

10. Why is GQ suspect?

hell, Hustler magazine published Greg Palast because the bought and sold media in the U.S. wouldn't/won't publish his work - but he was the one who told about the coming coup in Ven. back in 2002.

Palast appears on a British BBC show but can't get on American tv - unless it's democracy now. He tells the truth - and that's why he cannot get published by corporate America.

Rolling Stone did some of the best work on the way in which Congress was railroaded by Republicans.

[walldude]

35. GQ is printing this story.. if it's not true we'll know soon enough

although why anyone would doubt this is beyond me. Haven't you noticed we are a Christian Empire fighting a Crusade against the Muslims?

[Captain Hilts]

7. This news is really stunning. nt

[Echo In Light]

8. Bush White House checked with rapture Christians before latest Israel move

The Jesus Landing Pad
Bush White House checked with rapture Christians before latest Israel move
http://www.villagevoice.com/2004-05-11/news/the-jesus-landing-pad/1

[Fumesucker]

12. I wonder how this imagery is going to go over in the Muslim world?

Do you think they're going to hate us for our freedom to put nutbag religious quotes on War Porn?

[babylonsister]

14. Sigh. I'm hoping no one finds out. nt

[Fumesucker]

30. A little late for that I think..

This particular cat has escaped the bag.

[jgraz]

25. And we were worried about the torture photos

Which do you think will upset them more?

[lurky]

18. I wonder... Was Rummy really this fanatical, or

was he doing this to manipulate Bush? I can totally see him putting these quotes on reports as a kind of psyop to appeal to Bush's messianic insanity, and to ensure shrub's support for his project. Rumsfeld is a pretty wily operator, and it would seem to be in character for him. Cheney and Rumsfeld really had him under their thumb, especially during the first 6 years, and I am betting that this is one of their methods.

[datasuspect]

21. it really highlights the extent to which bush was an idiot and a puppet.

rumsfeld was no stupid ass. he's a savvy insider who did what any masterful powerbroker and high-level manipulator would do: speak to the primal motivating instincts of an audience to hold them in thrall.

think of it a sales technique: once you reinforce that you are on someone's side, once you show them you see how what they believe is right, they will conform to your wishes.

[lurky]

23. Yep. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

32. no way he bush was rumsfeld's patsy. the bush/walkers have been insiders

for a very long time.

if this goes down with rumsfeld & cheney taking the fall for bush, it will be a crime.

[babylonsister]

28. According to this, most likely manipulation...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5671542&mesg_id=5671542

Rumsfeld was Bush's Rasputin


Allison Kilkenny

radio host, writer, allisonkilkenny.com
Posted: May 17, 2009 10:41 AM
Rumsfeld was Bush's Rasputin


If you want to read a really crazy article, hop over to Robert Draper's article in GQ. It's all about how former secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld acted as a modern day Rasputin by manipulating the adolescent emotions and exploiting the evangelical beliefs of George W. Bush.

Rasputin was a Russian mystic who curried favor with Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, by exploiting the superstitious beliefs of the royals. No one really thought a single, crazy religious nut could bring down an entire empire, and Rasputin's critics even derisively called him the "mad monk."

But Rasputin was highly influential in the decisions of the royals, and when he wasn't raping nuns, he was an official court official. Elements of Rasputin foreshadowed modern evangelicalism. He used to preach about sin, and repentance, though he was simultaneously a sex fiend and a drunk. Religious and a hypocrite? Shock! Horror!

Flash-forward to our own Donald Rumsfeld. In GQ's highly insightful article, Draper describes how Rumsfeld utilized some Rasputin-like techniques to manipulate Bush's more mystic beliefs. That includes delivering highly classified intelligence briefings to Bush that featured, "triumphant, color images from the previous days' war efforts" and "a quote...from the Bible, from the book of Psalms: "Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him...To deliver their soul from death."

more...

[Hannah Bell]

34. hooey. bush was not manipulated, least of all by religion.

[soothsayer]

19. And to think I cringe when i get an email from a work colleague with some verse in the sig line.

This is downright creepy.

[riderinthestorm]

22. A classic example of religion's toxic influence on politics and peace

I know it's been said over and over but religion has often been used as the handmaid of war and the poison for politics.

Waiting for Christians to now jump all over me insisting it's NOT!!11!!1 dammit, it's being misused, misinterpreted, misapplied. Or Rumsfeld and Bush aren't "real" Christians. Or that the wars/torture had other "real" goals and religious fanaticism had no part in it. Or the topper: ATHEISTS were/are worse!!11!!11!!

[RainDog]

26. some people have made religion a poison in American society

and that's the plain truth.

fundamentalists of any religion are the enemies of truth and democracy.

[jgraz]

27. Yeah, because it's such a force for good everywhere else.

[RainDog]

39. since this article was in relation to the U.S.

I limited my remark to the U.S. - but yes, obviously religion can and is used to kill people, enslave women and sow hatred all over the world.

the best thing that ever happened to me was experience of losing my religion.

[formercia]

29. Same Gang:

[sixmile]

31. It wasn't Rummy, it was this guy: Major General Glen Shaffer

These cover sheets were the brainchild of Major General Glen Shaffer, a director for intelligence serving both the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the secretary of defense. In the days before the Iraq war, Shaffer’s staff had created humorous covers in an attempt to alleviate the stress of preparing for battle. Then, as the body counting began, Shaffer, a Christian, deemed the biblical passages more suitable.

Could not find a picture but I think I could racially profile him.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[eppur_se_muova]

36. Christianity: America's favorite substitute for thinking. nt