Nov 09 2006
Farewell Rummy
Just couple of thoughts on Rummy’s dismisal:
1. It was an unceremonious firing. But event NYT was kind enough to come out and call it “resignation“. Rummy said he’d serve “at the President’s pleasure”. Now he is not serving because the President is NOT pleased: that is hardly a resignation.
2. Why now? The timing just baffles me: had Rummy was let go a day or two before the Hussein sentence, it would be a double pump FOR the Republican cause. Now, it is a belated gesture, ruins Rummy’s last years (Bush basically wrote the last paragraph of Rummy’s obituary) and only instant-gratifies his (Bush’s) critics. I have a feeling that it was not Rove’s call but Bush’s hot-blooded American-ness (aka Homer Simpson syndrom).
3. I always have a soft spot for Rummy (but not Dick C.): afterall, he is a man with a plan. Iraq is a mistake but military reform is apparently a more consummate mission/passion of his. A while ago, New Yorker ran a profile on Eric Shinseki, saying he had very similar ideas. But can you imagine anything gets done had Shinseki initiated those reforms?
There is something Shakespearian about Rummy’s career. He had a passion and the passion ruined him. Oh well. I am not sorry to see him go, but am sorry to see how he was let go.
One day after this posting, comes this NYT article: Removal of Rumsfeld Dates Back to Summer. The artcile says: “Mr. Bush had resisted earlier entreaties by aides and outside advisers who urged that Mr. Rumsfeld be removed — in part because of a deep sense of loyalty to the defense secretary.”
At least, I was part accurate.