Gannett Company publishes the weekly independent Military Times publications. These include the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Times. The widely read Military Times Media Group’s 250,000 copies per edition are distributed worldwide to U.S. soldiers and is well-liked with the armed forces in Iraq and other fields of battle. The newspapers have been published since World War II independent of the U.S. government and military establishment.
Gannett also publishes USA Today amongst other publications nationwide. Army Times Publishing is the largest worldwide publisher of weekly print bulletins aimed at both the military and defense establishments.
In the editorial to be published Monday November 6, 2006, Army Times senior managing editor Robert Hodierne has reacted to many sources in the field. In the editorial, he maintains that,
“Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large. His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt” and concludes with “Mr. President, to face the hard bruising truth: Donald Rumsfeld must go.”
The opinion piece is in reaction to several presidential advisors blaming the commanders on the ground for failures in Iraq, instead of Rumsfeld. The editor had been holding his words until President George Bush made a speech on November 1st. In it he declared he’d keep Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in his current position till the end of his term in 2009. Ignoring conservatives in Bush’s own party’s condemnation of his handling of the war in Iraq. The president was quoted as saying almost defensively that Rumsfeld was doing “a good job.” The president’s own former defense adviser Richard Perle told reporters that his ex-boss’ incompetence had turned Iraq policy into a “disaster”
Article comments
1 - Jet in Columbus
IT's long overdue
2 - Arch Conservative
Well Jet there's a first for everything isn't there.
While I am not aginst the war in theory it has been grossly mismanaged and I am all for someone other than Rummy finishing it.
Time for him to go and yes it is overdue.
3 - Jet in Columbus
THANK YOU Arch Conservative. I knew it had to happen sooner or later!.
Appreciate your contribution....
Now I have to lie down
Jet
4 - Martin Lav
For once I stand with the President on this one. He and he alone is the one to be blamed for this disaster, not Rumsfield. This war was authorized by the Chief and it's waging was never winnable and therefore it's execution can not be blamed. Sure Rumsfield is an arrogant SOB that bungled the execution and sure he deserves to be fired, however, Bush should stand by him because in all actuality Bush is the one to blame. Period.
5 - Jet in Columbus
While I agree in principle Martin, I would say that part of the problem is that Bush ISN'T running the war, Rumsfeld is, and Bush isn't really thinking for himself.
There are times when I wonder who has their arms further up the president's ass trying to play puppeteer, Chenney or Rumsfeld...
I do know Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson are probably jealous though.
6 - Nancy
Martin, does that mean you're actually proposing that Bush be fired, along with Rummy?
Not that I don't agree with either proposition, 1) that Bush is responsible, & 2) that Bush be fired - along with Rumsfield.
I also agree with Arch: Rumsfield was the one responsible for the layout of this war (or lack thereof) & also the one who refused to listen to the professionals - or anybody else. It's past time for him to go. As usual, however, Bush is in the WH with his fingers in his ears, shouting 'LALALALALALAICAN'THEARYOULALALA', while Snow is out front shovelling Bushshit for all he's worth & claiming that the Military Times has no credibility...really surprising considering not too long ago the administration was saying that the MT was very credible. The only total lack of credibility here is the WH.
I don't know if I consider Bush's utter faith in the efficacy of repetition of a lie to be a sign of idiocy or faith that moves mountains. Maybe insanity...or a combination of all of them.
7 - MCH
I'm convinced that the architects of the invasion and occupation were/are draft-dodgers Dick Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz, simply because GW doesn't have the brain power. And Rumsfeld is just a patsy in this deal, IMO.
Looking for bloody hands in this whole cluster-fuck? Check the palms of Cheney and Wolfowitz.
8 - Nancy
MCH, that's a foregone conclusion. But Rummy's a very enthusiastic throw-in, thereby becoming a co-conspirator.
9 - Jet in Columbus
Bush being fired is probably why he's flying all over the country on the taxpayer dime(s)canpaigning for GOP candidates.
He's scared shitless that he's going to get the same treatment that Clinton got, only in this case it's a little more serious than lying about a blowjob to his wife.
I wonder just how expensive it is for him to do that with all the security, motorcades, jet fuel etc. Why are the american people paying for it?
10 - Jet in Columbus
Nancy, apparently the Army Times publications, like the U.N. is only useful to Bush if they agree with him...
Jet
11 - Jet in Columbus
A good point MCH, however I'd rather see the blame stay as near to the top of the pile rather than drop down a few layers. After all they had the option of not listening or taking the counsul of Dick Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz... right?
12 - Bliffle
Whether Rummy deserves demotion is secondary to the fact that he has been, and continues to be, a very poor SecDef. Get somebody good in there!
13 - Jet in Columbus
Bliffle, if there's one thing you can say about Bush, it's that he flatly refuses to admit when he's wrong. That means since he said he'll keep Rummy till the end of his term, he will.
unfortunately
Jet
14 - Martin Lav
"Martin, does that mean you're actually proposing that Bush be fired, along with Rummy?"
Since he doesn't have the decency to resign, your Goddam right he should be fired! I've said it before, he and his band of incompetents should be put up on charges by a World Council and convicted of war crimes. Their punishment should be a ten year sentence in Iraq leading/guiding the country through democracy.
Impeach em!
15 - Jet in Columbus
Martin, Martin, MARTIN!!! Bush has the best insurance against impeachment... Chenney. Do you really want him to become president?
yikes
I'm going to go hide under the bed now...
16 - Martin Lav
Hey, that's a great concept for a fictional (or is it?) article.
Cheney behind the scenes to make Bush look like an idiot.
I can see it now.
Writing his cue cards using the wrong phonetics.
Remember the box under his jacket during the '04 debates? Cheney was telling him to frown, sigh, etc...etc......
It's all due to the mastermind Cheney!
The genius behind the fool....
17 - Jet in Columbus
A few titles Martin... "The nightmare on Pennsylvania Ave." "Can your Dick Chenney?"
18 - Martin Lav
A Bird in the Bush
19 - JoeC
When it comes time to convict, there's also the photographic proof... Rummy doesn't know his behind from a hole in the ground
20 - Jet in Columbus
Very amusing Joe.
21 - montag
While vacationing I had an opportunity to read about Mr. Rumsfeld.
He has a goal of a flexible, highly mobile force using high tech weaponry.
This force was used for the march to Baghdad.
However, it seems obvious that such a force is not suitable for an army of occupation, which need not be mobile, flexible, nor does it need anything except bludgeons.
I really do not understand this unusual lack of perception and understanding among this administration.
22 - Jet in Columbus
That's simple Montag, it's called inexperience coupled with arrogance. Thanks for contributing
Jet
23 - Jet in Columbus
RUMSFELD IS RESIGNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RUMSFELD IS RESIGNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RUMSFELD IS RESIGNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RUMSFELD IS RESIGNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RUMSFELD IS RESIGNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RUMSFELD IS RESIGNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RUMSFELD IS RESIGNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
24 - Jet in Columbus
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, is resigning after six stormy years at the Pentagon, President Bush said Wednesday.
Bush said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA under the first President Bush, would be tapped to replace Rumsfeld.
The development occurred one day after midterm elections that cost Republicans control of the House, and possibly the Senate, as well. Surveys of voters at polling places said opposition to the war was a significant contributor to the Democratic victory.
President Bush announced Rumsfeld's departure and Gates' nomination at an afternoon news conference. Administration officials notified congressional officials in advance.
Military officials and politicians dissatisfied with the course of the war had called for Rumsfeld’s resignation in the months leading up to the election. Last week, as Bush campaigned to save the Republican majority, he declared that Rumsfeld would remain at the Pentagon through the end of his term
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