McCain Has 'No Confidence' in Rumsfeld

PHOENIX Dec 13, 2004 � U.S. Sen. John McCain said Monday that he has "no confidence" in Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, citing Rumsfeld's handling of the war in Iraq and the failure to send more troops.

McCain, speaking to The Associated Press in an hourlong interview, said his comments were not a call for Rumsfeld's resignation, explaining that President Bush "can have the team that he wants around him."

Asked about his confidence in the secretary's leadership, McCain recalled fielding a similar question a couple weeks ago.

"I said no. My answer is still no. No confidence," McCain said.

He estimated an additional 80,000 Army personnel and 20,000 to 30,000 more Marines would be needed to secure Iraq.

"I have strenuously argued for larger troop numbers in Iraq, including the right kind of troops linguists, special forces, civil affairs, etc.," said McCain, R-Ariz. "There are very strong differences of opinion between myself and Secretary Rumsfeld on that issue."

When asked if Rumsfeld was a liability to the Bush administration, McCain responded: "The president can decide that, not me."

ABC News

Wow. What does this say about the Bush administration? McCain and Bush never got along. McCain has never forgiven the lies and smear tactics Rove used when he and Bush were running for the Presidential nomination. McCain did his 'duty' during the election, but now it seems that since that debacle is over, he is free to speak his mind again.

I think all the support that McCain showed during the pre-elections was done in favor of the republican party and not the president itself.

McCain has combat experience and he knows what our soldiers in Iraq are going through with not hope in the near future, he has a pretty good idea as what is going on in our troops minds in Iraq.

Rumsfeld has not conscience as how our soldiers has been used in Iraq, he cares not about how they are dying everyday, by insurgents and so far he has nothing to show for in Iraq but chaos.

Whatever skills he has on warfare combine with the arrogance of our President I think they complement each other in their lack of those skills.

And we as citizens in this country have allowed all these to happen to our soldiers, and we have done nothing to stop the government for sending them to a slaughter in Iraq.

We are as guilty as them for not doing anything but just sit in our comfortable homes and find excuses to for the bad decisions of our leaders.

McCain has allowed the Republican party to used him for political propaganda even when he did not agree with what is going on in the government.

Originally posted by marg6043


McCain has combat experience and he knows what our soldiers in Iraq are going through with not hope in the near future, he has a pretty good idea as what is going on in our troops minds in Iraq.

Agreed.

McCain spent years as a N.Vietnam POW which gives him a perspective on these matters that most people do not have.

That perspective and understanding McCain has is something which Rumsfled does not have. Nor Wolfowitz or Bush for that matter....... war on paper is one thing. Living it is entirely different.




[edit on 13-12-2004 by Facefirst]

[edit on 13-12-2004 by dgtempe]

Originally posted by marg6043
McCain has allowed the Republican party to used him for political propaganda even when he did not agree with what is going on in the government.

Which makes him a whore. He knew he was putting Rummy back in power campaiging for Bush. McCain might as well have backdoor drafted more Reservists himself. Or just killed them.

Just like pro-gay, pro-abortion, pro stem cell research, pro gun control "moderates" like Gouliani and Schwarzegger that backed the moral authoritarian neocons. Whores. They stand for NOTHING but their party being in power when they back what they claim to despise.

You know everyone likes to like McCain, Powell, and the other moderates that helped make a monster like President Cheney seem palatable to a slim margin of Americans. Screw them. Why is that forgivable? How is it forgetable? It's all as much their doing, fault and responsiblity as if they did it all themselves. I can't believe a single one of them swallow that Republican platform to begin with. Big tent my salty bum.

I'm at a total loss for who the neocon power base will run in 2008 just like they are I'm sure. But the Republican civil war is on. McCain is signaling the revolt from the out of power moderates. Good luck and good riddance.

A day late and a dollar short you sell out. Thanks for nothing you shill. I'm going to love watching the Wedge party fracture into a chaos created by it's own doing. They deserve whatever they do to each other. Oh it'll be brutal in the primaries. Worse than McCain/Bush 2000 no doubt.

Thunderdome.

Originally posted by RANT
I'm at a total loss for who the neocon power base will run in 2008 just like they are I'm sure. But the Republican civil war is on. McCain is signaling the revolt from the out of power moderates. Good luck and good riddance.

Its not doubt that McCain may take a leadership role in 2008 after the bad government of Mr. Bush, you are right people talks about divisions in the democratic party but I predict that the division is coming from the republican side also.

After this president finish with our nation they are going to need somebody good enough to fix the image of that party.

Unless they get away with another terrorist attack and that will be enough to instill fair in the vulnerable god fearing people of this nation.