Hillary Clinton BITCHSLAPS Rumsfeld--and calls for his RESIGNATION

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 3:37pm

CLINTON: Mr. Secretary, we're glad you are here. In your opening statements, you reference the commonsense of Americans. I think it's fair to say that collective common sense, overwhelmingly, either does not understand or approve of the way you and the administration are handling Iraq and Afghanistan. Under your leadership, there have been numerous errors in judgement that have lead us to where we are in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have a full-fledged insurgency and full blown sectarian conflict in Iraq. Now, whether you label it a civil war or not, it certainly has created a situation of extreme violence and the continuing loss among our troops and of the Iraqis. You did not go into Iraq with enough troops to establish law and order. You disbanded the entire Iraqi army. Now, we're trying to recreate it. You did not do enough planning for what it is called "phase four" and you rejected all the planning that had been done previously to maintain stability are the regime was overthrown. You underestimated the nature and strength of the insurgency, the sectarian violence, and the spread of Iranian influence.

Last year, Congress passed "The United States Policy in Iraq Act" which I strongly supported. This law declares 2006 to be a year of significant transition into full Iraqi sovereignty with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq. Thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq. However, we appear to be moving in the opposite direction. With the number of U.S. troops in Iraq scheduled to increase, not decrease. That's the only way I think you can fairly consider the decision with respect to the 172nd striker brigade.

So, Mr. Secretary, as we return to our states for the August recess, our constituents have a lot of questions and concerns about the current state of affairs in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I don't need to remind any of us that we continue to lose our young men and women. 120 from New York, alone. Besides the U.S. losses, violence does seem to be increasing. From January to June of this year, there were 14,338 Iraqi civilian casualties. At least, as far as anyone can count. In May and June alone, there were more than 5000 deaths and more than 5700 injuries. In a July 22 article in the New York Times, General Abazaid was quoted as saying, "Two months after the new Iraqi government took office, the security gains that we had hoped for had not been achieved." Then there was the big ballyhooed announcement of "forward together" and the commitment by the new Iraqi government to secure Baghdad. Two months into that, it is clear that it's not working and we are now putting in more American troops and following the lead of Senator McCain's line of questioning, we're moving [the troops] from other places that are hardly stable and secure.

In Afghanistan, your administration's credibility is also suspect. In December, 2002, you said the Taliban had gone. In September of 2004, President Bush said, "The Taliban is no longer in existance." However, this February, DIA director, Lt. Gen. Maples said that in 2005, attacks by the Taliban and other anti-coalition forces were up 20% from 2004 levels and these insurgents were a greater threat to the Afghan government's efforts to expand its authority than at any time since 2001. Further, Gen. Ikenberry[sic] made a comparable comment with respect to the dangers that are now going on in Afghanistan and the failure to be able to secure it.

Obviously, I could go on and on. The recent book, aptly titled, "Fiasco", describes in some detail the decision making apparatus that has lead us to this situation. So, Mr. Secretary, when our constituents ask for evidence that your policy in Iraq and Afghanistan will be successful, you don't leave us with much to talk about. Yes, we hear a lot of happy talk and rosy scenarios but because of the administration's strategic blunders and, frankly, the record of incompetence in executing, you are presiding over a failed policy. Given your track record, Secretary Rumsfeld, why should we believe your assurances now?

Updated On: 8/3/06 at 03:37 PM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 3:40pm

oooh, snap.

[iHeartMyGeek]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 3:42pm

Usually not a fan of Hill, but dayum...Donald's gonna be disoreitned for a week after that one.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 4:00pm

How does this man still have his job? Someone please force this man to be accountable for something.

"Afghanistan - um, I don’t know who said what about if the Taliban are gone [Ed. note: You did.] but, in fact, the Taliban that were running Afghanistan and ruling Afghanistan were replaced. And they were replaced by an election that took place in that country, and in terms of a government or a governing entity, they were gone, and that’s a fact.

Are there still Taliban around? You bet. Are they occupying safe havens in Afghanistan and other places — correction, in Pakistan and other places? Certainly they are. Is the violence up? Yes. Does the violence tend to be up during the summer, in the spring, summer and fall months? Yes it does. And it tends to decline during the winter period. Does that represent failed policy? I don’t know. I would say not."

You know what, even if the heat of summer does have some correlation to violence, to use it as the sole cause . . .

Remove this man. Our men and women in uniform deserve better.

Rumsfeld Claims Insurgent Violence Increases ‘In the Spring, Summer and Fall Months’

[iHeartMyGeek]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 4:01pm

Has anyone read Donald Rumsfeld's "poetry"? I mean, he didn't try to write poetry but I once stumbled over some comments from speeches that he made that people took and put into verse. It was hilarious because it was so STUPID.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 4:04pm

He sure makes a lot of assertions he later claims to have come from unknown sources and then the press never throws it back in his face that HE'S who made said assertion (see "We know where the WMDs are).

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 4:15pm

"Does the violence tend to be up during the summer, in the spring, summer and fall months?"

Cue Rummy to break into song:

Oh, no! not in springtime!
Summer, winter or fall!
No, never will we leave you
At all!

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 5:31pm

"Why does the man still have a job?"
Thats an easy one. The Bush administration has consistently rewarded loyalty while ignoring complete incompetence.

Brava Hillary!!!!!!!
Updated On: 8/3/06 at 05:31 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 7:09pm

Welcome back, Marc!

Look at this!

snippet:

===

Sen. Clinton Says Rumsfeld Should Resign

AP Interview: Sen. Clinton Rips Rumsfeld; Calls for His Resignation

By DEVLIN BARRETT

WASHINGTON Aug 3, 2006 (AP)— Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called Thursday for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, hours after excoriating him at a public hearing over what she said was a "failed policy" in Iraq.

"I just don't understand why we can't get new leadership that would give us a fighting chance to turn the situation around before it's too late," the New York Democrat told the Associated Press. "I think the president should choose to accept Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation."

Clinton confronted Rumsfeld directly on Iraq and Afghanistan earlier in the day, and said his answers left her convinced he should go.
Sen. Clinton Says Rumsfeld Should Resign

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 7:44pm

It's not going to happen - Bush would have to accept the fact that his Iraq policy has been a complete disaster (as has his whole tenure as president).

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 8:05pm

I love Hillary! It was great to hear Rummie say, "My goodness!" when she asked why we should believe him now.

[LaurenB]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 8:17pm

When scanning the threads, at first I thought the subject was Hillary Clinton BUTCHSLAPS Rumsfeld.

[DG]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 8:21pm

Lauren - that was priceless.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 8:31pm

That was funny Lauren.

Too bad somebody wouldn't actually bitchslap his lieing ass, and then do it to W (if there ever was sombody who deserves bitchslapping, its our worthless, pice of crap president).

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:17pm

See Hillary and Rummie here:



http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=616f38e9-1105-465b-a455-301516b65c0e&f=00&fg=email

Updated On: 8/3/06 at 10:17 PM

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:20pm

Run Hillary Run!

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:26pm

I updated the video link. MSNBC has the whole 12 minutes.


http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=616f38e9-1105-465b-a455-301516b65c0e&f=00&fg=email

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:31pm

I don't want her to run for president. I would prefer her to stay and be Senate Majority Leader.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:33pm

PJ, you are correct. She could not win and we really must take back the White House in 2008. She would make a great leader. Durbin does a pretty good job as whip!

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 12:48am

I read the thread title and was hoping she had actually bitchslapped him.


"I don't want her to run for president. I would prefer her to stay and be Senate Majority Leader."


What about a cabinet secretary?