GQ: Secret 2003 Iraq intel reports began with Bible quotes
posted at 2:30 pm on May 17, 2009 by Allahpundit
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That’s just the sexiest detail in a devastating profile of Rumsfeld assembled by Robert Draper, but since it fits the left’s narrative that the Iraq war must have been conceived with an ulterior motive — war for oil, war for Israel, war because Bush heard God’s voice in his head — it’s the detail the media will focus on. You can view a slideshow of the reports here. Proof that Don Rumsfeld was actually a closet crusader? No, more like proof that Rumsfeld tried to speak Bush’s language in the early days of the war to give him strength as the first casualties were taken.
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. Several others in the Pentagon disagreed. At least one Muslim analyst in the building had been greatly offended; others privately worried that if these covers were leaked during a war conducted in an Islamic nation, the fallout—as one Pentagon staffer would later say—“would be as bad as Abu Ghraib.”
But the Pentagon’s top officials were apparently unconcerned about the effect such a disclosure might have on the conduct of the war or on Bush’s public standing. When colleagues complained to Shaffer that including a religious message with an intelligence briefing seemed inappropriate, Shaffer politely informed them that the practice would continue, because “my seniors”—JCS chairman Richard Myers, Rumsfeld, and the commander in chief himself—appreciated the cover pages…
The Scripture-adorned cover sheets illustrate one specific complaint I heard again and again: that Rumsfeld’s tactics—such as playing a religious angle with the president—often ran counter to sound decision-making and could, occasionally, compromise the administration’s best interests. In the case of the sheets, publicly flaunting his own religious views was not at all the SecDef’s style—“Rumsfeld was old-fashioned that way,” Shaffer acknowledged when I contacted him about the briefings—but it was decidedly Bush’s style, and Rumsfeld likely saw the Scriptures as a way of making a personal connection with a president who frequently quoted the Bible. No matter that, if leaked, the images would reinforce impressions that the administration was embarking on a religious war and could escalate tensions with the Muslim world. The sheets were not Rumsfeld’s direct invention—and he could thus distance himself from them, should that prove necessary.
Still, the sheer cunning of pairing unsentimental intelligence with religious righteousness bore the signature of one man: Donald Rumsfeld. And as historians slog through the smoke and mirrors of his tenure, they may find that Rumsfeld’s most enduring legacy will be the damage he did to Bush’s.
That’s the jumping-off point for a long, gossipy, engrossing analysis of how Rumsfeld (almost) ruined everything, from Iraq to U.S./Russia relations to even the feds’ Katrina response. So damning is it that it’s almost self-discrediting: He simply couldn’t have been that bad for that long and stayed on the job, Bush’s famous reputation for loyalty notwithstanding, so we’re left to puzzle out how much of the dish is simple scapegoating by other anonymous Bush officials eager to push blame onto the media’s favorite whipping boy. Draper’s not some nutroots hack, though, having written a book about Bush’s administration for which Dubya himself agreed to be interviewed several times. Either way, believe me when I tell you you’ll want to read the whole thing. As for the intel reports, the intent seems innocuous enough but it’s bizarre to me that they’d have gone ahead with religious messages on war documents — secret war documents no less, buttressing the “ulterior motive” meme — knowing what a PR disaster it would have been had these leaked at the time. In a way, it reminds me of Rush saying he wants Obama to fail: The motive may be noble, but surely there’s a less self-destructive way to make the point.
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I’ve followed this story on another blog. I do believe the left has truly lost its senses.
They are, quite literally, trying to paint this as a religious war.
Hilarious.
AnninCA on May 17, 2009 at 2:33 PM
don’t care.
rob verdi on May 17, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Love Rummy
BobH on May 17, 2009 at 2:37 PM
They keep trying to live in the past because their present is so, very, terrible.
Sooner or later, the American voter will get tired of this. I’m worried that too much damage will have been done by then, though.
Asher on May 17, 2009 at 2:40 PM
I won’t read the article. I’m sick of the trashing of Bush and his administration. He kept us safe for 7 years after the most devastating act against the US since Pearl Harbor. I can’t wait for the day that Obozo’s administration is tested to see what kind of metal those idiots are made of. I’m guessing Cesium which can be cut with a butter knife.
txag92 on May 17, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Perfectly good quotes to me.
cjs1943 on May 17, 2009 at 2:40 PM
I still love Rummy. He’s a good man.
BetseyRoss on May 17, 2009 at 2:41 PM
I love Rumsfeld, too.
Blake on May 17, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Depends on which Bible verses are used. Some people garner strength and calming by reading words; even if you hate it, you must agree that the Bible contains some pretty good writings. Psalms 23, as an example.
Serr8d on May 17, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Fodder for the Jihadi’s. Thanks GQ!
daesleeper on May 17, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Remembering 2003, no problem…
d1carter on May 17, 2009 at 2:45 PM
I do not agree with the left, but Rumsfeld was a disaster. And I recognize the man’s accomplishments in trying to reform the DoD and in the early days of the Iraq war. But if anyone almost lost the Iraq occupation, it was Rummy. This author is not some net nutroot.
Mr. Joe on May 17, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Asher, I suspect we’ll all look back and call it a generational change.
What’s odd? The generational shift is between people who are actually hitting their stride and a very young, immature group in life.
Why that’s happening is interesting to me.
AnninCA on May 17, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Thank God Rumdfield relied on prayer instead of what the liberals would think. If Muslims prayed would that make us angry about wars in the 10th century and if not why not?
Herb on May 17, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Are we fighting a holy war?
Hell, yes. Any war in which we are on the side of the right and fighting a detestable enemy who wants to destroy freedom, that war is holy.
promachus on May 17, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Nietzsche said that religious wars “show that the masses are capable of taking ideas seriously”, so I’m not sure that even if the war were religious, it would be a bad thing.
Religions give rise to ideas about the proper ordering of society and how one should treat one’s fellow man. To the extent that we go to war to protect our ability to act on those ideas and punish those who act contrary to those ideas, there’s a quasi-religious angle to it all.
Also, for the typical Muslim, religion literally defines the scope of their intellectual life. From all of the evidence I’ve seen, the typical Muslim’s thought process consists of “What does Islam say or imply about this?” The idea that there could be some authority which could guide decision-making, outside of the Islamic authorities, seems completely foreign to them.
venividivici on May 17, 2009 at 2:51 PM
*Sigh* Ed’s vacation is going to be long, long, long…
joe_doufu on May 17, 2009 at 2:52 PM
The Central Intelligence Agency uses a Bible verse as its motto: “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” — John 8:32
CP on May 17, 2009 at 2:52 PM
O gawd,now the Liberals will have a cat-niption fit!!
And,the Jihady’s have been on a holy war,since the third
century,or there abouts!!
canopfor on May 17, 2009 at 2:52 PM
You know what else? I’ve heard Presidents sometimes say “God Bless America”! Can you imagine? Invoking the divine like America is somehow special? And, I read somewhere they sometimes even open a session of Congress with a prayer! They call it an invocation, but we all know it’s just code for “white power!” and “kill the gays!”
/moonbat off
I have to stop doing that. It’s painful.
trubble on May 17, 2009 at 2:52 PM
“In God we trust.” Know I’ve seen that somewhere. On money, perhaps…
Wethal on May 17, 2009 at 2:56 PM
These cover sheets are wrong on so many levels it’s amazing anyone can defend them. But to blame them on Rumsfeld seems a bridge too far.
What is really scary is that intelligence classified at the level shown on these coversheets should be in the hands of GQ. No matter what one might think of Rumsfeld, that’s treason.
unclesmrgol on May 17, 2009 at 3:00 PM
What Bible passages were quoted though?
If the quotes were some Old Testament thing about destroying the unbeliever, sure I could understand someone being upset.
But if the quotes were something from say… Psalms? All about how God will bear us up in time of trouble?
Completely different in intent and meaning.
Sackett on May 17, 2009 at 3:00 PM
This is an easy one: all the Left has to do is continue to harp on “Crusades” and then Islam continues to riot, rationalize violence as “owed” to the West/Christians in the West and everywhere else and then all the hating Left will continue to foam over lattes as to how awful those Christians actually are.
If the Jewish among us continue to loiter with the foaming over lattes, Israel is lost. You guys need to step up to the plate.
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:01 PM
The bible quote stuff is small potatoes and just basically Rummy acting like a brown nosing administration infighter he is. You can pretend Rummy did a good job during the occupation, but he almost lost the war. Bush’s biggest mistake was not replacing him sooner.
I do not consider Rummy a crusader, war criminal, just a man who screwed up in his last big assisgnment (mostly due to his own personality flaws).
Mr. Joe on May 17, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Count me in the Rummy lovers club!
(BTW, notice the Left had to release this (non-) story in GQ, for Pete’s sake!)
Jenfidel on May 17, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Oh, man…..some of you are over the edge. Holy war?
You gotta be kidding me.
AnninCA on May 17, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Wow! It must have been really bad for a muslim to have been that offended. It takes an awful lot to rile up those practitioners of the great religion of peace and tolerence.
MB4 on May 17, 2009 at 3:02 PM
He also said that “God is dead,” so that means scripture or not, if there’s a “belief” that God is dead, then everything else associated is meaningless. Scripture then becomes a prosaic relic like the U.S. Constitution is to Communists and other Socialists, and, presto, Sharia Law!
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Mr. Joe, that’s my take too.
He just told some secretary to copy and past some Bible quote on the report.
Stupid, yes.
Holy war? Oh please.
AnninCA on May 17, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Soooo…
People actualy read COVER SHEETS?
Romeo13 on May 17, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Yes, I also admired Rumsfeld. His problems, handicap, seems to have been an attempt to “efficiently” wage the War, unfortunately. I don’t understand why The Surge was even necessary, though necessary it was (due to flagging results under Rumsfeld’s earlier attempts).
But I think he deserves a lot of respect that he is denied.
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:05 PM
I expect the reaction to this will actually be muted.
There are an awful lot of Americans who don’t agree that the Crusades are to be blamed on “Christianity,” and who don’t see invoking the promises and admonitions of the Bible as a way of dragooning God into our earthly actions, or claiming that He has directed them.
There are also a lot of Americans who see nothing wrong with Major General Shaffer’s inclusion of Bible passages in daily briefings to the president.
The ironic thing is that it’s acknowledged in the article that Rumsfeld himself would NOT have either suggested or responded to this kind of practice. But of course, the piece’s purpose is to defame Rumsfeld, and clearly the author hopes that reporting on the Bible-verses-on-the-briefing-slides will contribute to that.
Leave as many drive-by impressions as possible, that’s the motto. Makes me want to quite Bible verses on letting your yea be yea and your nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (Matthew 5:37)
J.E. Dyer on May 17, 2009 at 3:06 PM
US Gov’t WWII Poster – Nazi stabbing a dagger through a Bible with caption ‘This is the enemy’
CP on May 17, 2009 at 3:06 PM
“…QUOTE Bible verses…”
Sigh
J.E. Dyer on May 17, 2009 at 3:07 PM
I think this is the overkill factor on the Hate Bush syndrome.
When you have to start digging for stories like this, that tells me the left is out of real ammunition.
It’s Obama’s administration officially when stories like this actually make the news.
AnninCA on May 17, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Donald Rumsfeld is a great man. Period.
And he was absolutely correct about Iraq and our need to take down Saddam. Anyone who saw Saddam intentionally dump 40,000,000 barrels of oil into the gulf and light just about every oil well in Kuwait on fire – all as he was being allowed to retreat in one of the most humiliating military defeats in all of human history – knew that.
progressoverpeace on May 17, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Bible quotes are often used for historical context rather than religious reasons. Now I will go read the thing and see what it says.
crosspatch on May 17, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Was Rumsfeld perfect- far from it.
Did he make stupid mistakes in hindsight- certainly.
History is full of such men in these situations.
The left will beclown themselves because they will equate this with being evil, when if anything it showed how much he cared about this country post 9/11. The easiest thing to do in life is to not give a damn as long as you got yours.
The haters will always hate- ef’ em.
jjshaka on May 17, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Because Bush never allowed the ROE to be put at the proper level.
progressoverpeace on May 17, 2009 at 3:09 PM
I looked at the slideshow, at the verses Rummy selected. Mostly Old Testament stuff, only three NT verses, and none that Muzzies would find offensive. But the Left, and the Righteously secular types (yes, some of these ‘moderate’ Meghan McCain Republicans are Righteously secular, almost to the same degree as the hateful atheists of the farthest left) will have fun pointing and laughing.
Any ammo they can use to attack Bush, they will.
Should’ve used this quote for Saddam’s finding in a spiderhole…
Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
Serr8d on May 17, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Regarding the issue of “holy war” or “holy wars,” indeed, so far, in history, it can be seen that the winning of the big ones has, indeed, been by holy order — try explaining how WWII, for example, if the West and Allies had lost, would not have been counter to God’s desires (had Germany triumphed, in other words, would that not have been contrary to God’s intent).
God works in mysterious ways. We don’t understand Him very often because His ways are not our ways and we aren’t equipped as Creators ourselves. What He’s up to, He tells the faithful as He wants them to understand. By faith we learn and follow Him…
The Middle East situation is not a cavalier one. Us Christians are ridiculed (so what else is new) for referring to the story told us about the Middle East and mankind entirely, as revealed in the Bible, but, well, it looks like the Bible’s been accurate up to now. There’s little reason to assume it’s suddenly going to be false in any or all aspects. Except when one insists a human understanding upon God’s work, then it’s back to the failing of man’s limitations to understand God as Divine.
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Can we at least find out what quotes were included before we comment on this? If it’s smoothing about smiting the Midianites, Caannanites or Mennonites :), then yes, concerns need to be raised. If it’s something “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”, can anyone really raise a stink over that?
Aside from those who think the Bible is the source of all evil, that is.
ExUrbanKevin on May 17, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Was not that a fault of or limitation by Congress?
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Why doesn’t Allah just make if official and blog at dKos. Would it have been better if Rumsfeld had quoted Lincoln or Washington on the cover sheets? Truth is truth, no matter where it comes from.
ILB on May 17, 2009 at 3:11 PM
In other words, not Rumsfeld’s fault.
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:11 PM
No problemo. Looks like someone understands what’s going on, is all.
Akzed on May 17, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I would say that quoting from the Book of Psalms is rather non-sectarian in this case as it is a Jewish text that is recognized by Islam as being “the word of God”. In other words, the Psalms are as holy in Islam as they are in Judaism or Christianity. They are “pan-Abrahamic”.
The Qur’an (Surah An-Nisa 4:163) states “and to David We gave the Psalms”. Therefore, Islam confirms the Psalms as being inspired of God.
crosspatch on May 17, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Oops, meant to blockquote the last paragraph, it was from Wikipedia but screwed up the tag from having spent time on a different site with different tagging options.
crosspatch on May 17, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Hahaha…
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Man, those Supreme Court justices must be a bunch of Christianists too; I mean, allowing the Ten Commandments to be inscribed in stone on the wall of the courtroom! *GASP*
/sarc
CP on May 17, 2009 at 3:15 PM
If the righteous are to fight evil, would you have them do so stintingly?
PercyB on May 17, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Why would anyone give 2 seconds to this story? Boy, talk about throwing out bait to avoid the Pelosi story.
Why would you ever, ever go for this nonsense?
AnninCA on May 17, 2009 at 3:15 PM
I wonder how much time it actually took you to come up with this explanation. Because if things like that are born easily, this is a sign of a real trouble. You looked at those slides and in all seriousness concluded that every time religion was mentioned, it was used solely as a way to comfort President who was mourning the fallen troops. Alright.
The reality is that of course Iraq was isn’t religious. This is silly. However, I would very much prefer the CiC to discuss war with his subordinates in purely rational terms. Surely, you (much more than me) think that’s entirely doable.
If President were having doubts, and his subordinates thought that the mission is still basically worthwhile, then they should lay out hard arguments. When instead their choice of message is basically that he’s doing God’s work, it tells you everything about how very important decisions are made.
There was no real oversight. There was no cold-blooded discussion of the facts.
Tell me honestly that you know for sure now that when somebody said: “uhm, I’m not really sure we have enough intelligence to conclude Iraq has WMDs”, nobody responded with some quote from Bible on how Satan can always help the enemy of good. Tell me this wouldn’t pass for an argument in Bush’s mind.
radiofreevillage on May 17, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Gee. . . . .
I can think of a rather prominent world wide organization that has more than a “bible verse” on their “cover” — they have a statue of a bible verse displayed prominently for all to see. . . .
http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/untour/subswo.htm
The organization, of course, is the UN — and the bible verses are about beating swords into plowshares. The verses are Isaiah 2:4, Joel 3:10, and Micah 4:3.
So is this political incorrect thinking too?
Narniaman on May 17, 2009 at 3:16 PM
See? The CIA is a good organization, not the liars Pelosi lies they are.
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Rly?!!!! I had no idea! I thought the jihad started when Bush stole the 2000 election.
What did Bush’s ancestors do in the third century to start these freedom fighters’ efforts?
Loxodonta on May 17, 2009 at 3:18 PM
The esteemed drama critic for the NY Fishwrap, Frankie Rich, sprinkled some extra estrogen on her Creme of Wheat this morning, and read this GQ “article”. She then got her getalifes in a bunch about it, and penned this hilarious screed:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/opinion/17rich-5.html?em
Be sure to read MoDo the DoDo’s Sunday love letter to Cheney as well.
Del Dolemonte on May 17, 2009 at 3:19 PM
You seem to forget that Bush’s intel on WMDs came from the previous (Democrat) “Administration”.
Del Dolemonte on May 17, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Maybe they responded with some of these non-Biblical quotes.
“Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime … He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation … And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction … So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real…”
– Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003
“I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force — if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.”
– Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002
“One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line.”
– President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
“If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program.”
– President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998
“We must stop Saddam from ever again jeopardizing the stability and security of his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction.”
– Madeline Albright, Feb 1, 1998
“He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.”
– Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998
“Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.”
– Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998
“Hussein has … chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies.”
– Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999
“We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.”
– Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
“Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.”
– Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.”
– Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002
“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.”
– Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
MB4 on May 17, 2009 at 3:21 PM
I assume that Rumsfeld wanted a looser ROE, as it was necessary. If we had reacted to that first incident when the contractors were killed and hung on the bridge (by decimating Fallujah the next day) I don’t think there would have been any sizable insurgency, to begin with. Arabs only really fight when they think they can win, or at least inflict a decent amount of pain. Ibn Khaldun spoke about this in the 14th century and it remains part of arab culture to this day.
progressoverpeace on May 17, 2009 at 3:21 PM
“YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS” — or — “BY THEIR FRUITS YOU WILL KNOW THEM”
“Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are as ravenous as wolfs, you will know them by their fruits”.
The Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit) tells us to rely on faith, on God’s understanding, not our own, and to ‘test the spirits’ accordingly…
We discern not by human ego or emotion but by Divine revelation, God shows up when asked with what He deems is important for us to “know” or discern when we ask Him.
It’s not hokus pokus as the Left ridicules that to be, it’s the mystery of faith.
“Without faith, you are dead.” <– What THAT means is that by our own understanding, we perceive not Life as life eternal, as God’s understanding, but by our own, we are limited to the world, which is temporary, passing, or, death without eternal life ahead.
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Only in the idiotic country this has become could what was accomplished in Iraq and Afghanistan be seen as anything but incredibly successful military operations with amazingly low casualties.
TheBigOldDog on May 17, 2009 at 3:23 PM
The weight of command is heavy and the task a lonely one; ask anyone who has had to command men in battle. When you are the commander-in-chief, the burden is immense. Our current president is rapidly finding this out as evidenced by his flip-flops on President Bush’s national security directives. Finding solace in the Scriptures is, besides being what they are there for, a welcome relief. It shows not only a belief in a higher power, but also a deep respect for life, especially for the lives of those one commands and as such a great desire to not throw away the lives of your men. Look at the writings of Washington, Lincoln, Grant, T. Roosevelt, F. D. Roosevelt, Truman, Ike, even JFK and LBJ as well as Nixon, Ford, Carter, Regean, Bush Sr. and every other American president.
They “—appreciated the cover pages…” for a reason!
By the way, this is a trait not found in dictators. Take a look at how dictators command vs. the majority of Western commanders-in-chiefs. Do you think Hitler, Stalin, Ho Chi Mhin, Mao, Kim Jung Il, Hussien, the mullahs running Iran or any other tin-horned dictator cares about the individual grunt under his command? Since 2003 we invaded Iraq, crushed its armed forces, quelled a civil war and installed a democratic government setting down the path toward democracy for a butcher’s bill of ~4500 lives. The United States suffered, in total, ca. 4700 KIA/WIA/MIA on June 6, 1944 (D-Day for you young pups) alone. Do you think Hitler cared how many men he’d loose starting WWII, or Stalin worrying about the casualty reports at Stalingrad or after taking Berlin, or Hussien and the mullahs bothering to notice the body bags during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980’s? Hirohito only gave up because he knew we had the capability to wipe Japan off the map without incurring lose to ourselves. Truman nuked Japan because he didn’t want Iwo Jima and Okinawa repeated on a scale 1,000,000 times larger. See the difference? If you cannot, well no brains no headaches I guess….
Look, the libtards have BDS so anything Bush or any of his associates did, thought, mentioned, looked at or breathed on will be twisted to be from the mind of Satan himself so who gives a rat’s ass about them. Remember, liberalism is a mental disorder so these folks are sick in the head. Consequently who cares what they think or do. As for the muslims, those that hate us will continue to anyway and as for the rest who cares.
Bubba Redneck on May 17, 2009 at 3:26 PM
I’m aware of these quotes. I said the war wasn’t religious. My point is religious arguments also do pass as arguments.
radiofreevillage on May 17, 2009 at 3:26 PM
I disagree. I think any response, tepid or vital, would have resulted in the same thing that’s been going on for centuries and continues today: the Arab “world” is intent on dominating the rest of us, and it’s a religious war in their perceptions (if it were not so, there would be no harassment and far worse than that upon Jews and Christians by Islam, however strong or subtle).
There is a desire to dominate and eradicate all others by Islam and their cultural soup, the Arab people. Not ALL of them, as individuals, but persistently by groups within that culture, those cultures associated with that people.
Thus, our responses make effects here, there, but the ongoing problem continues. History has shown that to be the case.
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Can we at least find out what quotes were included before we comment on this? If it’s smoothing about smiting the Midianites, Caannanites or Mennonites :), then yes, concerns need to be raised. If it’s something “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”, can anyone really raise a stink over that?
Aside from those who think the Bible is the source of all evil, that is.
ExUrbanKevin
Oh, those heathen Mennonites. They will surely burn in hell.
BTW, put me in the “love Rummy” camp. Happy to be there.
SKYFOX on May 17, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Even Katrina. Find me another natural disaster on that scale where the body count is less than a couple of thousand.
This country has gone completely farking insane.
TheBigOldDog on May 17, 2009 at 3:29 PM
In times of war, this is not uncommon.
Lincoln’s second inaugural address was ripe with Biblical quotes and allusions that would make Obama so proud, simply from name dropping.
FDR utilized a plethora of Biblical references, quotes and commentaries that should make every Dem drip with piety, out of idol worship, if nothing else.
Granted, Rummy’s mis-use of Scripture is a tad self-serving in a trite, TOTUS sort of way, and the ‘crusade crap’ is just that: crap.
But if this is dishing dirt from the Left, then we have nothing to be ashamed of…
Just don’t do it again, Rummy.
locomotivebreath1901 on May 17, 2009 at 3:30 PM
So unashamedly quoting Biblical verses is more offensive than say… bowing to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and then lying about it?
Wake me when the press focuses on things that matter.
TMK on May 17, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Yeah, I agree with you on both accounts (first one, your first comment up the thread here).
Obama never even showed up in Kentucky/Tennessee after the ice storm there, not one appearance in the Dakotas, what with the flooding there. People homeless, floating in boats or frozen in breaking trees, Obama never even issued a public statement about any of it.
Not a peep from the Leftwing Congress, either.
People perished in both events.
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:32 PM
+1
TMK on May 17, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Like I wrote at first here, the goal for the Left is to continue to agitate Islam. Islam’s enemies? Same as the Left’s.
Lourdes on May 17, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Excellent post!
A question: who is this “We”?
Bubba Redneck on May 17, 2009 at 3:34 PM
So unashamedly quoting Biblical verses is more offensive than say… bowing to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and then lying about it?
Wake me when the press focuses on things that matter.
TMK on May 17, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Rather like Darth Vader before the emperor….
Bubba Redneck on May 17, 2009 at 3:36 PM
I generally agree. The arabs are aggressive, belligerent, and hate the West. This will not change. There’s no question about this. I’m just saying that what really sets them off more than anything is the taste of blood and the idea that they might win. That is what rallies them. Not pictures of arabs with panties on their heads, but the idea that they might get away with an attack and bring harm to their enemy. Israel has been making this exact mistake for over 60 years, never making the arabs really pay for their aggression, which is why Israel has to fight the same war every ten years (almost losing twice, already).
Personally, I wanted to invade Iraq and just take the oil fields and the gulf access, leaving the Iraqis to run around in the desert. If they wanted help, they could ask for it. But, other than that, the Kurds were the only half-decent allies that I would have helped from the start.
To me, all arab/persian/muslim threats start and stop at the gulf oil fields. Those fields are the sole sources of APM power and their aggression will not stop while they control them. Eventually, the West is going to have to retake the fields (not that we should have ever allowed them to be stolen in the forced nationalization waves of a half century ago). I would have started with Iraq.
progressoverpeace on May 17, 2009 at 3:38 PM
And they died during the storm and as a result of drowning when the levy broke – nothing Bush could do anything about. However, the idiots who ignored a week long warning to evacuate have no one to blame but themselves. I feel sorry for the elderly and the children who were dependent on the adults who were too stupid to get them to safety. The rest — to hell with them.
Blake on May 17, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Look at what the hell they have done to the UK. And the worse is yet to come.
Blake on May 17, 2009 at 3:44 PM
You obviously don’t remember Scott McClellan.
Speedwagon82 on May 17, 2009 at 3:46 PM
I won’t read the article. The leftists who try so hard to trash Bush/Rumsfeld/Cheney bore me. I’d rather read a description of paint drying.
Kim Priestap on May 17, 2009 at 3:47 PM
It is a religious war.
Islam began it in 620 A.D.~ and will not stop until all infidels are under their theocratic thumb.
Whatever works to counter their assault, I favor.
As The Taoist sage Lao Tse said:
“When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally. ”
They can quote him in the next war report.
profitsbeard on May 17, 2009 at 3:49 PM
who can take it just fine – it’s what irritates the sissies the most.
+ what profitsbeard always says.
Schadenfreude on May 17, 2009 at 3:52 PM
AnninCA on May 17, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Should have quoted the koran. There wouldn’t have been anything wrong with that.
JeffinOrlando on May 17, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Same here. Haven’t read it yet,,, but I will.
Like,, uhh, such scandal that and administration official began a report with scripture.
THERE IS SCRIPTURE ALL OVER OUR FREAKING GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS!
In every state capital, in Washington DC,, in and on our monuments,, and guess what,,,??? Presidents have been citing Bible scripture since our nation began!!! Our Declaration of Independence actually refers to a Creator!!(It’s been a secret now all these years!! Don’t tell anyone in the media or they’ll have a fit!!)
Another artificial made up scandal!!
Thank God we had someone in the government if only for a few moments had the wisdom to refer to the Bible!!! That is not a bad thing!!
JellyToast on May 17, 2009 at 3:56 PM
What did Bush ancestors…..
Loxondonta on May 17,2009 at 3:18PM.
Loxondonta:
Your accusations sound a tad like a Liberal Moonbat!
Liberal’s would have a cow,at the mere mention of religion,
and couple that with a verse from the bible,I’m sure you
get the picture!
If I had my way,I would carpet bomb,with 1 megaton bombs dropped out of the bomb bay doors of B-52’s,from Afghani
stan to Puckistan!
And,the jihady’s tried to dominate the world at least 3
times!
This war on the West has been going on for a very long
time!
And a lot longer than America’s birth,let alone President
Bush!
Sorry to go off a bit,maybe I took you wrong!!:)
canopfor on May 17, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Rumsfeld was, and remains a joke.
therightwinger on May 17, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Maybe?!!!!
Loxodonta on May 17, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Yeah! How DARE they publish Bible verses./ We’ve been sending out Bible verses to soldiers ever since Operation Iraqi Freedom began. It is not to say this is a Crusade against Islam. It is to say, take comfort, you soldiers who are believers in God (and there are no atheists in foxholes remember), that God will deliver you and bring you safely home. Christians have been praying Psalm 91 over their loved ones, praying God’s protection over our soldiers. To try to condemn Rumsfeld with this only serves to show how anti-God these people are. They have no clue that many in our military are followers of God. And, of course GQ like so much of the media have a campaign against Christians, Rumsfeld, Bush and anyone on the right.
Christian Conservative on May 17, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Really now, prefacing reports of US military actions in Muslim countries with Bible quotes is just plain stupid.
okonkolo on May 17, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Maybe?!!!
Loxondonta on May 17,2009 at 4:00PM.
Loxondonta: Do you think I’m a Liberal????????????????
canopfor on May 17, 2009 at 4:07 PM
“and there are no atheists in foxholes”
Wow that is pretty much spitting in the face of every Atheist serving in our military! You are dihonoring trrops like Pat Tillman who left the NFL to fight for our country by spewing some nonsense that only exists in your head. There are so many atheists who were in foxholes fighting for our country, some who survived to tell the tale and some like Tillman who died brave patriots and atheists to the end.
You have every right to believe but don’t dishonor our dead service men (regrdless of whether you like their views on religion)
DustyGreen on May 17, 2009 at 4:08 PM
I’ve never accused you of being one. Are you?
Loxodonta on May 17, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Why don’t leave that poor dead horse alone?
I mean come on, were all these idiots in a coma for more than a decade before the war?
I don’t much care one way or the other. At least Bush kept his pants on in the Oval office, which is more than can be said about Bill Clinton. Bill, that being the President who said that Saddam Hussein was a threat and that only regime change would make the world safe from him.
And of course there were the more than dozen UN resolutions, the violated cease fire agreement, the attempt on a president’s life, the support of international terrorism, turning the Food for Oil program into a scam and stealing billions in the process…but to hear the left tell it, it is just like Nancy and the waterboarding question: they no nothing. never heard of Saddam until big bad Bush and big bad Rumsfeld came along.
Delusional, ignorant people.
Terrye on May 17, 2009 at 4:09 PM
He is liberal in his aversion to liberals.
semloh on May 17, 2009 at 4:13 PM
A couple hundred years from now they’ll debate the causes for the fall of America. The chief conclusion will be a corrupt media rotted it from the inside.
TheBigOldDog on May 17, 2009 at 4:13 PM
BS. More evidence of tin-eared tone deafness from the worst administration this country has suffered under since, oh, Chester Arthur. Incompetents. And before I’m drowned under an avalanche of sputtering, apoplectic cries of “B-b-b-b-ut they kept us SAFE for 7 years” let me add–they were lucky for 7 years, and so were we. At least in that regard.
Grow Fins on May 17, 2009 at 4:13 PM
therightwinger:
I don’t think Rumsfeld is a joke. He just does not care who he offends.
Terrye on May 17, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Hey,, guess what I just found out! Obama used a Bible during his inauguration! He actually took the oath of office with his hand held on it!! Can you believe this?!! This was during an official government function on government property! I also found out that Bill Clinton did the same thing! In fact,, Bill Clinton actually had a page of the Bible opened to Isaiah 58:2!
JellyToast on May 17, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Brilliant satire. Now, can I have some of your cheap tequila?
Del Dolemonte on May 17, 2009 at 4:16 PM
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