In Memoriam: Donald Rumsfeld.

As Donald Rumsfeld tries to decide how many cardboard boxes he will need as he empties out his office at the Pentagon, let us take a moment to review Donald Rumsfeld.

A highly controversial man of 71 who has served in several administrations. And now, it appears that his illustrious career is about to come to an end, done in by his own troops. 21-year old kids with cameras. Green GI's who were collecting "trophy photos" to swap on the Internet to see who could outdo the other. Rumsfeld became aware of these photos, but strangely enough did not pay attention to them. It was only after they exploded in newspapers and on "60 Minutes" that he decided they warranted a closer look. The disclosure of the photos cause worldwide outrage and calls for his resignation.

(click) Flash. "Smile, Don, you're on Candid Camera".

As Rumsfeld testified last week, he knew about the complaints of abuse, but he claimed he had not looked at the photos until Thursday, the night before the hearings. He denied any involvement. After a briefing at the Pentagon last week, Bush gave Rumsfeld his heartfelt support. Rumsfeld made a quick trip to Abu Ghraib prison on Thursday and called himself "a survivor".

That statement could have been premature. Sy Hersh has an article in the New Yorker which will be published on Monday. It will remove any doubts about who was behind the torture and abuse in Iraq and other places.

The Pentagon responded: "No responsible official of the Department of Defense approved any program that could conceivably have been intended to result in such abuses as witnessed in the recent photos and videos".

And yet Hersh's article should lay to rest any doubts about who was really behind it. The kids who are about to be court-martialed are scapegoats.

Good-bye, Donald Rumsfeld. Don't forget to take your souvenir piece of the jet airliner which crashed into the World Trade Center which sits on your desk.

I feel strangely like the detainees who were let out of Abu Ghraib prison on Friday. They prayed as they got out of the bus. Tomorrow is going to be a very good day for humanity.

*note: I just found out who was Secretary of State during the My Lai massacre. Take one guess.

and that is being revealed. he not only knew and did nothing, he implemented it personally. we are in war crime territory big time.

"No responsible official of the Department of Defense approved any program that could conceivably have been intended to result in such abuses as witnessed in the recent photos and videos".

Hear that? They never expected there to be any photos, videos or witnesses. Why am I not surprised?

Though with the Pentagon denying things, it might take some work on our part. I don't expect the media to pursue anything this misadministration does anymore.

according the Sy Hersh this morning and in New Yorker article. The intelligence operatives posed the pictures so they could be used to turn the prisoners into informants or "assets" when they returned to their communities.

Kind of like what organized crime did to old J. Edgar.

n/t

which slammed into the WTC on 9/11. Apparently Rumsfeld helped himself to a piece as a "souvenir". There were at least 2 threads about that maybe 3 months ago here at the DU. There was general disgust, outrage. The usual stuff that Don The Devil creates.

I'll look into it.

Rest In Pieces