Rumsfeld Throws Bush under the bus

[planosteve]

Now Rummy is saying that the invasion of Iraq was a bad idea.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/donald-rumsfeld-george-w-bush-was-wrong-about-iraq

[GFB]

That's not what he said.

He said Bush was wrong to try to build a Democracy there.

[planosteve]

That's not what he said.

He said Bush was wrong to try to build a Democracy there.

It's what he implied. You don't invade a country, destroy their govt. and military, and then just walk away leaving them in chaos. Unless they are Libya.

[GFB]

That's not what he said.

He said Bush was wrong to try to build a Democracy there.

It's what he implied. You don't invade a country, destroy their govt. and military, and then just walk away leaving them in chaos. Unless they are Libya.

It's not at all what he implied.

And no, you don't walk away..you stay ..like we did in Germany and Japan..where we should now have long since left.

You build the biggest military base in the region and you stay for a very long time.

[ralph]

there you go , build a big military base and hang around Steve , Germany , Japan are shining examples of what shoulda been done . [South Korea] All are excellent examples of what could have been done .

[BillB]

It's not the first time Rumsfeld has criticized Bush.
Rumsfeld was unceremoniously dismissed by Bush, so it isn't surprising.

I agree with him on this, though. I said from the beginning that building a Western style democracy in the Mid East was a stupid idea. That IS what Bush claimed he was doing.

[John In Austin]

Iraq was under control when Bush left office. Our current idiot president told everybody we were pulling out and gave a date. This man doesn't have the mental ability to pour piss out of a boot with the instructions on the bottom. Bush made mistakes in Iraq but they were corrected. Killing Osama Bin Lauden is the only correct decision Barack Obama has made in his presidency.

[planosteve]

there you go , build a big military base and hang around Steve , Germany , Japan are shining examples of what shoulda been done . [South Korea] All are excellent examples of what could have been done .

I don't think Germany or Japan are shining examples. I lived in both countries. Japan is on the brink of economic disaster. Germany and the EU are too.

[Red Oak]

We still have a military presence in Japan, Germany, South Korea, and elsewhere. I am not defending it, just stating the facts.

I believe Rummy took the blame for many of Dubya's mistakes.

[John in Plano]

Iraq was under control when Bush left office. Our current idiot president told everybody we were pulling out and gave a date. This man doesn't have the mental ability to pour piss out of a boot with the instructions on the bottom. Bush made mistakes in Iraq but they were corrected. Killing Osama Bin Lauden is the only correct decision Barack Obama has made in his presidency.

Bush is responsible for the Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq, not Obama. That set the timetable.

[John In Austin]

You don't announce a pull out date and after you "leave" you keep some American force on the ground. BO bragged and bragged about leaving. Isis came to take our place.

[Red Oak]

"Bush is responsible for the Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq, not Obama. That set the timetable."

An Obama is responsible for failing to re-negotiate that time table, actually he was unwilling to do it.

[BillB]

You don't announce a pull out date and after you "leave" you keep some American force on the ground. BO bragged and bragged about leaving. Isis came to take our place.

This kind of thing was inevitable the minute Bush invaded.
Going in was the real mistake, the rest is secondary. Saddam was no threat to us. He served a purpose by keeping the Islamic nuts and Iran at bay.

[ralph]

might be collapsing NOW Steve but both have had good for a lotta years . Better than what is seen in the middle eastern war zones while the 'Islamic state' rebuilds its 'caliphate' . Heck , I think that a famous type guy , an American from Texas associated with this here board used to live , work or visit Japan a few years in the past , I think . He commented on how civilized Japan was when he was there .

[planosteve]

"Bush is responsible for the Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq, not Obama. That set the timetable."

An Obama is responsible for failing to re-negotiate that time table, actually he was unwilling to do it.

US forces were pulled out in accordance with the agreement signed by Bush. Keeping some forces there would have required a follow on status of forces agreement.
The problem was that Maleki wouldn't agree to it. The US created ISIS out of Alqida in Iraq to overthrow Assad. It got out of control.

[ralph]

and South Korea , well they are industrious and have a good military , economy , society I think .

[John in Plano]

"Bush is responsible for the Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq, not Obama. That set the timetable."

An Obama is responsible for failing to re-negotiate that time table, actually he was unwilling to do it.

just read steves post..so deleted mine

[Red Oak]

If Obama couldn't strong arm Maliki - well never mind ............

[GFB]

there you go , build a big military base and hang around Steve , Germany , Japan are shining examples of what shoulda been done . [South Korea] All are excellent examples of what could have been done .

I don't think Germany or Japan are shining examples. I lived in both countries. Japan is on the brink of economic disaster. Germany and the EU are too.

Take it from me..the two countries you lived in are two of the most successful economies in the world..and enjoy higher standards of living, no matter how you slice it..than 90% of the world.

[GFB]

..and to think..the 2 places we destroyed.