Rumsfeld's Pentagon

Pentagon top brass give Rumseld high marks for largely staying out of their discussions on fighting Islamic terrorists and reconfiguring the military.

"Four years ago, we could not have had a discussion like this without people getting into parochial interests," said a senior defense official. "Rumsfeld didn't steer the discussion. They all went at it."

The Pentagon conference room was full of top brass Mr. Rumsfeld handpicked during the past five years in a search for out-of-the-box thinkers who would "lean forward" in a war against Islamic terrorists.

It is clearly Mr. Rumsfeld's Pentagon today, but it was not always that way. Mr. Rumsfeld inherited Joint Chiefs and four-star combatant commanders, in this case ones promoted by President Clinton. "Rummy would have to drive the discussion at earlier commanders' conferences," said the defense official.

In those days, Mr. Rumsfeld did not always share his thinking with them, and in some cases had outright clashes, such as with Gen. Eric Shinseki, the former Army Chief of Staff.

You hardly ever get any news about Rumsfeld that doesn't quote somebody saying he ought to be fired.  Maybe people are catching on.  The man's brilliant.

Comments

[AcademicElephant]

You know, it's so nice to hear this sort of thing and by God we are lucky he's willing to do this job. Cheers!!

[Tom Bowler]

I suppose when Ted Kennedy famously told Rumsfeld he should resign, people had to sit up and take notice. If Kennedy doesn't like him, he must be doing a damn good job.