Rummy Bids Farewell
Rumsfeld Bids Farewell To Pentagon Duty
WASHINGTON With 10 days left in office, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld bade a sometimes emotional farewell to Pentagon employees Friday and predicted that the period since he took office nearly six years ago would eventually be seen as one of "enormous challenge and historic consequence."
Asked how he wants history to remember him, he said simply, "Better than the local press."
With a couple of dozen troops from each military service and a few civilian Pentagon employees seated behind him on stage in the Pentagon's main auditorium, Rumsfeld spoke to an audience of several hundred people. With a broad grin, he strode into the room to a cascade of applause and a few approving yelps.
"I suspect this will be among my last public remarks as secretary of defense," he said. His last full day will be Dec. 17.
It was one of the few public appearances Rumsfeld has made since President Bush announced on Nov. 8 at the White House that he was replacing Rumsfeld with Robert Gates to get a "fresh perspective" on the Iraq war. Gates won confirmation by the Senate this week and is due to be sworn in on Dec. 18.
Rumsfeld applauded the work and dedication of Pentagon employees and said he was proud to have been associated with them.
"Each of you and future generations of Americans, as well as future generations of Iraqis and Afghans, will be able to look on these past years as a time of enormous challenge and historic consequence," he said.
"As I leave at the end of my second — and, good Lord willing, my last — (term) I do leave believing as I did 30 years ago that America is a truly great nation, that the American people are wise and decent," he said.
He was introduced on the stage by Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who lauded Rumsfeld as a man of courage, integrity and vision.
"This man's work ethic is incredible," Pace said. "Is he demanding? You bet." Rumsfeld then interrupted, saying with a laugh, "No! I've been on my best behavior."
Rumsfeld, 74, is one of the longest-serving defense secretaries in U.S. history and is the only person to have held the position twice. His first stint was from November 1975 to January 1977, when he held the distinction of being the youngest defense secretary in history.
Story Here
Rummy's Final Visit To Iraq
Rummy Bid's Farewell To Troops
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What a Patriot! A Great Man Indeed. Who could ever forget the images of Rummy pulling victim's out of the Pentagon on 9-11? The MSM hammered him, the loones on the left tried to destroy him, and the Troops Loved him. He served 2 Terms as Secretary of Defense. And he's STILL STANDING! Good luck in whatever the future holds for Rummy. He will be terribly missed, well at least by me.
WASHINGTON With 10 days left in office, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld bade a sometimes emotional farewell to Pentagon employees Friday and predicted that the period since he took office nearly six years ago would eventually be seen as one of "enormous challenge and historic consequence."
Asked how he wants history to remember him, he said simply, "Better than the local press."
With a couple of dozen troops from each military service and a few civilian Pentagon employees seated behind him on stage in the Pentagon's main auditorium, Rumsfeld spoke to an audience of several hundred people. With a broad grin, he strode into the room to a cascade of applause and a few approving yelps.
"I suspect this will be among my last public remarks as secretary of defense," he said. His last full day will be Dec. 17.
It was one of the few public appearances Rumsfeld has made since President Bush announced on Nov. 8 at the White House that he was replacing Rumsfeld with Robert Gates to get a "fresh perspective" on the Iraq war. Gates won confirmation by the Senate this week and is due to be sworn in on Dec. 18.
Rumsfeld applauded the work and dedication of Pentagon employees and said he was proud to have been associated with them.
"Each of you and future generations of Americans, as well as future generations of Iraqis and Afghans, will be able to look on these past years as a time of enormous challenge and historic consequence," he said.
"As I leave at the end of my second — and, good Lord willing, my last — (term) I do leave believing as I did 30 years ago that America is a truly great nation, that the American people are wise and decent," he said.
He was introduced on the stage by Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who lauded Rumsfeld as a man of courage, integrity and vision.
"This man's work ethic is incredible," Pace said. "Is he demanding? You bet." Rumsfeld then interrupted, saying with a laugh, "No! I've been on my best behavior."
Rumsfeld, 74, is one of the longest-serving defense secretaries in U.S. history and is the only person to have held the position twice. His first stint was from November 1975 to January 1977, when he held the distinction of being the youngest defense secretary in history.
Story Here
Rummy's Final Visit To Iraq
Rummy Bid's Farewell To Troops
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What a Patriot! A Great Man Indeed. Who could ever forget the images of Rummy pulling victim's out of the Pentagon on 9-11? The MSM hammered him, the loones on the left tried to destroy him, and the Troops Loved him. He served 2 Terms as Secretary of Defense. And he's STILL STANDING! Good luck in whatever the future holds for Rummy. He will be terribly missed, well at least by me.
posted by Marie's Two Cents | 11:32 AM
6 Comments:
I always liked Donald Rumsfeld, he was a no nonsense kind of guy and he had very good ideas and how the defense department should be run. He always put the security of this Country first and foremost as it should be. I'm gonna miss ole Rummy.
Night,
He sure was a no nonsense guy, he took the media to the woodshed! LOL
And they HATED him for that!
I will miss his press conferences, there wasnt anything quite like it!
Anyone who didnt see the Rumsfeld the we saw him really missed something.
he was a good man
I'll always remember him assisting at the Pentagon on 9/11. Regardless of the critics he did a good job during hard times!
Dawn,
he was a good man
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes he is and he will be missed.
TLLTCT,
I'll always remember him assisting at the Pentagon on 9/11. Regardless of the critics he did a good job during hard times!
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Those images will be forever etched in my mind.
He was a Patriot no matter what the loones on the left say about him.
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