Hillary Bitchslaps Rumsfailed -- "Why Should We Believe You?"

[AtomicKitten]

Video - Clinton to Rumsfeld: Why should we believe your assurances now?
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Video__Clinton_to_Rum...

RAW STORY
Published: Thursday August 3, 2006

United States Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) tore into Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld today as he testified before a Senate hearing.

Yesterday, Clinton wrote Rumsfeld urging him to appear in open proceedings, after it was earlier announced that he would only be speaking to a closed hearing. The Secretary agreed in the 11th hour to appear. He has since joked to the press that he never received her letter, which was, as he noted, released to the press.

transcript:

CLINTON: Mr. Secretary, we're glad you are here. In your opening statements, you reference the commonsense of Americans. I think it's fair to say that collective common sense, overwhelmingly, either does not understand or approve of the way you and the administration are handling Iraq and Afghanistan. Under your leadership, there have been numerous errors in judgement that have lead us to where we are in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have a full-fledged insurgency and full blown sectarian conflict in Iraq. Now, whether you label it a civil war or not, it certainly has created a situation of extreme violence and the continuing loss among our troops and of the Iraqis. You did not go into Iraq with enough troops to establish law and order. You disbanded the entire Iraqi army. Now, we're trying to recreate it. You did not do enough planning for what it is called "phase four" and you rejected all the planning that had been done previously to maintain stability are the regime was overthrown. You underestimated the nature and strength of the insurgency, the sectarian violence, and the spread of Iranian influence.

Last year, Congress passed "The United States Policy in Iraq Act" which I strongly supported. This law declares 2006 to be a year of significant transition into full Iraqi sovereignty with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq. Thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq. However, we appear to be moving in the opposite direction. With the number of U.S. troops in Iraq scheduled to increase, not decrease. That's the only way I think you can fairly consider the decision with respect to the 172nd striker brigade.

So, Mr. Secretary, as we return to our states for the August recess, our constituents have a lot of questions and concerns about the current state of affairs in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I don't need to remind any of us that we continue to lose our young men and women. 120 from New York, alone. Besides the U.S. losses, violence does seem to be increasing. From January to June of this year, there were 14,338 Iraqi civilian casualties. At least, as far as anyone can count. In May and June alone, there were more than 5000 deaths and more than 5700 injuries. In a July 22 article in the New York Times, General Abazaid was quoted as saying, "Two months after the new Iraqi government took office, the security gains that we had hoped for had not been achieved." Then there was the big ballyhooed announcement of "forward together" and the commitment by the new Iraqi government to secure Baghdad. Two months into that, it is clear that it's not working and we are now putting in more American troops and following the lead of Senator McCain's line of questioning, we're moving from other places that are hardly stable and secure.

In Afghanistan, your administration's credibility is also suspect. In December, 2002, you said the Taliban had gone. In September of 2004, President Bush said, "The Taliban is no longer in existance." However, this February, DIA director, Lt. Gen. Maples said that in 2005, attacks by the Taliban and other anti-coalition forces were up 20% from 2004 levels and these insurgents were a greater threat to the Afghan government's efforts to expand its authority than at any time since 2001. Further, Gen. Ikenberry made a comparable comment with respect to the dangers that are now going on in Afghanistan and the failure to be able to secure it.

Obviously, I could go on and on. The recent book, aptly titled, "Fiasco", describes in some detail the decision making apparatus that has lead us to this situation. So, Mr. Secretary, when our constituents ask for evidence that your policy in Iraq and Afghanistan will be successful, you don't leave us with much to talk about. Yes, we hear a lot of happy talk and rosy scenarios but because of the administration's strategic blunders and, frankly, the record of incompetence in executing, you are presiding over a failed policy. Given your track record, Secretary Rumsfeld, why should we believe your assurances now?

[I_Make_Mistakes]

1. OMG! You should have seen how rattled he was. If you did not

see it, you must watch the replay. He was so mad that he was shaking. I think he really wanted to jump over the table and strangle her, it was the first time I saw him really that worked up and it felt good, because that's how he makes me feel.

[AtomicKitten]

4. Tom Oliphant was raving about HRC on Air America today.

He said we may not agree with a couple of her votes, but she exhibits diligence in her work in the Senate. He said this some 90-second question encapsulated the abject failure of this Iraq disaster and begs the question why isn't this nincompoop relieved of duty immediately for his epic incompetence.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

18. I have to agree with Tom! She then walked out in a very defiant

way. If you can catch it, it really is worth the viewing.

Edit to add:

Oh yeah, he added the history will judge bull to justify himself. Oh, history will surely relate the darkest period in US history, is happening now. I think Tom Friedman is a nincompoop, but he even bashed the darkness of Bush, Chaney and Rumsfeld!

[karynnj]

32. I think Friedman called for Rumsfeld t resign over Abu Ghraib

in May 2004.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. I heard pieces of it - It was awesome how she dope-slapped Rummy.

Great stuff - she made him look like a bigger A-hole than he really is.

She carved him up like a cheap plastic Baghdad turkey on Thanksgiving.

[wyldwolf]

3. Hillary is a NEOCON/ DLC/ CORPORATIST/ PNACer....

Just thought I'd go ahead and get to what this thread will eventually become. Saves time, ya know.

Oh, yeah. Hillary sliced and diced. Just what I would expect from a pissed off Clinton.

[xchrom]

6. your bitterness is showing.

[Catchawave]

8. Maybe she's learning from the Lieberman Lynching

in CT ? I like Hilly, maybe not for my President, but I do listen to what she has to say.

[Totally Committed]

24. Uh... "lynching" is not what's happening to Lieberman.

He's being voted out of office. (Hopefully) That word is way too negatively racially-charged for my liking. Can we agree not to use it casually here? It bothers me.

TC

[Catchawave]

26. Apologies to you....

so sorry if I offended. But the media covering him is using the term "democratic insurgents" who oppose him. Here's my thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

So TC, will change my subject line to Lieberman Tickle Squad

[Disturbed]

9. "she made him look like a bigger A-hole than he really is."

Nope. She didn't go far enough. She should have demanded that he resign right then.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. It was a good start. Rummy was completely unprepared for it.

[wyldwolf]

14. who are you quoting?

[AtomicKitten]

34. she did call for his resignation

Thursday August 3, 2006 11:46 PM

By DEVLIN BARRETT

Associated Press Writer

Excerpt:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called Thursday for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, hours after excoriating him at a public hearing over what she said was a ``failed policy'' in Iraq.

more at http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5992486...

[Joe Bacon]

40. I believe Rummy is a B-Hole!

because he does NOT have what it takes to be an a-hole!

[AtomicKitten]

41. ***

[cliss]

16. I agree with you.

Sen. Clinton is upset because Don Rumsfailed botched her (and others') war.

If he had only been more competent..... the oil would have been ours. The Middle East would have been ours......the world also.....
-- -----
But you have to admit, it is fun when they dice & slice each other up.

[Sparkly]

25. You forgot "warmonger."

Just sayin'.

[Skip Intro]

5. I wonder if joe's troubles in CT had any influence on her statements today

just wondering out loud...

[JackNewtown]

7. I think you know the answer nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Whatever it takes to get the message across......................

[stevietheman]

15. Like every Clinton, she licked her finger and stuck it in the air...

to see which way the political winds are blowing. And she has noted that the winds have abruptly changed direction. The only problem is that her wind detection device contains a year-delay-before-detection algorithm.

[Sparkly]

27. Perhaps, BUT

First of all, she's not the only one. It took quite a few politicians quite a few years to start standing up to the administration, saying they regretted their IWR votes, etc.

Second, if we WANT them to act and speak in certain ways, it's worth a cheer when they finally DO it!!

Sure, we can remember their history, and I doubt anyone can agree with every part of any politician's history. (They are, after all, politicians!)

Regardless, she did the right thing today.

[stevietheman]

43. No question she did the right thing _today_. n/t

n/t

[Bonhomme Richard]

12. I'm surprised that someone didn't say "Enough of this" and.....

tell rumsfeld that he is required to have a psychiatric evaluation with doctors picked by the committee.
He is clearly insane.

[nebula]

13. She tore him a new asshole.

LOL.

[man4allcats]

21. And notice that Rummy never did answer her question.

He stumbled all over himself with lame excuses trying to justify the fucked up mess that is Iraq, but the question was why the American public should have confidence in the failed policy over which he presides. He did not address that question at all. But then of course, what could he really say by way of honest reply except "You're right. It's a totally fucked up mess. If I were you, I wouldn't trust me either."? Instead he ended his statement merely by offering the "explanation" that dealing with the current situation in Iraq is "tough stuff." Is this a chimpsteresque version of "it's hard werk?"

[mourningdove92]

17. A great opening shot for her bid for the White House.

I, for one, cannot wait until we have another President Clinton.

She has my vote.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

20. You should listen to Dorgan then, he ripped Mr. Clinton a new

one about NAFTA. He said something to the gist of, "If you close your eyes and listen, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, all said the samething". The Clinton's are in bed with the corporate masters as much as any of their Republican appointees.

[Patchuli]

31. She can't win, we'd lose for sure

She has too much baggage. She's Johnny Come Lately on this one and there is nothing about her that tells my gut instincts that she would be a good president. I think she should stay in the senate but I hope she has learned to listen to dems other than the DLC.

We need Al Gore re-elected in 2008.

[Sparkly]

19. GREAT!!!

Edited to add: I notice his first words after her statement were, "My goodness!"

[Lifelong Protester]

42. That was the tip-off to me that he was really p-oed.

He was as flustered and angry as you can get in one empty soulless shell of a man like him.

[bvar22]

22. Love it when Hillary throws bombs!!!

Has she ever apologized for her grevious lack of judgement in cheerleading our entry into this war, or is she saying now that this is mostly Rummy's fault?

[Recursion]

23. That's my big question:

Gentlemen, can you not at least be competent tyrannicaly despots? I mean, really. Ahmadi-Najad is doing it better than you guys, and that's just embarrassing. Get with the program and actually succeed in your bloodthirsty imperialist war of choice.

I'm kidding, but there's something to the idea that the only thing that is more dangerous than winning an imperialistic war is losing one.

[daydreamer]

28. Now she has the blood of Lebanese people on her hand just like

George and Condi.

[oasis]

36. Are you saying Hillary's a member of Hezbollah? or IDF? Please clarify.

That went right over my head.

[diddlysquat]

29. Watch it here:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/

[sendero]

30. If Hillary does something like this..

... 100 more times, she'll start making up for the 1,000 times she should have done it but didn't.

[Samantha]

33. Hillary makes a sudden sharp left in the face of possible Lieberman

political sudden death.

She's simply playing politics and has sensed a quick change of direction is in order. Otherwise, why did she not join in Al Gore's call for Rumsfeld's resignation -- what was it, two years ago?

[Sparkly]

35. "playing politics" -- well GOOD then!!!

That shows that WE who "play politics" at the grassroots have gotten a message across. This is GOOD NEWS!!!!

If Lamont's challenge to Lieberman has caused this, more power to the people!!!

[Dr Fate]

53. Exactly- I for one LIKE being pandered too! Pander to me- PLEASE!!!

!!!

[blm]

38. And she didn't back up the Dem nominee when he called for it in 2003 and 4

when he needed name Dems to show up on the programs and back him up the way Bush had all his big name GOPs showing up for him every day.

It was obvious Rumsfeld needed to go a few years ago.

[sendero]

47. Exactly..

... and the fact that it had to get to this point with Lieberman before she got a clue does not speak well for her (hugely overrated) "political instincts".

Everyone who thought Lieberman would have an easy ride ought to go sit in the corner and try to figure out why they are so out of touch with the mood of the country. Turning off cable news would be a good start.

[saltpoint]

37. Senator Clinton and/or the folks on her staff appear to have

done a terrific job preparing for the hearing today with Crazy Uncle Don.

Rumsfield is a monstrous failure at this point and Senator Clinton is on firm ground in saying so.

Her presidential ambitions aside, I like her remarks. Very likely Rumsfeld didn't like them, which attests to their pertinence and power.

[rosesaylavee]

39. This was my favorite part...

So, Mr. Secretary, when our constituents ask for evidence that your policy in Iraq and Afghanistan will be successful, you don't leave us with much to talk about. Yes, we hear a lot of happy talk and rosy scenarios but because of the administration's strategic blunders and, frankly, the record of incompetence in executing, you are presiding over a failed policy.

Loved it - go Hillary. Get em.

[Disturbed]

44. Rumsfailed's first response was,

"My goodness." Figure that out.

[rosesaylavee]

46. There is no 'goodness' about that my man...

maybe that is what he was trying to say. But, hey, that would be truthful and he's not about that.

[midnight]

45. Rumsfeld responds by saying that his war in Iraq was never

rosey, but I do remember cake walk being used to reference this war.

[venable]

48. Hillary's sudden courage is a joke

and is almost more unpalatable than her hawkishness...

the woman is incapable of doing something without calculation.

Where was this spunk a few months ago, ie before it was clear that war-mongering wouldn't fly with Dems?

[desi]

50. If memory serves...

a young staffer named Hillary was in the trenches way back during Watergate and later a First Lady also named Hillary was raked through the coals by the same criminal element she had the courage, yes courage, to challenge. I sometimes wonder who the real "Johnny-come-latelies" really are....

[ChiciB1]

55. Go, Johnny, Go!! Edwards That Is!! n/t

[AZBlue]

56. I was going to add something to this thread, but you've said it all!

Thanks!

[autorank]

49. ...as well she should. Nice one Hilary. Rummy loses in TKO:) n/t K&R

[AtomicKitten]

51. you are so predictable

Always fair and honest, willing to give credit where credit is due, and never carrying a personal agenda into criticism or praise.

You are a mensch.

[Dr Fate]

52. Primaries aside- I'm glad Hillary is stepping up. She did great.

My rule is to "bash" DEMS only when I feel they need correcting- not when they nail it.

Come on folks- do we not agree with her on this? I do.

Thanks Hillary- better late than never!!!

[ChiciB1]

54. Did Anyone Watch C-Span This AM.... Clinton Was Not A Hit!

Most callers basically said that she was "using" this as a step-up! And it was also noted by another guest that initially she was supposed to call for his resignation "at the hearing" but for some reason didn't do it!!

No, Hillary is still playing games as far as I'm concerned. Did I hear her say the War was a mistake yet? I DUN SINK SO!!

Of course, I COULD have missed it because I decided not to watch the hearings. Every hearing I've watched in the past 2 years if not more are simply a place where the politicos push their own agenda and NOTHING changes!!!

It's called "speechifying!"

[WA98296]

57. Pleassseee. This was hardly the lashing he deserves. Not impressed.