rssPetraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 at 5:00 pm
- 32 Comments
One thing I didn’t mention in my just-published piece about Gen. David Petraeus’ talk before the Heritage Foundation today: Donald Rumsfeld was there. And it was awkward.
For starters, Rumsfeld is the most inconvenient figure in the GOP foreign-policy establishment, a modern-day Robert McNamara whose name is synonymous with self-deception, outright deception, arrogance and failure.
(Also torture, but that’s getting ahead of myself.)
In no small way, the esteem conservatives hold Petraeus in is directly attributable to his ability to at least somewhat dig the country out of the mess Rumsfeld made of Iraq. His apotheosis is a direct repudiation of Rumsfeld’s career.
For instance, Heritage VP Philip Truluck introduced Petraeus — who greeted Rumsfeld with a warm handshake and beaming smile — as having taken over Iraq “when the war was going badly — I think most people would agree.”
Good thing he qualified that one.
Petraeus was perfectly warm toward the disgraced former defense secretary, even telling a lighthearted anecdote about Rumsfeld sending Petraeus to Afghanistan for a 2004 fact-finding mission and getting a kick out of the odd acronym for the command that trains Iraqi security forces, which is pronounced “Min-sticky.”
But when it came time for Petraeus to talk about what he called his “counterinsurgency big ideas,” there was no way to avoid an unsubtle rebuke.
“Live Our Values” was the title of Petraeus’ eleventh counterinsurgency bulletpoint. What he meant was, Don’t Torture Detainees.
“We put out a letter to our troops” when it seemed like that message needed to be reinforced, he said, referring to his actions after a 2007 study found that the stresses of combat led to an alarming apathy among Iraq-deployed troops for torture. (“This fight depends on securing the population, which must understand that we — not our enemies — occupy the moral high ground,” Petraeus wrote.)
He also reminded the audience about his role in amending the Army’s detentions field manual to ensure its post-Abu Ghraib compliance with the Geneva Conventions.
As far as I could tell, none of this had any impact on the countenance of the man who headed what a devastating recent book calls a “torture team.”
And surely Rumsfeld is used to public rebuke.
But as Petraeus walked off stage, Rumseld responded with the oddest variation on a handshake I’ve ever seen, reaching over Petraeus’ arm to shake it with his left hand.
Whether he meant it as a signal of displeasure or a signal of dominance — Petraeus had little choice but to go along with the elaborate maneuver — it served as an appropriate signal of awkwardness.
Update: It’s just been pointed out to me by a knowledgeable source that Rumsfeld has just gone through a shoulder-replacement operation on his right arm, and that prevented him from shaking Petraeus’ hand with his own. My apologies, yes, to Rumsfeld for ignorantly suggesting he might have meant to slight Petraeus.
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32 Comments
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Spencer – A “signal of displeasure” or a “signal of dominance”? Are you the Dog Whisperer? How about the fact that Rumsfeld recently just had surgery on his right shoulder?
“His arm in a blue sling (the result of elective arm surgery, say aides), former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld returned to the Pentagon today to help dedicate the nation's first major 9/11 memorial and deliver his first speech since leaving the secretary's job two years ago.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2…
Might that explain why he can't shake his hand, instead of some half-baked theory of “awkwardness”?
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
You were obviously unaware that Mr. Rumsfeld recently had surgery on his shoulder?
First time I’ve ever read one of your pieces. Likely to be the last, too.
You have another job to fall back on, right?
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
You were obviously unaware that Mr. Rumsfeld recently had surgery on his shoulder?
First time I’ve ever read one of your pieces. Likely to be the last, too.
You have another job to fall back on, right?
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
Is there a way we can revoke Donald Rumsfeld’s US citizenship and deport him? After what he did to the US and to many tortured prisoners makes him unfit to call himself an American
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
Is there a way we can revoke Donald Rumsfeld’s US citizenship and deport him? After what he did to the US and to many tortured prisoners makes him unfit to call himself an American
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
How appropriate, Spencer, that you’re so concerned about the welfare and waterboarding of KSM, because reading your attempt to see Poltergeist-like nuances that aren’t there is pure torture. Seriously, a simple fact check can save a lot of embarrassment. Google – Learn it, Love it, Live it.
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
How appropriate, Spencer, that you’re so concerned about the welfare and waterboarding of KSM, because reading your attempt to see Poltergeist-like nuances that aren’t there is pure torture. Seriously, a simple fact check can save a lot of embarrassment. Google – Learn it, Love it, Live it.
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
You shouldn’t write stories about things you don’t know about…..or at least show enough professionalism by doing as little bit of investigation first. That way lame theories like that
perceived “awkwardness” you came up with won’t get shot out of the air 2 minutes after its
published. That’s as classless as McCain’s out of touch with the modern world because
he can’t type and doesn’t use a computer. Both McCain and Rumsfeld are dealing with
physical limitations, McCains permanent, Rumsfelds temporary. Now if we could just put
your brain in a sling we would be able to justify your inability to practice fair and honest
journalism.
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
You shouldn’t write stories about things you don’t know about…..or at least show enough professionalism by doing as little bit of investigation first. That way lame theories like that
perceived “awkwardness” you came up with won’t get shot out of the air 2 minutes after its
published. That’s as classless as McCain’s out of touch with the modern world because
he can’t type and doesn’t use a computer. Both McCain and Rumsfeld are dealing with
physical limitations, McCains permanent, Rumsfelds temporary. Now if we could just put
your brain in a sling we would be able to justify your inability to practice fair and honest
journalism.
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:46 pm
You shouldn’t write stories about things you don’t know about…..or at least show enough professionalism by doing as little bit of investigation first. That way lame theories like that
perceived “awkwardness” you came up with won’t get shot out of the air 2 minutes after its
published. That’s as classless as McCain’s out of touch with the modern world because
he can’t type and doesn’t use a computer. Both McCain and Rumsfeld are dealing with
physical limitations, McCains permanent, Rumsfelds temporary. Now if we could just put
your brain in a sling we would be able to justify your inability to practice fair and honest
journalism.
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:46 pm
You shouldn’t write stories about things you don’t know about…..or at least show enough professionalism by doing as little bit of investigation first. That way lame theories like that
perceived “awkwardness” you came up with won’t get shot out of the air 2 minutes after its
published. That’s as classless as McCain’s out of touch with the modern world because
he can’t type and doesn’t use a computer. Both McCain and Rumsfeld are dealing with
physical limitations, McCains permanent, Rumsfelds temporary. Now if we could just put
your brain in a sling we would be able to justify your inability to practice fair and honest
journalism.
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
You moron. Get the facts right before you embarrass our party in the future.
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
You moron. Get the facts right before you embarrass our party in the future.
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
Bob Dole couldn’t shake with his right hand either (crippling war wounds) and that’s why he kept a pen in his hand – to ward off attempts. I suppose he was signaling awkwardness, too, right?
This was the first I’ve ever heard of Mr. Ackerman. It will also be the last since he imagines more than exists in his writings.
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
Bob Dole couldn’t shake with his right hand either (crippling war wounds) and that’s why he kept a pen in his hand – to ward off attempts. I suppose he was signaling awkwardness, too, right?
This was the first I’ve ever heard of Mr. Ackerman. It will also be the last since he imagines more than exists in his writings.
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 12:49 am
Did you ever consider Secy Rumsfeld had surgery on his right shoulder and couldn’t shake hands, so he had to use his left hand? It was only a “signal” to the uninformed, like Ackerman.
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 12:49 am
Did you ever consider Secy Rumsfeld had surgery on his right shoulder and couldn’t shake hands, so he had to use his left hand? It was only a “signal” to the uninformed, like Ackerman.
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 1:19 am
It’s the secret neo-con handshake, you are onto something!!!! you knucklehead, Rummy had surgery.
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 1:19 am
It’s the secret neo-con handshake, you are onto something!!!! you knucklehead, Rummy had surgery.
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 1:24 am
ITS hard to believe any republican would want Palin to be president if for any reason Mc cain was not around. So …… who would run the country? Maybe someone like Rumsfield or Rove or Cheney. Its also hard to believe the repubs havnt thought of strategy in this case. Perfect scenario for the Bush cohorts to take over again, different suits same mindset.Think very hard undecideds and repubs with a brain, is this what you want?,
Comment posted October 8, 2008 @ 9:52 pm
Spencer – A “signal of displeasure” or a “signal of dominance”? Are you the Dog Whisperer? How about the fact that Rumsfeld recently just had surgery on his right shoulder?
“His arm in a blue sling (the result of elective arm surgery, say aides), former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld returned to the Pentagon today to help dedicate the nation's first major 9/11 memorial and deliver his first speech since leaving the secretary's job two years ago.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2…
Might that explain why he can't shake his hand, instead of some half-baked theory of “awkwardness”?
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 3:33 am
“But as Petraeus walked off stage, Rumseld responded with the oddest variation on a handshake I’ve ever seen, reaching over Petraeus’ arm to shake it with his left hand.
Whether he meant it as a signal of displeasure or a signal of dominance — Petraeus had little choice but to go along with the elaborate maneuver — it served as an appropriate signal of awkwardness.”
Mr. Rumsfeld just had shoulder surgery. He has limited use of his right hand and arm for the moment.
You’re right up there with Biden encouraging the gentleman in the wheel chair to “STAND UP”. Jerk.
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 3:33 am
“But as Petraeus walked off stage, Rumseld responded with the oddest variation on a handshake I’ve ever seen, reaching over Petraeus’ arm to shake it with his left hand.
Whether he meant it as a signal of displeasure or a signal of dominance — Petraeus had little choice but to go along with the elaborate maneuver — it served as an appropriate signal of awkwardness.”
Mr. Rumsfeld just had shoulder surgery. He has limited use of his right hand and arm for the moment.
You’re right up there with Biden encouraging the gentleman in the wheel chair to “STAND UP”. Jerk.
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 3:33 am
“But as Petraeus walked off stage, Rumseld responded with the oddest variation on a handshake I’ve ever seen, reaching over Petraeus’ arm to shake it with his left hand.
Whether he meant it as a signal of displeasure or a signal of dominance — Petraeus had little choice but to go along with the elaborate maneuver — it served as an appropriate signal of awkwardness.”
Mr. Rumsfeld just had shoulder surgery. He has limited use of his right hand and arm for the moment.
You’re right up there with Biden encouraging the gentleman in the wheel chair to “STAND UP”. Jerk.
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 4:03 am
Wow…great reporting! What do you expect from a journalist wannabe who couldn’t even keep a job at that perennial hack rag, The New Republic?
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 4:03 am
Wow…great reporting! What do you expect from a journalist wannabe who couldn’t even keep a job at that perennial hack rag, The New Republic?
Comment posted October 9, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
I'm no fan of Mr. McNamara, but this is undue bedevilment.
Comment posted October 10, 2008 @ 11:59 am
You guys are all correct — I messed up here, as a knowledgeable source pointed out to me this morning. For those wondering why I didn't update earlier, it was Yom Kippur yesterday and I'm just taking the time out now from the al-Qaeda conference I'm covering to update. Again, you're right, I'm wrong, and my apologies to you and to Rumsfeld. — Spencer
Comment posted October 10, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
You guys are all correct — I messed up here, as a knowledgeable source pointed out to me this morning. For those wondering why I didn't update earlier, it was Yom Kippur yesterday and I'm just taking the time out now from the al-Qaeda conference I'm covering to update. Again, you're right, I'm wrong, and my apologies to you and to Rumsfeld. — Spencer
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