Legacy

Donald Rumsfeld finally resigned. Regrettably this was six years too late. The Iraq military strategy appears to be designed by an amateur. He was the amateur.

Rumsfeld’s legacy, what is it? He left the once powerful military infrastructure fractured, understrengthed and undermanned. Rumsfeld didn’t send enough troops into Iraq in the critical early days of the invasion. And wholly against the advice of the politically neutral generals. He exits leaving his nation mired in a protracted guerrilla war with no plausible positive exit strategy.

The USA was run by a triumvirate of sorts. Rumsfeld was one third of that. President George W. Bush and his Vice President comprised the balance. The Three Stooges had a company of clowns supporting their antics. These guys had the fanatical Christian Right supporting their comedy. No one laughs.

Remember President Bush once said that Iraq wasn’t like Viet Nam. He was right. Having lived through that Viet Nam era I can speak with experience. Iraq is far worse than Viet Nam. Coincidently, both the disasters were begun by Republican administrations. The USA involvement in Viet Nam began with President Eisenhower for everyone’s information as did Cuba.

Iraq manifests itself as the apex of American power. Like the Soviet Union’s involvement in Afghanistan, this adventure signals the end of the American global domination. Iraq could have been a success. It could have been a glowing success. Yet Rumsfeld screwed up as did the people who propped him up.

The replacement Gates is not all that much better. Remember this was the guy who created the modern CIA. You know the one agency who agreed that Saddam had all of those WMD’s. The same CIA which tracked down Osama - mostly in their dreams. One hopes that the newly elected Democratic Congress will sink this guy. Bush never picks the right people for the job.