Donald Rumsfeld is out pushing his new memoir Known and Unknown and he stopped by Charlie Rose for a chat last night. Rose asked the two-time former Secretary of Defense for his opinion on the President's decision to send special forces into Pakistan to capture or kill Osama bin Laden.
Remember, former Defense Secretary Bob Gates called the decision to send troops, and not just bomb the compound, a "gutsy decision." Rose asked Rumsfeld for his thoughts.
Rose: Do you think it was a gutsy call by the president?
Rumsfeld: I don't
According to Rumsfeld, the possible intelligence cache and the fact that there was a "40%-80%" possibility that Bin Laden was in the compound made the call a no-brainer. The president took a whole night to sleep on the decision. Rumsfeld agrees with the president's call, but he says it would have taken him fifteen minutes.
Rumsfeld: "It seems to me that it is a fifteen minute decision and the first fourteen are for coffee"
Nothing like a little arm-chair quarterbacking from the guy responsible for the just-ended war in Iraq and the ongoing war on Afghanistan. (See the video starting at around 21:45) Remember, Rumsfeld had his own opportunity to take out bin Laden in the mountains of Tora Bora, but was either unable or unwilling to pull the trigger (as 60 minutes documented a few years ago)
The officer who led the armys Delta Force mission to kill Osama bin Laden after 9/11 reveals what really happened in Tora Bora, Afghanistan, when the al-Qaeda leader narrowly escaped. Scott Pelley reports.
Delta developed an audacious plan to come at bin Laden from the one direction he would never expect."We want to come in on the back door," Fury explains. "The original plan that we sent up through our higher headquarters, Delta Force wants to come in over the mountain with oxygen, coming from the Pakistan side, over the mountains and come in and get a drop on bin Laden from behind." But they didn't take that route, because Fury says they didn't get approval from a higher level. "Whether that was Central Command all the way up to the president of the United States, I'm not sure," he says.The next option that Delta wanted to employ was to drop hundreds of landmines in the mountain passes that led to Pakistan, which was bin Laden's escape route."First guy blows his leg off, everybody else stops. That allows aircraft overhead to find them. They see all these heat sources out there. Okay, there a big large group of Al Qaeda moving south. They can engage that," Fury explains.But they didn't do that either, because Fury says that plan was also disapproved. He says he has "no idea" why. "How often does Delta come up with a tactical plan that's disapproved by higher headquarters?" Pelley asks."In my experience, in my five years at Delta, never before," Fury says.
Leave a Comment:
Exactly. It's called 'common sense'. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile. That decision was a 'no brainer', which makes Obama qualified in that instance.
you say it was a no brainer......that's exactly why boosh, numbfell and chaynee couldn't make the "common sense" decision as you put it......This makes POTUS very qualified.....I know that hurts you
pretty easy sitting at home calling a decision like the one President Obama made a "No brainier." That's the "No brainer."
Rumsfeld's a specialist on "no brainers." Look at his invasion of Iraq. Looting. Terrorism. Soldiers being sent into battle without bullets for their guns. Parents of soldiers having bake sales to raise money to send them body armor. Dissolving the Iraqi army so there wasn't any police force or capability of keeping order in the country after we took over.
In Rumsfeld's own words, "You don't go into battle with the army you want. You go into battle with the army you have." Pretty stupid for an elective war when we weren't defending ourselves. But if he took too long to attack, people might have figured out there wasn't any reason to go.
Moron conservatives need to examine why they take no pride in any accomplishment by this president. He got the republican health care plan passed in fact 100% of the democrats voted yes for it, saving billions (conservatively). Even something a macho as getting Osama bin Laden. And Libya, which was one of Reagan's pet projects Obama finally accomplished!
And what would rumsfeld, or the whole bush administration for that matter, know anything about guts anyway. Moronic whiny ass losers.
Hey JiT = Hope All Is Well Your Way !!! === Rumjob /Gwb / cheNey ALL need to go Jump off of a cliff Somewhere In IRAQ !!!!
Given the recent protests from Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc., one has to wonder if they are actually applying for a position in a Romney cabinet.
You have to wonder why Rummey won't leave the US. No brainer for me. He would be serving 5 to 10 at best in the Hague. Now put that nut in your mouth and crack it.
Bush's decision to withdraw from Tora Bora and let bin Laden continue his terrorist attacks was, I guess.
Wow,,,,,incredible.......just about unbelievable......had this happened under Bush's and rumsfelds watch they would want their names and faces on rushmore by now........get real Mr rumsfeld......you sound like a bitter man and way too defensive.......sorry u did not get the job done......the least u can do is give credit to the man that did.......but that would take some morals or conscience wouldn't it?
Both sides are being goofy. Had it happened under Bush's watch, conservatives would be partying and liberals would be decrying human rights, war crimes for plugging an unarmed man, not allowing a surrender, and untold other atrocities of war.
Right because GWB really really wanted to get OBL soooooooo badly. Tell us another fairy tale rusty.
Where has this criminal been? Now is the time to arrest him now on high crimes!!! Take Bush and Cheney as well!!!!
That statement was already debunked by the special operations leader for that mission that said he could NOT confirm that Bin Laden was there, and it was not a Presidential decision for a tactical operation. You do realize there are subordinate commanders on the ground that give orders and make decisions, right? Except in the case of this Delta Team Operations where it was served to Obama on a platter. If not for the resources put into play by Bush/Cheney to include the Patriot Act, Enhanced Interrogations, intelligence collection in theater, and other military resources, this decision would not have been possible. Nice try..
We have a new Tokyo Rose.
Oh boy more tea bagging republican fairy tales. To bad for you that GWB shut down all efforts to find OBL which means that no information was asked about OBL while they were illegally torturing people. Those are the facts mother goose.
No wonder the GOP is so screwed up. With people like you so ignorant and yet so convinced of your superior logic. As the seal team what the think of "Enhanced Interrogations", And the Patriot Act contributed squat to getting bin Laden and the Patriot Act covers spying on Americans. Ignorance sure is a bitch!
I will always wonder what the people who dismiss Obama's decision to send in the SEALs would have said if the mission had failed, we lost the helicopters, the Navy SEALs had been slaughtered, and then had their bodies dragged through the streets, and OBL had slipped away into hiding... would they have said, "It was all the Navy SEAL's fault?"
Obama is all about "I I I I I ME ME ME ME" (Narcissist) vs. the true team effort it took to successfully complete this mission.
Obama made the right decision even though Biden disagreed, but he think he's the key 'soldier' in that action vs. the SEALS and CIA.
The military leaders advised against it. It was Obama who made the decision to go in. It was also Obama who said to send a second helicopter, which saved the SEAL's lives and allowed the mission to proceed.
Hay wacko remember bush and the MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Now that's a hot dog for you.
Tell us which military leaders advised against that decision. I can't wait to uncover more leftist BS. MSDNC tells you Obama walks on water and you all swallow it without question, but they failed to tell you it was ice in the middle of winter. LOL!
Actually, it was Obama in an interview. But since they don't let you see the truth on Fox Propaganda, you don't know about it.
Do you really think anyone cares what Rumsfeld says?
He did a lot of damage when people were listening to him.
what a nut case they are the ones who let bin laden get away in the first place, and oh yes mr wacko you are one of those wing-nuts
Billie- Are you reincarnated from the Salem Witch trials?
Outlaw-Do you still live in those times?
Once again the empty bag righties stup to their normal role of name calling.
Billie, I say Amen to your post. The three stooges Rumsfeld, GW and Cheney let him walk and cost countless blood and Treasure. I could give a damn what Rumsfeld has to say The Sob does not walk this earth any more and the lives lost at the Twin Towers have been avenged ! Hes dead as a door nail and the Navy Seals and The Commander and Chief got him !
Bill Clinton could have taken Bin Laden out during his administration when he and his team were made aware of that significant threat, but chose to lob a few cruise missles and call it a day. Now its UAVs...
More fairy tales as OBL was not wanted in the 90's. Nor would the GOP controlled congress allow Clinton to do more then launch missiles at OBL's assumed training camps.
More nonsense. It was the Republican-controlled Congress that refused to let him go after bin Laden, because they were only concerned with making Clinton look bad so they could regain power in the White House (sound familiar?). There chant was "No war for Monica! No war for Monica! So once again, we have the Republican party being responsible for letting bin Laden go.
how often have we heard the repubs blaming Clinton for not getting bin laden, when they didn't want to.
that's a great talking point for the repubs, BUT ITS ANOTHER LIE.
once again, repubs blaming democrats for what they themselves have done.
same old same old.
Again, you ALL provide no proof of your ASSumptions about the GOP Congress stopping Clinton from taking direct action against Bin Laden when the Intelligence community told him and the Democrats he was a direct threat. Here... I'll even help you clueless people with an article from MSDNC itself.
msnbc.msn.com/id/4540958/ns/nbcnightlynews/t/osama-bin-laden-missed-opportunities/
Except that is the conclusion the 9/11 committee came to because of the White Water scandal Clinton could neither take action or go to congress and declare war. In fact that is also what your link also said. What you did was read the head line and made up your own little fairy tale from the headline, really you should read before you post.
it was the old tail wagging the dog thing. think a movie came out called that about the same time.
I think Wacko is a rereg.....just the way "IT" writes its futile comments
You don't recognize the fairy tales? It is our good old can't wait till the lobotomy.
Just what I was thinking.
Want to make bets on banning?
Agree Chris, eventually it will blow it's top. I say "it" because Wacko makes me feel like "it" maybe like Pat from Saturday Night Live, just can't tell either way....
Smile.
Word Yall!
Wacko. You've provided no links, sources etc., but want us to. Get real. when are you righties going to answer my questions? You claim to want a discussion, but won't answer a couple simple questions. I guess you just want to spew your Fox Lies.
think wacko is just another log in for one of our other full time trolls, thinking he didnt want to burn the one where he gets paid for.
LOL but its fun watching him try to convince himself that he knows what he is talking about.
This is just another Republican who is refusing to acknowledge any accomplishment or positive thing that President Obama has done. If it was the other way around, they would be taking the credit, and shouting it from every news station every chance they get. Rumsfeld and all of the Republicans will NEVER acknowledge anything good that Obama has done, because they don't want him to look good to the American people. They would rather slander Obama, distort the truth, and tell vicious lies, in the hopes that they can get Obama out of office to be replaced by their puppet Mitt Romney!
Do you think they would have draped a "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" banner across the front of the White House?
Instead of a Mission Accomplished banner for one day, we get months of Obama parading as a "one man SEAL show" for his campaign. Even the SEALS are complaining about his narcissistic behavior. Obama, An Army of One. LOL!!!
Occupy, please read this
http:/ /www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57425555-503544/are-navy-seals-really-angry-with-obama/
(Remove the space between the //'s to get the link to work.)
This is just another Republican who is refusing to acknowledge any accomplishment or positive thing that President Obama has done. If it was the other way around, they would be taking the credit, and shouting it from every news station every chance they get. Rumsfeld and all of the Republicans will NEVER acknowledge anything good that Obama has done, because they don't want him to look good to the American people. They would rather slander Obama, distort the truth, and tell vicious lies, in the hopes that they can get Obama out of office to be replaced by their puppet Mitt Romney!
If bush would have done it they would had a ticker tape parade down the streets of new york. But then he would have betrayed the one that got him out of trouble when his oil field failed
Bush is the only person not able to find oil in the Middle East.
It was Gutsy for Obama. When your a Rookie! AMATUR
Why is it not being able to think goes hand-in-hand with not being able to spell?
outlaw,
i know it hurts you that President Obama ramped up the hunt for bin laden, as he said he would, and he said that he would find him and kill him...DONE!
don't be jealous of President Obama because he's the one who got bin Laden. bush said he wasn't worried about bin laden, and didn't try to find him, so he didn't. he was more interested in taking 4500 troops to iraq as collateral damage, and killing saddam hussein instead. he wanted to do that, and that's what he did.
w. bush didn't want bin laden dead.
Right after Bush said he didn't care about finding bin Laden, bin Laden built his $6 million dollar compound in the middle of Pakistan.
that's one hell of a cave he lived in. as i remember Bush saying i dont really care where he is at probably a cave.
LOL..And I'm quite sure he ended all searches for Bin Laden. And as for the guy that tipped the U.S., where is he? that's because Pakistan KNOWS Hussein is impotent and will not demand the guy's release.
Yeah. After Obama sent people in and killed bin Laden in front of them, they pretty much got THAT message.
"And as for the guy that tipped the U.S., where is he? "
last known in a Pakistan jail waiting for his treason trail. State department is working for his release.
but if you either turn off rush/fox/saudi/hate/propaganda entertainment news. and even maybe read a online news you would know that.
oh LOL @ U
So what, let's talk about your fearless socialistic leader and his sleepless call shot on Bin Laden
Any body would have made that call.
can't you come up with anything other than repub talking points, and talking points from fox.
your ignorance is shining through.
Bush didn't.
Outlaw. You clowns keep talking about "socialism" but have yet to anwer my questions on "what socialist policies has the President done"? OH, by the way, the republican house has nothing better to do than write and vote on another "abortion" bill. They must not know they promised "Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs". Just last week Boehner said "we're going to concentrate on the economy". Care to explain to us how another "abortion"bill has anything to do with the economy.
He meant siphoning money out of it. They want to get the income of the wealthy up another 275%.
Larry - Selective Sex Abortions. just making it a little more difficult for you idiots killing the baby.
You'd rather it be born and let it die of neglect.
Outlaw
I used to be dead against abortion. Now I'm all in favor of it. Millions of liberals aborting millions of potential liberals is a dream come true.
Outlaw. I'll bet you think I'm pro-abortion. You also failed to reply to the other statements. You also called me an idiot. Just lost any ounce of credibility and joined the name calling radical right wingers. Get lost.
Took you this long?
The left calls Conservatives names all day long on this blog, yet fake surprise if someone on the right returns the favor. Friggin' hilarious. I expect no less from thin skinned Obama lap dog hypocrites.
Wrong again. Answer my questions and we might just believe you want something other than a place to spew your Fox Lies. Until then, good bye.
I did see the Democrats hung tough in the House and voted almost in lock step to continue to allow abortions for the purpose of sex selection. I may be against abortion, but if you are for it, then you should remain constrant regardless of reason. In fact- they should vote for abortions if the reason for getting one is, as in Seinfeld returning a shirt, "spite"
In some cultures, having a female baby is a bad thing. They abort little baby girls. I'm not for sure in this country if more people would want a girl or a boy, and be willing to abort if the wrong one showed up? Any thoughts? My wife and I were blessed with two sons, would have loved a daughter.
Larry I'LL answer your Question.
Socialism -any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.
Your new Health Care system
GM and Chrysler, the Government is still the major share holder. The CEO of GM was appointed by Obama. Which GM stills owe tax payers little over $40 billion.
Class War Fair Taxing the Wealthy with redistribution's to the middle class.
And finally, Member of the Democratic Socialist Party in Chicago and your favorite ACORN.
Sue. Na doesn't bother at all. It's you dreamers thumping yourself on the chest claiming this kill.
Any weak minded individual could.have made that.call. Thanks Seal Team 6 for.your.courage and devotion.
Apparently not. The weak-minded individual in the White House before Obama couldn't.
Thanks to GWB for torturing those maggots to get the info that the Seals needed to accomplish the mission.
Thanks also the the Obama administration for leaking the name of Dr Shakil Afridi, who helped locate Osama.
That fairy tale has already been debunked. To bad that you never got out of your mother goose fantasy world.
If any weak minded person in the White House could do it, why didn't Bush?
Seal Team 6 removed one one person hell bent on ruining our economy. Now it is up to the voters to get rid of the other one...
First Mittens would need to get elected before we throw him out of office.
Rumsfield you have just proven what an idiot you have always been...
Disagree. He proved it long ago. Apparently he wants to make sure nobody forgets.
TheRealChris - I stand corrected!
It's like an oldies tour.
Gee...Mr."War crimes" If Hussein had followed through on his campaign to get rid of the wiretapping and all the stepped up surveillance, INSTEAD of following GWB's footsteps on EVERYTHING homeland security and patriot act related...HE would have had no chance. And WHY does the military show 60% for Romney ALREADY?
Couldn't understand a word of your post. Maybe you should try making a point instead of just throwing @!$%# at a wall and hoping something sticks?
By the way, the thread is about Rumsfeld, not grind-your-axe day.
I'll make it simple enough a MORON will understand it then...Hussein LIED about doing away with provisions of the Patriot act that Bush and Rumsfeld implemented. If he had been truthful...that day would have never came. He lied to his base and done exactly as Bush would have. Bush put these programs in Place, Hussein just gravy trained Bush...got it??
And this relates to Rumsfeld how?
only from the standpoint that rumsfeld and bush paved the way for the death of bin Laden..where's the guts? Follow through was all that was needed.
Thanks to Bush for beefing up our military. So Obama can make the.weak call. Like a kid cheating on a test.
Bush never increased the military. They made the same soldiers come back for tour after tour. They were suffering from fatigue and didn't want to go back. Nobody wanted to enlist. As a matter of fact, for a while, they weren't even getting paid.
You can't make people enlist in a volunteer army.
You know a lot about cheating, don't you?
People went in to FIGHT the war.trashing the military...AGAIN? Same old Liberal schtick..
Not trashing the military-just the idiots who sent them there without weapons, armor, food, pay or planning.
Same old chickenhawk, hiding behind the military and phony patriotism.
Being former US army..Those are the dumbest statements i have ever heard. Plans last all the way til the first shot is fired.as far as armor...formed explosives was a Iranian invention and perfected for the iraq engagement...how do you plan for something not invented yet? the Specially armored humvee"s were mass produced during the engagement to combat these new "formed IED"'s. and no son...you just have no Patriotism to speak of. No morals ,no backbone and just not very trustworthy as are most Liberals that hate the military as you do.
Nope. The false patriotism is yours. Don't hate "the" military. Just the chickenhawks who play with them like war toys, and then sit in their offices and puff out their chests and talk about how tough and determined they are.
Hmmmmm. Want to discuss Bush's military record? No one's found it yet. How about Cheney's? 7 deferments. He "wasn't interested in military service" at that time. But they're all about war.
And Rumsfeld? Look at his invasion of Iraq. Looting. Terrorism. Soldiers being sent into battle without bullets for their guns. Parents of soldiers having bake sales to raise money to send them body armor. Dissolving the Iraqi army so there wasn't any police force or capability of keeping order in the country after we took over.
In Rumsfeld's own words, "You don't go into battle with the army you want. You go into battle with the army you have." Pretty stupid for an elective war when we weren't defending ourselves. Pretty stupid condemnation of our soldiers.
But you march around your house waving your flag and screaming "America! America!" It amuses the Republicans.
The only guts and brains Rums-Fail has is to lie and be in denial, same as his former boss. I have no earthly clue what makes them think they can alter history when the entire world witnessed their debacle.
Lets see if this guy has the guts to leave the country!!!
http://demandprogress.org/
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/stop_florida_voterpurge/
http://99airlines.org/?source=mo-email1
Sign two and make up your own or vote. For the last one just for fun!
Rumsfeld has always loved listening to himself talk. He talks himself into fanciful thinking.
Old "Rummy" Rumsplit lied when he was part of the Bush administration and is still lying. He is a total failure and should be tried for war crimes. I'm surprised he is still walking around in public because a lot of people would like to see him pushing up sod.
He is almost as great an enemy to democracy as Cheney and Rove - I think both of them were manipulating Bush.
This is racism at it's core plain and simple. Took him 15 minutes, I wouldn't doubt that because cowards like him will send troops to their death, I bet he wouldn't go.
What does race have to do with the incompetence this Jimmy carter clone has shown over 3+ years? Only track record he has besides racist preachers and hanging out with attempted cop killers....
Not gutsy, huh? So, WHY DIDN'T YOU DO IT?!
The programs Bush and Rumsfeld put in place made this day inevitable. Had Hussein Obama kept his campaign promises...it would not have got done.thank goodness he tends to lie a lot.
If the negro can do it, then it must be simple and I could do it with less effort and time. Donald Rumsfeld
You subordinate this stupid garbage by not attacking the message he intentionally sends.