Rumsfeld at KSU

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November 10, 2006

Rumsfeld at KSU

Greyhawk

One day after announcing his intention to step down as United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld appeared as guest speaker at Kansas State University. His appearance was part of the Landon Lecture Series.

Transcripts have been made available via the DoD, but to fully appreciate the Secretary's remarks (and the Secretary's reception by the crowd - well stocked with members of the large local military community) you'll want to watch the video (Real Media).

A few excerpts are illustrative of the man. The first won't be found in the written transcript:

I certainly appreciate this invitation. I hope all of you you appreciate how I've managed so skillfully public affairs for this this event. I wanted to put the Landon Lectures on the map, so did my best. (applause) Glad I could help out.

The next comes during reflection on his career:

Today marks the 17th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall -- the most visible symbol of the end of an era and a bankrupt ideology. When thousands of Berliners climbed over that wall to reunite with friends and family, they went in one direction, to the West, and the free world vividly understood what it was it had been fighting for all those years.

Another measure of a man is the caliber of those who oppose him. Rumsfeld's enemies were generally a miserable and craven lot.

Posted by Greyhawk at 07:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) |

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"Over my lifetime, I have had the opportunity to live in times of great consequence, times of war and times of peace. I have met countless Americans from every corner of our magnificent country, and I have developed an abiding faith in the wisdom and good judgment of free people over time to come to the right decisions. I have seen us triumph over dictators and tyrannies of many forms, and I believe that if we persevere today -- and I am convinced we will -- if we make the right choices, and develop a clear understanding of the war we face today, we can overcome the increasingly lethal threats of this young century."

"Despite all the enemy tries to do to make the world think otherwise, America is not what is wrong with the world. America is a force for good. We are on the right side of history. Let there be no doubt that the great sweep of human history is for freedom and we are freedom’s side."

---Don Rumsfeld

These words stand out. America is not what is wrong with the world. And no amount of Dhimmicrat whining, or al Qaeda bragging can make it otherwise. Neither of those entitites has any moral standing.

The Man who has stood in the arena and actually fought, attempted to safeguard America instead of retreating in the face of adversity and al Qaeda propaganda and braggadocio, is the Man who shall not stand "with those timid souls, who know neither Victory nor Defeat".

Don Rumsfeld is such a Man.

Press on. To Victory. Or to our Deaths. Dhimmis will have to decide which it is to be.

Subsunk

Posted by Subsunk at November 11, 2006 05:20 AM

Funny thing to me is that they're quoting Rumsfeld on NPR. Unfortunately, and expectedly, they're quoting the "known knowns" and that's it...

Posted by Chap at November 11, 2006 06:04 PM

I'm very happy that General Myers said what he did about Rumsfeld. I'm just sorry that it won't get any attention. I admire him tremendously. He's got courage. God bless him.

Posted by Maggie45 at November 12, 2006 12:07 AM

America owes Rumsfeld a debt of gratitude that cannot be overestimated. As usual, "A prophet in his own country..."

So, instead of facing down the enemy when the cost in blood and treasure will be relatively small, we have elected (pun intended) to face them down when the cost in blood and treasure will be immense, and the outcome uncertain.

Thank you Rummy for your service, wisdom, strength and wit---you were a bright light that few appreciated. That failure will cost us greatly, and very soon.

Posted by Edward at November 12, 2006 05:13 PM

Hi there,

I thought, you might like this one. I think we owe this to Rummy.

Regards

Paul13

Posted by Paul13 at November 13, 2006 11:29 AM

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November 10, 2006

Rumsfeld at KSU