The Empire 72

Hoeveel leugen, bedrog en corruptie kan een zogeheten parlementaire democratie verdragen?

De Observer bericht:

'A leaked memo shows that the former Defence Secretary thinks a major
change in strategy is needed, focusing on a staged pull-out of troops.

Paul Harris in New York
Sunday December 3, 2006
The Observer

In a move that will send shockwaves through the White House a leaked
memo from former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in which he
admitted American failings in Iraq and called for a major change in
policy, emerged yesterday.

The classified memo, obtained by the New York Times, revealed that
the ultra-hawkish Rumsfeld believes that US forces in Iraq are not
achieving their aims. He submitted the memo to the White House just
two days before he resigned his post at the Pentagon.

In the memo Rumsfeld calls for a major change in US actions in Iraq.
'In my view it is time for a major adjustment,' he writes. 'Clearly,
what US forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough
or fast enough.'

Rumsfeld urged the White House to embark on a public relations course
to lower expectations of what could be achieved in Iraq, saying US
goals in the war-torn country should be talked about in 'minimalist'
terms. Rumsfeld also wanted a reduction in US troops in the country
and seemed to think the idea of sending more American soldiers into
Baghdad to secure the capital was not a feasible option. He also
attacked the Iraqis' failings, saying they 'must pull up their
socks', and wanted to use the threat of cutting off reconstruction
aid in certain areas to discourage violence.

Some of his ideas - such as troop reductions and the criticism of
tactics for Baghdad - seem to fly directly in the face of both his
public statements of policy and the advice of the US military. In
fact, his proposals often seem to have more in common with the
thoughts of some Democratic party critics of the war.

Rumsfeld's call for change will disturb White House officials on two
levels. First, in public Rumsfeld has always been a strong advocate
of the US commitment to Iraq and of staying the course. Second, it
flies in the face of recent statements by President Bush that
indicate he is unlikely to change strategy. That could mean Rumsfeld
and Bush, formerly seen as close allies, are in fact starting to
oppose each other.'

Lees verder: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1962944,00.html