Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Peter Robinson ·
Apr 7, 2011 at 2:05pm
The former Secretary of Defense joined me recently on Uncommon Knowledge to discuss his new book, Known and Unknown. An excerpt:
PETER ROBINSON: In his memoir, Karl Rove says that perhaps his bitterest regret is that the Bush White House failed to go on the offensive against the charge that they politicized the intelligence. This whole notion that ‘Bush lied, people died”—in the White House they made the decision not to rebut it. They didn’t want to look defensive.
DONALD RUMSFELD: Karl Rove is exactly right. It was a terrible mistake. It was a mistake on everyone’s part, and it’s a shame.
To watch for yourself, click here.
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Jul '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
It made me crazy at the time. It was a thankless task defending the Bushes against news readers and the rest when they never armed and deployed their supporters the way that other Presidents did and do. Their patrician posture, the detachment from the mobs and fray, did little good for them or their supporters.
This is why, even if Jeb were better on the issues, I am more likely to find a candidate better on the gamesmanship.
May '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Excellent interview! The book is long, but riveting.
It's almost shocking how different the story Rumsfeld tells (and documents on his web site!) differs from the standard narrative that developed on the left and in the media.
It was wearying to those of us on their side to defend them when they weren't defending themselves.
Jan '11
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Rumsfeld is a fascinating character, but I have to say, Peter, that interviewing couldn't have been a picnic. You can tell that Rumsfeld is a ... "prickly" ... interviewee. If you don't get the question delivered in the way he wants it, he's going to push it back.
All the more surprise, then, that these same people didn't fight "the narrative" when they were in office. Here's Rumsfeld, who snarls when you don't get the premises lined up properly, but who allowed the media to harp on the "Bush Lied People Died" meme.
My gut instinct is that these guys (Rumsfeld, Rove, etc.) wanted to fight the media's narrative, but they couldn't do it unless Bush was willing ... and Bush wasn't willing.
I'd say that's a lesson for the future. It's the Clinton rule -- never leave a challenge unanswered.
Sep '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
This fundamentally alienated me from the Bushes. I fought and fought and there was nothing from them - including Rove who I'll never forgive. I don't think they even realize the extent of the damage they did to the country and themselves.
Now, any hint from a Republican who won't defend himself, and us, against leftist propaganda is out of the question for me, and I know I'm not alone. The Bush administration single-handedly created a split within the Republican party because of this one thing. At least some of them finally realize it. However Rove still can't comprehend the true depth of the damage he caused post-election.
Jul '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
What infuriated me at the time was how the Bush administration, upon finding no WMD's, immediately changed the message to, "Look! We've liberated millions of suffering Iraqi's!" As though the war had been sold on that premise in the first place.
Were the American people supposed to dance in the streets? While our soldiers were dying by the hundreds?
Oct '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
I've been enjoying the interview very much Peter. I was reading the review in NR and the author is letting loose with his criticism that Rumsfeld never takes the blame for anything. I think more to the point is that he thinks Rumsfeld blames others for the major mistakes the administration made, such as Abu Ghraib. I was wondering what you thought of that. Did that come up in your research for the interview?
May '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Kenneth,
For a while they tried out having found "weapons of mass destruction related programs" but gave up on that, too.
The real problem was that for the public, the allies, and the UN they overemphasized the WMDs, when there were many reasons given in the Congressional resolution.
I have to admit one reason I like listening to Rumsfeld being interviewed is that he'llsay things like "Heavens to Betsy!" and that reminds me of my Dad.
Dec '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Indeed there were.
I recall most were cited repeatedly by members of the Bush admin in the many months leading up to the war.
I also recall many Democrats repeating many of them when they cast their votes, and throughout the runup to the war. A lot of Democrats were for it before they were against it.
Jul '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Check out Rumsfeld's demeanor. Man, I would not want to be an unprepared subordinate sitting on the other side of his desk. He usually presented an affable public image, but this is a guy ready to flay a fool's flesh right down to the bone.
Jul '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Rumsfeld's point that our intelligence agencies - as well as other institutions such as the UN, the IMF, the World Bank - were fashioned in the 1940's is extremely trenchant.
I would extend that to a plethora of other programs and institutions, such as our global military commitments, Social Security and - somewhat anachronistically - Medicare. We're continuing to operate under structures designed by men now long in the grave.
May '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
When will one of "our guys" stand up and say, "You are lying!" to these people? Enumerate the facts and then ask, "Why are you lying?" I am tired of pussy-footing around. Call it what it is.
Or am I crazy?
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
PJS: When will one of "our guys" stand up and say, "You are lying!" to these people? Enumerate the facts and then ask, "Why are you lying?" I am tired of pussy-footing around. Call it what it is.
Or am I crazy? · Apr 7 at 4:49pm
Rove did in his book. I did in my book "Bankrupt." Before Obama I don't think I've ever been more livid about something in politics that I was at how the Democrats engaged in systematic deceit to portray Bush as a liar as to something they were fully on board for while having access to all the information Bush had. They also bad-mouthed his mostly robust economy for its first seven years. They are a party thoroughly corrupt -- and I -- and tons of others -- have been voicing frustration forever over the Bushs' failure to defend their honor. I think Bush has an amazing amount of restraint, dignity and class, even though that continues to frustrate me and much of his spending agenda was objectionable. He is still a fine man - and so is Donald Rumsfeld.
May '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
David Limbaugh
PJS: When will one of "our guys" stand up and say, "You are lying!" to these people? ....
Rove did in his book. I did in my book "Bankrupt." ....
I think PJS was referring to Republican politicians, and not just in books. If Republicans are unwilling to call a spade a spade on TV and in newspapers without dancing around and employing euphemisms, Democrats will win public opinion. So far, Bachmann is the only politician I have heard bluntly refer to Obama's lies as lies (and not withdraw the comment).
Obama lies every day of the week. If our politicians won't plainly say so, then they will lose the media war.
Blunt honesty is crucial sometimes.
Agreed. The interview started choppy and smoothed as Peter adapted to Rumsfield (a sign of a great interviewer). It's not Peter's best interview, but it's certainly fascinating.
Mar '11
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Interestingly, this is the only reference to Rove that Rumsfeld makes in his entire book.
I thoroughly enjoyed Known and Unknown and so looked forward to this interview. You did an excellent job, as usual, Peter. Over the years I've noticed that Rummy expects precise language from his interviewers, and he didn't allow you any exception to that rule; the fourth segment was probably the roughest of the bunch in that regard. Unless segment five has fireworks of its own. Can't wait to see it!
May '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Aaron Miller
David Limbaugh
PJS: When will one of "our guys" stand up and say, "You are lying!" to these people? ....
Rove did in his book. I did in my book "Bankrupt." ....
I think PJS was referring to Republican politicians, and not just in books. If Republicans are unwilling to call a spade a spade on TV and in newspapers without dancing around and employing euphemisms, Democrats will win public opinion.
Aaron, you are correct. Most people who believe the lies are unlikely ever to read David's writings, or Rove's. If a lying Dem is challenged in public the misinformed might listen... and maybe think. I also like the question "why?" Why is your way right? Why is my way wrong? Why do you think that? Many layers can be peeled away asking "why?" With libs it generally ends at feelings and "because I know it's right." Feelings have no place in the application of the law.
May '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
How do these statements grab you?
"Ms. Pelosi, you are lying."
"Mr Reid, you are lying."
"Mr. Frank, you are lying."
"Ms. Wasserman-Schultz, you are lying."
"Mr. Rangel, you are lying."
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Aaron Miller
David Limbaugh
PJS: When will one of "our guys" stand up and say, "You are lying!" to these people? ....
Rove did in his book. I did in my book "Bankrupt." ....
I think PJS was referring to Republican politicians, and not just in books. If Republicans are unwilling to call a spade a spade on TV and in newspapers without dancing around and employing euphemisms, Democrats will win public opinion. So far, Bachmann is the only politician I have heard bluntly refer to Obama's lies as lies (and not withdraw the comment).
Obama lies every day of the week. If our politicians won't plainly say so, then they will lose the media war.
Blunt honesty is crucial sometimes.
Probably true. And I agree with your comments, and those of PJS.
Mar '11
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
Brilliant interview. I could never understand why people made fun of the whole knowns and unknowns thing. It was perfectly sensible and, these days, actually quite profound. The two major problems of the world are that too many people fail to know that there are things that are unknown to them, or that some things (such as the future) are inherently unknowable.
May '10
Re: Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush Administration's Biggest Mistake
The "unk-unk" theory is a very old standard for engineering project management, I recall from 1981. Rummy is the first to make it interesting enough in the popular media.
But I am going to partly disagree with the prevailing view. I concur that the specific instance of backing away immediately from the "16 words" was Bush's administration's second biggest mistake (the first was signing McCain-Feingold). Most of the rest of the things conservatives whine about were policy decisions that went against their preferences. There is a difference.
However, the general theme about not defending themselves? I disagree. If the general popular media and the public mood is against you, as with Iraq in 2006, Social Security reform in 2005, Medicare reform in 2003, ObamaCare in 2010, ClintonCare in 1994, you can take the neatest communication package and most glib spokesperson alive and trot them out 24/7- and it will be a waste of time and energy, often even counter-productive.
Obama believed the inverse of that rule in 2010- "You've got me!" and it cost him.
Sometimes you just take lumps and do the right thing if it is the right thing to do.