Rumsfeld’s Snowflakes
EmailCorrespondent John Hendren blogs: Donald Rumsfeld was known as a hard-charging, often abrasive Secretary of Defense. But those who were well-placed enough — and often unfortunate enough — to receive his daily flurry of memos also know him as a demanding boss and a severe critic. (At left, Rumsfeld in 2006.) "Keep elevating the threat" Rumsfeld wrote in a memo obtained by The Washington Post after a meeting with military analysts last year, as the press and public sentiment over the Iraq war grew more critical in the months before his ouster. "Talk about Somalia, the Philippines, etc. Make sure the American people realize they are surrounded in the world by violent extremists." The memos were known in the Pentagon as "snowflakes" because they descended so prolifically from Rumsfeld’s third-floor office. Rumsfeld, once the youngest Defense Secretary under Gerald Ford, maintained his energy as the oldest secretary under President Bush, firing off 20 to 60 such memos a day from his standing desk, where he worked without a chair. (At right, naturally-occurring snowflakes dust the hood of a car in downtown Iowa City, Iowa.) Everyone, it seemed, had a file of Rumsfeld memos. I once walked into the office of the senior military assistant to then-Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and saw an in-box stacked six inches high. It was labeled "snowflakes." Some are quite pointed, as is to be expected when coming from a man once named one of America’s toughest bosses by Fortune magazine. A former senior Pentagon official likes to tell the story of the time Rumsfeld scolded an assistant for some perceived error, then dictated a memo explaining what she’d done wrong — and asked her to type it and deliver it. To herself. Google “Rumsfeld” and “snowflakes” and you’ll find that many enterprising reporters came across them — and it was always considered a coup. As a Los Angeles Times Pentagon correspondent, I remember reporting on a snowflake in which Rumsfeld asked acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker whether the Army could do shorter rotations. "I would be interested to hear from you as to why you think you should keep doing 12-month rotations, and, if you were to change to 6, 7, 8 or 9 months, how you would do it and what would be the pros and cons." Alas, Army officials said, it was wishful thinking. They simply lacked the troops for shorter stints in the war zones. Some were more controversial then others. In one snowflake memo he questioned the Muslim work ethic, noting that the Middle East’s vast oil reserves often insulated Arabs from manual labor. “Too often Muslims are against physical labor, so they bring in Koreans and Pakistanis while their young people remain unemployed," he wrote. "An unemployed population is easy to recruit to radicalism.” Anyone who’s ever been the target of Rumsfeld’s tart attacks on media reports knows he often took on individual reporters. I still remember getting a call one morning from a friend who urged me to turn on the television. As I did, I heard Rumsfeld saying, “I’ll tell you what’s also harmful. The Los Angeles Times — I read this morning … ” Many reporters felt the secretary’s ire. In one memo last year Rumsfeld wrote "We need to prepare a response to this piece by Clarence Page," of The Chicago Tribune. I know just how he must have felt.
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Exactly what most of us with any intelligence suspected all along. The Bush Jr administration rules by FEAR, FEAR, and MORE FEAR. And because most Americans are now sheep…it worked. If Americans could read anymore…they should go back and take a look at George Orwell’s “1984″…where it seems the Bush Jr people got their inspiration from. Terrifying that Americans are so gullible and easily led to slaughter.
Posted by: wilder5121 | November 1, 2007, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm
“Fear is the parent of cruelty.”
And Cruelty is the Bush Doctrine.
IMPEACH
Posted by: Tarik | November 1, 2007, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
This is what it is all about! It is playing games with other peoples lives when no need exists. Our leaders are culpable. We send them to Washington to work for us and they work for THEM! They spend the money of the poor to benefit the rich and the murder kids who are 18 and 19 of pure lies. I know how that feels as I was a victim of a lie that started Vietnam. 58,219 kids died there for absolutely nothing, just as they die today in Iraq! Bush needs to be impeached, along with his narcasstic appointees. Any Republican part of that shame needs to be shown the door at election time. We need a country For the People, not against them! Too few benefit at the expense of the many. That is not how it was suppose to be. That is not the way it should be. Run them out of office. They are all liars and thieves!
Posted by: concordcan | November 1, 2007, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
The damage done to this nation and the world by this administration of fear mongering egotists will not be known for years. Let us start to discover the breadth of the deception with impeachment hearing of both Bush and “I am a coward but with better things to do” Cheney post haste. The democratic leadership need to find their stones and do their constitutional duty of the executive oversight.
Posted by: Citizen | November 1, 2007, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
If it were any other time America would be calling for the indictment of these foul and immoral people. Bush Cheney Rumsfield Rice are nothing more than war criminals The press should be in an uproar. By their silence they are complicit. How can we point a finger at any other world leaders like Chavez or Castro or any other countries like Iran when the criminal acts and plans of our own leaders make them all look like amateurs and we THE AMERICAN PEOPLE let them get away with their crimes in OR NAMES!
Posted by: Jules | November 1, 2007, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
This is typical of the shallow coverage of this War. The number of memos are not the point. The point was he wanted the “threat elevated” whether there was a real threat or not. Bush and Cheney are pros. at this too.
Posted by: Revulsed | November 1, 2007, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
True, but now it is out-of-hand. That is out-of-control.
Posted by: Williamwfh | November 1, 2007, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
Its totally clear now. The guy is nuts!
Posted by: Benjalamelami | November 1, 2007, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
I read rummy is has 5 lawsuits filed againt him for torture. When he was in
Paris recently, he was served with papers.
Hopefully, we will see Bush, Cheney, Dumsfield, Rice and the others held accountable for 1 million deaths
of innocent iraqi’s and the deaths of
our soldiers. Not even saying Bush starting an illegal war.
Posted by: John | November 1, 2007, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
The most criminal regime ever. Who left believes the illegal invasion of Iraq was a “noble cause.” Bush and Rumsfeld were working right out of Orwell’s playbook in 1984.
Posted by: Randy | November 1, 2007, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
I like to believe our American president is accountable for his poor leadership. I don’t personally fault Mr. Rumsfeld, he was ordered into a diffucult situation and was scrutinized meticulously for his fauts.
With respect to the president, it is time to change course in Iraq and Afghanistan. I respect the counsel of the American people in unity with the US Congress.
Please donot vote for Hillary Clinton,the only candidate who is a remarkable leader is Bill Richardson.
Someone wrote somewhere on the web, that we have been Bush/Clinton/Bush-and possibly Clinton again. “NO WAY!
I heard Bill R comment on television that He was confounded by the presidents address to the United Nations Assembly. He said, “I wish he wouldn’t use that tone of speech” referring to Mr. Bush- I heard that and immediately I knew he made a fair and balanced assessment.
John McCain is my 2nd choice because he is a passionate articulate leader in the senate and among the American people.
Say NO to all other candidates!
Posted by: Dennis Andrews | November 1, 2007, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
Now, we know who planted the ANTHRAX !!
Posted by: kenny | November 1, 2007, 10:07 pm 10:07 pm
This just confirms what I believed all along. The war was based on a lie, and there is so much evidence; overwhelming evidence that shows that; the press is now complicit by not asking the hard and honest questions and keeping the focus on the truth. They seem to be enjoying the ” glamour” of the war. All the big names in the media made their ” on location war apparences” and the truth was smothered.
I am still very angry about this war. I am a Registered Republican. I spent 13 year in the US ARMY. ( I got out in 2000 ) and I’m glad that I did, not because I’m afraid to go to war. I was in full support of going to Afganistan and looking for Bin Laden. But when we started the Iraq talk, the stink smell of that idea was very evident to me. I have lost all respect for BUSH,CHENEY( never had respect for him) POWELL, RICE and the entire Rupblican party. I will not be voting for any republicans anytime in the next few decades.
This war is imorality of the the higest degree, deceit of the lowest form, the most extreme for of wickedness known to man; taking a nation hostage and using a tragedy to advance their own personal greedy, egotistical agenda, by sacrificing the lives of the Nation’s young, brave and strong. SHAME ! SHAME! SHAME ! I am very angry about this……
Posted by: K Lash | November 1, 2007, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
Behind every politician there is a big pile of dirt to be discovered!
Posted by: Mack | November 1, 2007, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
A man in his position, sending out such messages is, simply put, criminal. He has comitted crimes against the United States, treason would probably fit, but an insideous trason, from deep within to justify lies by his president.
Posted by: Rick_VT | November 1, 2007, 11:24 pm 11:24 pm
Rummy should be promptly put in prison and made to stand before a world court for crimes against not only this nation but humanity. He is no better than a thug and a cut throat killer in an Armani.
Posted by: RW | November 1, 2007, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
I hope the American voter is paying attention. We have no one to blame for this administration but ourselves. We elected these office holders. Next time I hope everyone dose their homework and know what they’re getting from their leaders, PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE!!!
Posted by: Larry | November 1, 2007, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
Rumsfeld is a great American Patriot and saved the USA from many attacks. The DemoLibs are tinfoil hatted morons that want to shoot the messenger (you) and ignore the threats posed by our enemies. THANK YOU for your service Mr. Rumsfeld. I don’t like it that Bush turned out to be a big spender and I hate that Bush should be impeached for refusing to protect our borders and enforce our immigration laws – but you were “The Great Protector” of our nation.
Posted by: Bill | November 2, 2007, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Sounds like “Chicken Little” Rumsfeld to me. (“The sky is falling! The sky is falling! We’re surrounded by extremists! We’re surrounded by extremists!”) “Rummy” seems a little extremist himself.
Posted by: Jordan | November 2, 2007, 12:47 am 12:47 am
Rummy is probably calling Bush every day,telling him to nuke Iran and start WW III. He’s insane in the membrane like Bush and Cheney. Send the guys in the white suits to get these pyschos in the looney bin where they belong before it’s too late!
Posted by: AJ | November 2, 2007, 12:58 am 12:58 am
This is a surprise? Since when? 2004? 2000?
Posted by: Howred Johansen | November 2, 2007, 2:22 am 2:22 am
My fellow Americans. look around your work places. Do you see moral, pleasent and lead by example leaders? I certainly do not. I see those who speak the harshest, point out others faults to elevate their own, makeing it up the laddres of “leadership”. Our expectation of leadership has succesfully molded with our image of Holywood icons and “heros”. My friends are correct in stating several times here that the majority have become sheep. Levels of education makes no difference. It’s power power and more power achieved in any possible way. Watch those who lead and listen carefuly. You will hear retoric, huge assumptions, some implementation of fear and similar tactics used in advertising and salesmenships. Be your own person, think for yourselves amke your own decisions based on FACTS. Go vote.
Posted by: Howred Johansen | November 2, 2007, 2:28 am 2:28 am
I think somebody seriously should start looking into Rumsfields Financial back ground, and see if he’s recieving some sort of Kick-Back money from those Contracts in IRAQ, Somethings going on, or he wouldn’t of been so admirant about those memos !!
Posted by: JETRANGER | November 2, 2007, 2:36 am 2:36 am
“Keep elevating the threat” “Talk about Somalia, the Philippines, etc. Make sure the American people realize they are surrounded in the world by violent extremists.”
This totally reminds me of V for Vendetta.. “keep telling them why they need us!!”
Posted by: Jeff D | November 2, 2007, 3:11 am 3:11 am
Dirty and rotten to the core. How can these evil men sleep at night? I cannot wait for this travesty to catch up with these absolute dregs of the earth. These who wrap themselves in the flag and keep saluting at these fine republicans who served for their country, such as:
* Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage.
* Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
* Tom Delay: did not serve.
* Bill Frist: did not serve.
* Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
* Rick Santorum: did not serve.
* Trent Lott: did not serve.
* John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business.
* Jeb Bush: did not serve.
* Karl Rove: did not serve.
* Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. “Bad knee.” The man who attacked Max Cleland’s patriotism.
* Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve.
* Richard Perle: did not serve.
* Douglas Feith: did not serve.
* Eliot Abrams: did not serve.
* Richard Shelby: did not serve.
* Jon Kyl: did not serve.
* Tim Hutchison: did not serve.
* Christopher Cox: did not serve.
* Newt Gingrich: did not serve.
* Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor.
* George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard; got assigned to Alabama so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate; failed to show up for required medical exam, disappeared from duty.
* B-1 Bob Dornan: Consciously enlisted after fighting was over in Korea.
* Phil Gramm: did not serve.
Real patriots, huh?
Posted by: tom | November 2, 2007, 5:46 am 5:46 am
The very few on here trying against all odds to support the criminally corrupt losers we have are truly brainwashed and must not read or think much. The list of DEMOCRATS who served in the military and still active or in office now, is quite impressive when looking at the list of republican DID NOT SERVE presented correctly above. That the MAINSCREAM media failed us so badly as they fawned their sappy pleas for access and tidbits thrown out the backdoor at 1600 PENN.. Then we get the critiques of ORWELLS 1984 which means the truth of his story now appears quite self-evident now. It should surprise nobody here on this post that the ABC network went on-air during the ronnie rayguns era around 1984 to say how wrong ORWELL was in 1984. I think he only missed by a few years and the ABC network is on-air telling you he was wrong. Case Closed….NEXT
Posted by: daddy | November 2, 2007, 10:54 am 10:54 am
Only one good thing has come out of the GWB administration – the fact that there will never be another Bush or Bush relative in the WH. I believe in a fair, just, loving God – one that could not be so cruel as to ever allow a Bush curse to happen to us again. GWB and his band of madmen have made the mentality of some of the people in our beautiful country as bad as the ones we are fighting. His “compassionate conservative” rhetoric in the 2000 primary was all BS.
Posted by: Ron | November 2, 2007, 11:16 am 11:16 am
Rumsfeld is the one who on TV declared that his IRANIAN INFORMANT, of the Iranian government, who gave him reliable information on IRAQ WMDs in the first place. Our INTELLIGENCE at that time kept telling the white house they cannot trust that source. But Rumsfeld said that he trusted his IRANIAN SOURCE in the news and in news conferences, REMEMBER! No matter what our INTELLIGENCE people told Bush, he pushed forward into Iraq anyway, trusting Rumsfelds judgement. Fastforward, now we are tied up in Iraq, and it is IRAN who is making threats in their statements against the U.S. and Israel and claiming that they, the Iranian government, are a NEUCLEAR POWER. It seems that Rumsfeld and Bush got SUCKERED. And now we are tied up in Iraq both financially and militarily, while Iran is the country with the real destructive WMD.
Posted by: angelheart80153 | November 2, 2007, 11:34 am 11:34 am
True, the people of the United States are sheep, but they have been intimidated into being sheep.
Posted by: US Citizen | November 2, 2007, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Make sure the people in this country realize they are surrounded in the world by violent extremist.Guess what, you are. Rumsfield’s biggest mistake was not sending enough troops to Iraq to begin with. You Libs keep bashing Bush, maby you Idiots will wake up when New York is hit by a dirty bomb. Dont think it can happen, I guess they just got lucky flying planes into buildings.
Posted by: john | November 2, 2007, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
Just found a MEMO from RUMMY to Jeb Bush…Dear Jebber, Your bro has messed up so bad that you might consider finding a TIKI Bar in Tampa to run as your political future is about ZERO. Sorry Spud…
Posted by: daddy | November 2, 2007, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
RON PAUL IS THE NEW WAY
You get the sense that our country is desperate for someone to show us the way. Not the old way. Not the same way, but a NEW WAY. Think about this for a minute. What if we pulled all of our troops out of South Korea? They’ve been there for 50+ years. What if we quit worrying about Iran, but instead, realized that its having a nuclear weapon will not mean the end of the world? What if we pulled all of our troops out of the Middle-East, and brought them all home? What if we realistically addressed the National Debt, and paid attention to REALLY DOING SOMETHING about stopping illegal immigration? These are the ideas of Republican Presidential candidate, Dr. Ron Paul. He’s a ten term Congressman and a physician who has delivered over 4,000 babies. He’s an intellectual who’s published four books, three of which are devoted entirely to sound economics. He was raised on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania as a pious Lutheran, but now he attends a Baptist church. Paul is given to mulling things over morally. Whenever he recollects the helicopter pilots he treated as an Air Force Flight Surgeon (Captain) during the Vietnam War, a war which he now says was “totally unnecessary and illegal,” he laments, “They were gung-ho. I’ve often thought about how many of those people never came back.” Candidates with the high level of personal integrity and proven track record of adherance to The Constitution, Congressman Paul has always demonstrated only come around once in a lifetime, if we’re lucky.
Posted by: Mike | November 2, 2007, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
John, NY can not be hit with a dirty bomb because they tell me since we’re fighting them all over there they can not come here. Which is it??? We safer or not? The republicans speak out of both sides of your mouth on this stuff. Tho I totally agree he messed up with the troops going in. Firing that whole army and sending them home with their guns was an oopsie as well.
Posted by: Sandra | November 3, 2007, 10:49 am 10:49 am
Bush, Cheney, Rumdum and Rice should all be arrested for war crimes and put in a U.S. Federal prison for 100 years.
Posted by: Joe Murphy | November 3, 2007, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
This is ridiculous and the Bush administration needs to be stopped and put in jail. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR COUNTRY IS A SHAME, BUSH, CHENNY, AND RUMSFELD ARE THE TERRORISTS IN AMERICA
Posted by: MICHELE KEY | November 4, 2007, 10:30 am 10:30 am
Keep them scared, even when you read postings by obvious Republicans they use terms like, HATE, BASHING, ATTACKS, etc. it’s all about FEAR. Can’t anyone else break the “FEAR BARRIER”
Posted by: ididit4u | November 4, 2007, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm