Mature decisions for Choosing Don Rumsfeld for Secratary of Defense

This comes out of Woodwards newest book. The paragraphs have to come out of conversations with Andrew Card. (I added the italics. I just couldn't believe this stuff is motivating decisions by our president. If they have gone into the decision making process---its a sad commentary on immature decision making!!!!)

Doubts From the Start

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Cheney had suggested Rumsfeld to Bush in late December 2000. Rumsfeld was so impressive, Bush told Card at the time. He had had the job in the Ford administration a quarter-century before, and it was as if he were now saying, "I think I've got some things I'd like to finish."

But there was another dynamic that Bush and Card discussed. Rumsfeld and Bush's father, the former president, couldn't stand each other. Bush Senior didn't trust Rumsfeld and thought he was arrogant, self-important, too sure of himself and Machiavellian. Rumsfeld had also made nasty private remarks that the elder Bush was a lightweight.

Card could see that overcoming the former president's skepticism about Rumsfeld added to the president-elect's excitement. It was a chance to prove his father wrong. And Rumsfeld fit Cheney's model of a defense secretary who could battle things out with the generals but also had as much gravitas as the rest of the new national security team.

Bush would nominate Rumsfeld, he told Card. Cheney had been selected for his national security credentials. He was the expert, and this was the sort of decision that required expertise. Still, Bush wondered privately to Card about pitfalls, if there was something he didn't see here. After all, his father had strong feelings.

Is this a trapdoor? he asked.
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Mature decisions for Choosing Don Rumsfeld for Secratary of Defense

earlpearl Well-Known Member

britishguy Prominent Member

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Mature decisions for Choosing Don Rumsfeld for Secratary of Defense

earlpearl Well-Known Member

britishguy Prominent Member

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