The War According to Rumsfeld

Our esteemed SecDef, Donald H. Rumsfeld, wrote a guest column in the Washington Post today entitled, "What We've Gained in Three Years in Iraq." Here's the link if you'd like to take a read.

Personally, I found the article to be extremely arrogant and condescending. His tone is chiding and patronizing as he reminds us that "history is not made up of daily headlines, blogs on Web sites or the latest sensational attack. History is a bigger picture, and it takes some time and perspective to measure accurately."

In the next five paragraphs, Rumsfeld goes on to list all of the good things that have happened in the past three years in Iraq. But what, you say, about the continuing violence, attacks against Iraqi civilians and coalition troops, and the general chaos in which the country is embroiled? Don't worry, he devotes two whole sentences to that issue: "To be sure, violence of various stripes continues to slow Iraq's progress. But the coalition is doing everything possible to see this effort succeed and is making adjustments as appropriate." Wow! It's as if he's saying, 'don't you worry your pretty little head. Let the smart people worry about this stuff. You just go back to your Sudoku puzzle.'

Am I crazy or do you guys get the same impression?