FOND THOUGHTS OF DONALD RUMSFELD

Now that we are facing the final months of the Bush administration (or its re-branded continuation for another four years), it seems worthwhile to look back in love on some of the more stellar moments of this presidency - specifically, the golem-like presence known as Donald Rumsfeld, and his faithful protection of the innocent denizens of the white-house. And their innocent little world-views.


I miss the squared double-standards.


As well as the wondrous verbal constructs.

"We know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know, but there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know."

---Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defense.


Truly, Pentagon Zen.


"We're trying to explain how things are going, and they are going as they are going...... Some things are going well and some things obviously are not going well. You're going to have good days and bad days."

"...this is one moment, and there will be other moments. And there will be good moments and there will be less good moments."

---Donald Rumsfeld, US minister for war and Pentagon zen-master.


We discussed at work what Rumsfeld may have meant.

Then we decided stimulation was required to fully comprehend the subtlety of his statements, and accordingly we repaired to a nearby tavern.

Our (5) top conclusions:

1.
"Out of all moments on bad days, there will be some which are better moments, and some which may be best. Enjoy bad days. Worse days are better, worst days are best."
2.
"Marijuana affects one's sense of time and one's ability to......
Mmm, uh, hey!?!"
3.
"Seize the moment, joyfully accept the challenge, and looking neither to the right nor to the left, remain focused on your goal and forge bravely forward, overcoming all obstacles which the evil inclination (yetzer hara) might put in your path, as Rabbi Nachman advises."
4.
"Settle in the moment, and steadfastly refuse to give up a single inch until the Messiah comes, as the Lubavitcher Rebbe advises."
5.
"Marijuana affects one's sense of time and one's ability to......
Eeeeh, errm, what?!?"


There was a lot of stimulation.


"people are running around with digital cameras and taking these unbelievable photographs and then passing them off, against the law, to the media, to our surprise, when they had not even arrived in the Pentagon."

---Donald Rumsfeld, Zen poet, chief censor, and secretary of offense.


Giving photos to the media is against the law? A novel thought.

The problem was not the abuse, but that our boys couldn't keep their idiot mouths shut and limit the circulation of their sm-smut to the military. At least, that seemed the official focus. A conclusion both unsurprising and beside the point.

"No member of the U.S. armed forces, active, retired, or deceased, is to have any contact with any journalist under any circumstances about anything at all unless what, when, how, and to whom have been approved by the Pentagon - a complete and encyclopedic report on all details of what will be said to be filed in triplicate several weeks in advance."


It was Rummy's world - we just had the privilege of living in it for a while.

I miss him.