Rumsfeld: "The enemy is so much better at communicating."

[BurtWorm]

Is this rant intended to make the listener think "anti-war" equals "enemy"? :think:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/28/AR2006082800879_pf.html

"They are actively manipulating the media in this country" by, for example, falsely blaming U.S. troops for civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.

"They can lie with impunity," he said, while U.S. troops are held to a high standard of conduct.

Later, at a Reno, Nev., convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Rumsfeld made similar points.

"The enemy lies constantly _ almost totally without penalty," he told the veterans group, which presented him with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award. "They portray our cause as a war on Islam when in fact the overwhelming majority of victims of their terrorism have been the thousands and thousands of innocent Muslims _ men, women and children _ that they have killed."

He added, "While some at home argue for tossing in the towel, the enemy is waiting and hoping that we will do just that."

Rumsfeld often complains about what he calls the terrorists' success in persuading Westerners that the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are part of a crusade against Islam. In his remarks at Fallon he did not offer any new examples of media manipulation; he put unusual emphasis, however, on the negative impact it is having on Americans in an era of 24-hour news.

"The enemy is so much better at communicating," he added. "I wish we were better at countering that because the constant drumbeat of things they say _ all of which are not true _ is harmful. It's cumulative. And it does weaken people's will and lessen their determination, and raise questions in their minds as to whether the cost is worth it," he said alluding to Americans and other Westerners.

[buczak]

1. insanity

This is insane, our troops should be held in higher standard of conduct. If we (the USA) are to set an example for other people to follow and 'bring democracy to the middle east', we need to follow the rule of law, conduct and basic human rights.

What war is he fighting anyway?

[kentuck]

2. Doesn't reflect too good on the political opposition in this country then

If the Repubs are out-smarted by al Qaeda, think of how dumb we Democrats must be??

[Boojatta]

3. Why not cut back on spending for the war in Iraq and use some of the

money to do research on communications?

[tanyev]

4. "What we need is a state-run news network that can really put out

the message we want Americans to believe. I propose we call it Freedom TV."

[burythehatchet]

5. falsely blaming U.S. troops for civilian deaths in Iraq

Donald said that because these are his death squads.

[Akoto]

6. Oh, but Mr. Rumsfeld, you give yourself too little credit.

You sir, are the master of the lie. The above article should be sufficient evidence of that.

[genie_weenie]

7. Ah, the Stab in the Back Defense

We would have been gloriously victorious in Iraq if:

Those damn liberals hadn't smeared Bush,

Those damn newspapers hadn't emboldened the enemy,

Those damn peaceniks hadn't called for more "humane" fighting,

The people had shut up and marched lockstep to the War Drum...

[BurtWorm]

8. kick

[zbdent]

9. Funny - "part of a crusade against Islam" - when Bush had to be

told that the Iraqis were Sunnis and Shiites ... he said he thought they were all just Muslims ...

[Johonny]

10. "They can lie with impunity,"

So what is his point? Does he want to be able to lie to the American people without any punishment too? And if they are able to lie without punishment what does they say about the job he's doing? I mean he's suppose to be bringing the liars to justice over there. As for tossing in the towel... THIS IS NOT A GAME REAL PEOPLE ARE DIEING YOU STUPID OLD MAN!

[BurtWorm]

11. He's jealous that they can lie and get away with it like he does.

Of course he's probably lying about this anyway.

[Generic Other]

12. Thank god for bullshit detectors

[rustydog]

13. I haven't heard a FUCKING thing from the "enemy" all news

about Iraq comes from Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheny or Rice. Unless one has the brains to go to foreign media.
Fox news retards don't have the luxury of a highly evolved brain, hence, we report you concur.

These bastards have that CEO attitude that they can say what ever they want truth or not and if you question it, they come at you like they'd fire a subordiante. These assholes have forgotten Americans are the CEO and THEY are the subordinate.

[warrens]

14. You don't fight wars by what your enemy wants

And the reason that the insurgents get such good propaganda is that we refuse to apologize, make amends or in any other way admit we caused this devastation. So what if they exaggerate? In essence, they're absolutely, 100 percent right.

Look at our clumsy propaganda. It's laughable because the people doing it are ignorant, fascist freaks who are used to dictating "truth" and having the people swallow it.

[librechik]

15. is he talking about democrats or "the enemy"

because I don't ever even see any muslim propoganda. What are we trying to counter? What things are they saying? WHO ARE THEY???

[marmar]

16. I wish he would climb back up into the trees...

and never utter another word. Gawd I can't stand that useless old prick.