IN THE COMMENTS: Steven B says:
My conspiracy theory: The memo is a fake. I've read several different places that Rumsfeld despises acronyms, never uses them, and doesn't allow them to be used in documents he reads or dictates.
Ruth Anne says:
Stephen B: If your acronym theory is correct, here's another one that crept in, "Korean Katusas"
Katusa is an acronym for Korean augmentee to the U.S. Army.
Is that true about Rumsfeld and acronyms?
MORE: By the Sea writes:
I worked on Secretary Rumsfeld's personal staff for three years and at least the writing style is consistent with his. He does use acronyms, and especially in snowflakes, those nasty things that come drifting down from his office that ruin your chances of going home on time.
All I can say is based on writing style, it seems authentic.
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18 comments:
Is anyone troubled by the fact that any government document, no matter how sensitive or confidential, immediately finds its way to the NYT which publishes it in full?
On the other hand, maybe Rumsfeld expected this to happen. Knowing he'd soon be dumped, and wanting the MSM to accurately relay his actual views, he put them in a memo labeled "Secret and Confidential," thus ensuring its instant and full publication.
My conspiracy theory: The memo is a fake. I've read several different places that Rumsfeld despises acronyms, never uses them, and doesn't allow them to be used in documents he reads or dictates.
But if it is real, I'm with tjl: It bothers me that classified documents always find their way to the front page of the NYTimes.
Announce that whatever new approach the U.S. decides on, the U.S. is doing so on a trial basis. This will give us the ability to readjust and move to another course, if necessary, and therefore not “lose.”
I thought this was the most interesting line in the memo.
Is anyone troubled by the fact that any government document, no matter how sensitive or confidential, immediately finds its way to the NYT which publishes it in full?
Yes, and I add it to the long list of things the Bush Administration has inadequately handled. They should be on the offensive about this.
of course it never occured to anyone that if you want to take something seriously you leak it to the NYTimes. Do you think these leaks happen by accident? Hello?????
Who would you rather they are leaked to? Rush Limbaugh? Sean Hannity? O'Really?
Until you uber-conservatives come up with a better newspaper that the entire world reads and actually believes because it does try and get the truth and be accurate (ohhh I can hear the neo-con grunting about agenda driven news - ... ha ha. Faux news anyone) then you have to just accept the fact that this administration leaks on purpose and leaks to a media outlet that like the NYT on purpose. The result is:
1. people believe it because it is the Times and
2. neo-cons scream about the Times with no specifics..just the general rightwing ranting...so they have a recourse that says "well the Times is anti-American" or even worse, the Times wants Bush to appear more of an idiot than he is...if that is possible.
Grow up. Did it ever occur to anyone that Rumsfeld was fired as a result of the memo and it is now leaked so various people can CYA for history?
My guess is the memo is authentic, Rumsfeld saw the ax falling and wanted to get his last two cents in and on the record. That is what most of us would do in the same situation.
And I agree with Knoxgirl and tjl re regular pipeline of classified leaks to NYT. WTF is up with that?
Is anyone enforcing the laws in Washington? Could the DEMS get some mileage out of this stuff by decrying leaks at the same time they mock Bush admin for allowing leaks? Damn right they could.
"They should be on the offensive about this."
About many things, knoxgirl. It's as if the Reps have just now "got religion." And now they fight wars like an LBJ, dole out entitlements like an FDR, and address notions of culture like Gramsci.
Ruth Ann Adams: Prior military service??? Not many people know that acronym.
First, I for one doubt that "any government document, no matter how sensitive or confidential, immediately finds its way to the NYT...."
Second, and perhaps I'm naive, I suspect that the editors of the Times feel in good faith that have a professional rather than a commercial duty to expose the workings of our government to the cleansing light of day when provided material like the Rumsfeld memo.
Ruth Ann Adams: Ooh, JAG Corps. I'm headed to law school myself next Fall, and I'm very interested in the JAG Corps.
If this is genuine, color me impressed. This is one of the most rational approaches to Iraq that I've heard in a long time. Compare this comprehensive set of ideas to the non-ideas of the critics.
Had leading democrats [honestly] presented ideas as cogent as these, I believe they would have received many more votes.
Of course, the core of the memo is in opposition to the Democrat's plan, which was to redeploy troops outside of Iraq. That's it.
It doesn't sound like Rumsfeld to me, but who knows?
I think it has a lot of useful suggestions in it, though -- whoever wrote it.
Maybe this memo is why Rumsfeld was fired.
Well, I think we've only seen one prior snowflake from Rumsfeld--the one with the known unknowns in it. So I don't think anyone here can judge its authenticity.
But, honestly, I don't doubt it's real. That's just too over the top and Rumsfeld would actually come out and deny it if it were fake.
And I don't think it was leaked on purpose. I mean, it makes Rumsfeld look good, and by extension, Bush, because he hired him and kept him on for so long. So some people believe it just HAS to be fake or leaked on purpose.
I worked on Secretary Rumsfeld's personal staff for three years and at least the writing style is consistent with his. He does use acronyms, and especially in snowflakes, those nasty things that come drifting down from his office that ruin your chances of going home on time.
All I can say is based on writing style, it seems authentic.
I also agree the tendency of anything sensitive/classified to show up in the NYT is troubling.
Now with nearly a week of hindsight the various neo-cons, hitleryouth, and other right of center fanatics on this board
1. owe the left and generally this country an apology and
2. should be made to read the NYTimes page by page for a year and
3. have channel blocks for FAUX news put on their little TVs and
4. wear tin foil hats so the aliens don't get in your brains again.
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