Mood:
irritatedTopic: "Rumsfeldstiltskin" (2)
Frodo's father was a member of Tom Brokaw's "Greatest Generation." Serving as an enlisted man in George Patton's Third Army, he admired anybody and everybody who did their best to bring the War to a quick conclusion. He also had a grudging admiration for the manner in which the Germans had organized power and the civil accomplishments which served both military and civilian purposes. The Autobahn being the most obvious example.
Hitler, as history tells us, became the penultimate "micro manager" of his day. To the consternation of his commanding generals, Hitler took a more active role in military decisions as the situation worsened. In time, the pressure became so great that his mental health was being questioned by almost everyone with whom he came into contact. Eventually, for fear of the total destruction of their nation, members of the military, including Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, attempted to assassinate Hitler. It was the commanding generals who were most acutely aware of the pending disaster as Hitler issued commands for entire armies to stand and die when the situations were hopeless.
Frodo suggests that we now "fast forward" from 1944 to 2006, and change scenes from Berlin to Washington. Donald Rumsfeld, a "micro manager," replaced generals when they disagreed with him on the number of troops required. Six retired generals, having served directly under Rumsfeld, have called for him to be replaced as Secretary of Defense. A public affairs initiative has been launched by the Pentagon because it is felt in those circles that the "good news" about the Pre-Emptive War is not being adequately covered by those who dislike Rumsfeld, and quite obviously his boss.
Rumsfeld has taken to expressing the view, and the Republicans are speaking in political support, that those who disagree on policy decisions are akin to those who sought to appease Hitler in the late 1930's. Those who disagree aren't aware of the dangers of Fascism, in his mind. Frodo feels that Rumsfeld knows too well the definition of Fascism.
Paranoia probably was the root cause of the insanity of Adolf Hitler which had become so very evident by the Fall of 1944. Insanity is probably the cause of the paranoia that has become so very evident in the conduct of Donald Rumsfeld in the late Summer of 2006. "Staying the Course" is not an option when brave and loyal young men and women die because an irrational leader is unwilling to recognize that his involvement is a major contributing factor to the ongoing, and unnecessary, carnage.
If he had a brain, he'd walk.
Posted by loveysdaddyga
at 1:22 PM EDT
