Rummy left speechless

Werein we examine how really their really arent words to defend the use of intelligence in the run up to the Iraq war.

If you havent heard of the exchange between the secratary of defense and a former CIA agent, I suggest heading over to CNN.com and checking it out. At one point Rumsfeld is caught in an outright lie, or at least an attempt to parse and dissemble his way out of a tough question about Rumsfeld's claims that we knew where Iraq's weapons of mass destructions were located. The questioner, Ray McGovern, called Rummy on adding qualifications to his words after the fact. And there, Rumsfeld, having been caught, is at a complete loss... at first stuttering, then after stopping security from removing McGovern, silently but visably racking his brain for a way out. There wasnt a way out though, Rummy was nailed and he knew it. The subject was changed again from there, but the deer in headlights moment for a weasel like Rummy was worth it.

This isnt an isolated incident for Rummy. He repeatedly dodges and shifts the issue whenever questioned. About soildiers body armor, about the lack of weapons of mass destruction, about the degradation of the security situation in Iraq, not once do I ever see the secretary of defense admitting his mistakes, and vowing to do better. Instead its a never ending stream of excuses and justifictaion, oftentimes straining credibility to it's limits.

Rumsfeld should be fired, but he won't. This is this administrations modus operandi. His term as secretary of defense is a disgusting mix of incompetence and arrogance, but that just means he fits right in the White House these days. Today was just another good illustration of his basic dishonesty, and the kind of questions he should be facing any time he appears in public.