“It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past.” Karl von Clausewitz
By Con George-Kotzabasis
It’s good and encouraging to see someone, like Steve Clemons, (See The Washington Note) from the opposing side, highlighting and commending the pensive and important “Rumsfeld Memo,” that the former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, presented on October 16, 2003, to his subordinates for discussion, which through its questions attempted to open new vistas of strategic thinking of how to confront this stealthy and unique enemy.
Donald Rumsfeld, gifted with a strong character, high intelligence, and impeccable political responsibility as a public servant, would ineluctably become a maligned figure before the eyes of all the spineless and thoughtless mediocrities, who with the appearance of the first difficulties of the Iraq war and its errors, would blame him for them, as if any human who was involved in such stupendous undertaking and facing a singularly inimitable enemy, could do so without committing mistakes.
For those who can make a dispassionate and in-depth assessment of the former secretary’s thoughts and actions, as depicted in his book “Known and Unknown,” will give him the credit that is due to him for his prudence and indomitable spirit as an actor in the fog of war.
Guarding The Borders Of Freedom 