Rumsfeld: Obama Is Rushing to War

Iraq architect believes Washington hasn't justified military action
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 29, 2013 12:53 PM CDT
Rumsfeld: Obama Is Rushing to War
Then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld speaks at a Pentagon news conference to criticize Iraq for continuing to fire on US and British warplanes patrolling over two no-fly zones, Sept. 30, 2002.   (AP Photos/Susan Walsh, File)

The architect of the Iraq war believes that President Obama hasn't given sufficient justification for military action against Syria. "There really hasn't been any indication from the administration as to what our national interest is" in Syria, Donald Rumsfeld tells CNN. He continues:

  • "When you think about what’s really important in that region—it’s Iran’s nuclear program and the relationship between Iran and Syria, the Assad regime, with respect to terrorists that go around killing innocent men, women and children, including Americans."

At the same time, Rumsfeld thinks the administration has said too much about what it might do. "I can’t imagine what they’re thinking," he said. "The idea of demystifying for the enemy what you're going to do is mindless." Of course, even if Rumsfeld had a point, he'd be a really terrible messenger for it, given his role in Iraq, argues Steve Benen at Rachel Maddow's blog. "If Rumsfeld is out of the penalty box and welcome to appear in public again, at an absolute minimum, he should avoid claiming any degree of credibility on the use of force," he writes. (More Donald Rumsfeld stories.)

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