Part 51 (1/2)

The world saw its share of natural disasters in 2005, requiring DoD relief, including Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Pakistan. Lt. Gen. Russel Honore (left) led the Katrina effort with Maj. Gen. Bill Caldwell (center) and Adm. Tim Keating (far right).

81.

In the fall of 2006, Joyce suggested we go to the Was.h.i.+ngton restaurant Old Europe for what we expected to be our last dinner with the combatant commanders.

82.

With President George Bush, Vice President d.i.c.k Cheney, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Pete Pace at my farewell ceremony at the Pentagon on December 15, 2006. After my remarks, I sat down. As the applause continued, the President turned to me and, using an a.n.a.logy from his favorite sport, said, ”Don, they're calling you out of the dugout.”

83.

With Joyce and our children, Nick, Valerie, and Marcy, the day of my farewell ceremony. We were ready.

84.

Our granddaughters Mia, Sophia, and Rachel with our daughter Valerie looking at my new Pentagon portrait in June 2010.

* I first gathered the sayings and thoughts that collectively would become known as ”Rumsfeld's Rules” while I served in the U.S. Congress in the 1960s. I continue to acc.u.mulate them to this day. Some rules are original. Many are quotes or variations of ideas from others. If known, the original source is credited. Readers will find examples of the rules scattered through this book. I first gathered the sayings and thoughts that collectively would become known as ”Rumsfeld's Rules” while I served in the U.S. Congress in the 1960s. I continue to acc.u.mulate them to this day. Some rules are original. Many are quotes or variations of ideas from others. If known, the original source is credited. Readers will find examples of the rules scattered through this book.

* Most of the hostages were held until January 20, 1981, the day Reagan was inaugurated president. Most of the hostages were held until January 20, 1981, the day Reagan was inaugurated president.

* The casualties included 220 Marines, 18 Navy corpsmen, and 3 Army soldiers. The casualties included 220 Marines, 18 Navy corpsmen, and 3 Army soldiers.

* The alleged mastermind of the attacks-Imad Mughniyeh-was indicted in absentia by a U.S. grand jury. Immediately after the Beirut bombing he took flight and could not be found. Mughniyeh became one of the world's most wanted terrorists. Over the decades he was linked to a number of other high-profile attacks until he was killed, ironically, by a car bomb in Syria in 2008. The alleged mastermind of the attacks-Imad Mughniyeh-was indicted in absentia by a U.S. grand jury. Immediately after the Beirut bombing he took flight and could not be found. Mughniyeh became one of the world's most wanted terrorists. Over the decades he was linked to a number of other high-profile attacks until he was killed, ironically, by a car bomb in Syria in 2008.

Eventually, the Pentagon settled on an air strike against the Sheik Abdullah barracks in Baalbek, Lebanon, on December 4, 1983. The result was that the Syrians sustained little damage and the United States looked ineffective. Eventually, the Pentagon settled on an air strike against the Sheik Abdullah barracks in Baalbek, Lebanon, on December 4, 1983. The result was that the Syrians sustained little damage and the United States looked ineffective.5

* I had known Weinberger from our time in the Nixon administration. He had served as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where he was known as ”Cap the Knife” for his cost-cutting efforts, and later as secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). When he became Secretary of Defense, he had a different task. The Carter administration had systematically reversed the DoD budget increases James Schlesinger and I had initiated under President Ford, and when Reagan came in, the DoD budget needed to be increased. Cap and I were friends, and when he died in 2006, Colin Powell, who had been one of his senior military a.s.sistants, and I delivered eulogies. I had known Weinberger from our time in the Nixon administration. He had served as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where he was known as ”Cap the Knife” for his cost-cutting efforts, and later as secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). When he became Secretary of Defense, he had a different task. The Carter administration had systematically reversed the DoD budget increases James Schlesinger and I had initiated under President Ford, and when Reagan came in, the DoD budget needed to be increased. Cap and I were friends, and when he died in 2006, Colin Powell, who had been one of his senior military a.s.sistants, and I delivered eulogies.10

* Every presidential administration since Richard Nixon's has held that the War Powers Resolution is unconst.i.tutional. Every presidential administration since Richard Nixon's has held that the War Powers Resolution is unconst.i.tutional.

* The military adviser in Lebanon was Brigadier General Carl Stiner, a pivotal figure in the development of U.S. special operations forces. The military adviser in Lebanon was Brigadier General Carl Stiner, a pivotal figure in the development of U.S. special operations forces.5

* The sh.e.l.ling from the The sh.e.l.ling from the New Jersey New Jersey kicked up dust but did no damage whatsoever. As I learned from my former senior military a.s.sistant, Vice Admiral Staser Holcomb, then serving as commander of U.S. naval forces in Europe, the President's orders to respond to the sh.e.l.ling had come down the military chain of command ”through multiple sets of clenched teeth.” In other words, no one had been insubordinate, but the reluctance at each level had the effect of substantially modifying the response Reagan intended. kicked up dust but did no damage whatsoever. As I learned from my former senior military a.s.sistant, Vice Admiral Staser Holcomb, then serving as commander of U.S. naval forces in Europe, the President's orders to respond to the sh.e.l.ling had come down the military chain of command ”through multiple sets of clenched teeth.” In other words, no one had been insubordinate, but the reluctance at each level had the effect of substantially modifying the response Reagan intended.

The dangers confronting the Gemayel family did not end with the murder of Bas.h.i.+r, and they did not disappear after the United States withdrew from Lebanon. Amine's son, Pierre, was openly critical of Syria's influence in his country. Twice elected to the country's parliament, Pierre was serving as Lebanon's industry minister when he was a.s.sa.s.sinated on November 21, 2006. The dangers confronting the Gemayel family did not end with the murder of Bas.h.i.+r, and they did not disappear after the United States withdrew from Lebanon. Amine's son, Pierre, was openly critical of Syria's influence in his country. Twice elected to the country's parliament, Pierre was serving as Lebanon's industry minister when he was a.s.sa.s.sinated on November 21, 2006.

* The Kennedy who most aided the cause of the America Firsters was Joseph P. Kennedy, John's father and a former U.S. amba.s.sador to Great Britain. Returning to the United States in 1940, he announced that the British would have to seek an accord with n.a.z.i Germany. ”Democracy is finished in England,” he was quoted in a notorious front-page article. ”It may be here.” The Kennedy who most aided the cause of the America Firsters was Joseph P. Kennedy, John's father and a former U.S. amba.s.sador to Great Britain. Returning to the United States in 1940, he announced that the British would have to seek an accord with n.a.z.i Germany. ”Democracy is finished in England,” he was quoted in a notorious front-page article. ”It may be here.”3

* The Rumsfelds trace their roots to a small farm on the outskirts of Sudweye in Schleswig-Holstein. Members of our family can still be found there. In the late nineteenth century, my great-grandfather Johann Hermann Rumsfeld, a merchant seaman, immigrated to America. After settling initially on the East Coast, his son John von Johann Heinrich eventually made his way westward to Chicago. The Rumsfelds trace their roots to a small farm on the outskirts of Sudweye in Schleswig-Holstein. Members of our family can still be found there. In the late nineteenth century, my great-grandfather Johann Hermann Rumsfeld, a merchant seaman, immigrated to America. After settling initially on the East Coast, his son John von Johann Heinrich eventually made his way westward to Chicago.

* She itemized her expenses for Dad, including $70.00 for the house payment, $6.52 for gas and electricity, $2.60 for water; $8.37 for milk; $47.00 for six months' taxes, and $7.00 for my new pair of shoes. Mom supplemented our income by working as a subst.i.tute schoolteacher. The tight finances were yet another challenge that she-like so many other military wives-was facing on her own. She itemized her expenses for Dad, including $70.00 for the house payment, $6.52 for gas and electricity, $2.60 for water; $8.37 for milk; $47.00 for six months' taxes, and $7.00 for my new pair of shoes. Mom supplemented our income by working as a subst.i.tute schoolteacher. The tight finances were yet another challenge that she-like so many other military wives-was facing on her own.6

* Our entire primary campaign cost a whopping twelve thousand dollars. It was at the time the most money that had been spent in that district on a congressional race. Our entire primary campaign cost a whopping twelve thousand dollars. It was at the time the most money that had been spent in that district on a congressional race.

* There were some memorable characters. I was once on the House floor reading a bill that we were about to vote on later that day. Congressman John Byrnes of Wisconsin, well known as a serious legislator, came up to me. ”Don't start reading that stuff, Don,” he said jokingly, ”or you'll never make it around here.” There were some memorable characters. I was once on the House floor reading a bill that we were about to vote on later that day. Congressman John Byrnes of Wisconsin, well known as a serious legislator, came up to me. ”Don't start reading that stuff, Don,” he said jokingly, ”or you'll never make it around here.”