Life after Rumsfeld ?
832231
It's acceptable, but I don't really see how life will change much without Rumsfeld. Politics in Washington DC will remain corrupt as usual. Life goes on.\n\nHowever, I agree that Rumsfeld took too much of the blame. The blame extends to the Bush Administration and Congress, both Democrat and Republican politicians alike... and it also extends to the Perfumed Princes and "yes-men" Generals in control of our military. The Bush Administration should be faulted for the bad policies they decide to carry out. The Congress, Democrats and Republicans, need to quit fighting each other and worrying about their own parties (and re-elections) and for once do what's best for the Country and the People. Democrat politicians need to stop complaining about why we're in Iraq and start finding solutions. Yes-Men in the Joint Chiefs and Pentagon and wherever they are need to be weeded out immediately, replaced by combat-vets who can say "No." and know the situation on the ground (probably by being in Iraq where the action is instead of an air-conditioned office in the E-Ring) And finally, Americans need to stop being polarized in politics and abandon the corrupt party platforms and start working together to find solutions.\n\nI would speculate that Rumsfeld was an easy target to become a scrapegoat. He was probably the only one to take the fall of Iraq because of the corrupt politics that goes on in our Country, but later on probably won't be the last one.
648816
Rumsfeld is an absolute CRIMINAL. He should be relieved of duty, along with that W guy. The rich guy from Wyoming needs to go, too...
707189
Try to contact his FRG (family readiness group). They can keep you up-to-date with what is going on with the unit. However, some units have restrictions on who can receive information, and there may be certain things they can't/won't tell you (since you are not married yet). There should be some people who you can make friends with and talk to though. If moving is an option, move near his base so that you can really be near the FRG and also be there when he  gets back. However, you cannot live on the base until you are married, and the military will not pay you an allowance to live off-base, like they would if  you were married. \n\nWhen you think you can't take it anymore, remember why you love him. It sucks when he's gone, but it will be so worth it when he gets home, trust me.
819980
I think he will be forced to resign. Rumsfeld seems to be out of the loop these days with the Bush Administration, which is an indication to me that he will be even more out of the loop after the elections.
353974
I believe so.When five retired generals think he should go,that's a pretty good sign that he has not gotten the job done.Personally,I would have aked him to resign long before now.This war has been a farce.Our troops went in woefully unprepared for the combat they are now engaged in.We did not take the insurgents into consideration.Why not? Isn't that part of Rumsfeld's job? The sheer arrogance of this man is appalling.He ,like our president , will never admit to mistakes made.They just keep telling the American citizens to be patient.Baloney.There is no exit strategy now and who knows when we can expect any.We're in such a mess now that I don't know if there is a way out that will allow us to save face with the world or not.There is something wrong when practically all the president's cabinet and colleagues are at the center of controversy every time you turn on the television.
446993
If he is regular army (RA) you can expect him to be deployed quite a bit in the next few years as the operations tempo is probably going to be pretty high. So, at least for the time being, get used to him being away. \n\nAlso, if he wants to make this a career, get used to moving around a bit. You will have the opportunity to live in different areas of the country as well as different countries, not always of you and your husband's choosing. It's a difficult lifestyle, one that many civilians don't and really can't understand. But take comfort in the fact that other military wives (and husbands if the female is a soldier and the husband is a civilian) are in the exact same boat as you, friends are easy to make.
942268
Many of us did have our eyes wide open all along. The longer it goes on the more that do wake up, and see what grave mistakes have been made. Finally, enough people decided they wanted a new direction, and voted for change. I'm just sorry it took six years for that to happen.\nThere is something much deeper going on than what now meets the eyes. The Iraqi leadership in place at the moment, Saddam's death sentence, and Rumsfeld's resignation, are all closely related. I don't know yet how it's all tied together. We will see how it comes out in the coming months.\nAdded November 9, 2006\noobily...What I mean by much deeper going on, is I have a feeling that something on the scale of Watergate is happening. Early and mid-seventies. Nixon resigned to avoid being impeached. Much of his staff was removed or resigned as well. I was too young at the time to know what it involved. Henry Kissinger was part of the Nixon team. The Bush Administration has been having private talks with Kissinger in the last few weeks. I wonder why. Damage control possibly. Advice on how to handle the fallout, which we have yet to see. Some of the same countries were involved back then that we are up against right now. I could be wrong, but it seems strangely similar.
1075203
Only if thats what he wants. I think he has retired from public office. The Iraq speech  was bad for him. He was too use to taking orders.
791119
I don't think we ever got off of Iraq.  With 105 Americans killed in Iraq last month, how could anyone get off that topic.  Bush assured us we will be talking about Iraq for the next two years, when he announced that Rumsfeld we be there as long as he is president, and he still relies on Cheney for his advice on Iraq.  Sounds like "stay the course" to me.
857394
Sorry, but Rumsfeld resigned Wednesday, after the elections. I seriously doubt his replacement, Robert Gates, is any better. After all, he was appointed by Bush too.\nFoley (FL) resigned from his post a couple weeks before elections. \nMakes you wonder, who's next. Cheney? Bush? \nMore to come in the next few months, if the Democrats have a backbone and push for invesigations.
1132472
It's not good. I was at Bolling AFB a little while & it was a very bad neighborhood. There are nicer areas to commute from, but rental/real estate proces are insane. Important work draws people to the area, but live on base if you have to go there. I was always more happy in the operational force or major command level than anywhere close to DC anyway. I can't speak to schools. There are good private ones if you just happen to have inhereted a ton of money, but DC is just bad. I was only there about six months though so maybe someone else can give you a better impression than I got.
865655
Rumsfeld, along with Ashcroft and Cheney, were among the architects of the cold war scares decades ago. They use the same rhetoric, just changing the "enemies." I, for one, will be glad to see him go. During the cold war we talked about a thing called the military industrial complex. It has resurrected at the hands of these men and others of their ilk. Try to go to a screening of the movie Iraq for Sale.
844735
I can tell you I'm pleased. This allows a new, fresh face to take over and we can see how his leadership is, and Rumsfeld was no good leader. He mismanaged troop numbers before the war. The generals said they needed at least 400,000 troops to fight, and he gave them about 100 some-on thousand. He denied many well experienced people's requests and that harmed him. He did not give the military vehicles aduquate armor, and not much has still been done about that. He always argued with people and actually seemed like he had quite a temper at times. Many generals who oppose Rumsfeld say they wish that Colon Powell was Secretary Of Defense still, because of his good military experience, compared to Rumsfeld's poor experience. The War in Afghanistan was Powell's responsibility, and as far as I know, it went a lot better than the Iraq War is going. Hopefully the war will go better without him.
502876
After years of moving around advancing my career, I finally decided to "Marry" a company and settle down for the long haul.  Like I told them during my interview, I was interviewing them far more than they were me as it was my intention to retire here.\n\nI'm being groomed for my boss's job who's own retirement will be in about 5-6 years.\n\nI have a beautiful fiance and thus far, my tenure here is looking pretty good.\n\nIn five years, I see myself in my first home, married to my beautiful Stacey and running my department.  I'm looking forward to having the roots that I've had to keep unearthing at the expense of the career.  Now, I've put my time in and can settle back and build the longevity it takes to become a Senior VP at one the world's largest corporations.\n\nOh yeah, it's coasting time Baby !    ;-)\n\nP.S. --\n\nVery thoughtful question.  Thanks for the opportunity to share.
881997
I would tell him to put on a more pleasant face, he always looks like he is ready to do battle with anyone. Why did he not listen to his cabinet members about having Rumsfeld step down from his office?.Do you think you would have the same view of the war in Iraq, if you had a member of your family in the front line of fire?
705130
Yes you are right it took most of you 5 years to figure out that,but it is never too late but for that time so many innosent people that have different faith have died,imprisoned,etc etc.Americans have died because  people from our government  made money and now they wash their bloody hands by taking rumsfeld down what is the next move and who is the next.this is worst time America ever had look at US.
922282
there is sort of a back-door draft going on where they can get people who are out of the military back in, even if they've already served their time.  If a full draft starts, you will see a definite changing of feelings toward the war.