Editing Donald Rumsfeld (section)

===Iraq War===
[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 020311-D-2987S-018.jpg|thumb|Rumsfeld, accompanied by General [[Richard Myers]] and military representatives from the [[International Security Assistance Force]], speaks to the press on March 11, 2002.]]
[[File:Donald Rumsfeld Tommy Franks.jpg|thumb|right|Rumsfeld (left) and General [[Tommy Franks]] (right), commander of [[United States Central Command]], listen to a question at a Pentagon press conference on March 5, 2003.]]

Before and during the [[Iraq War]], Rumsfeld claimed that Iraq had an active [[weapons of mass destruction]] program; in particular during his famous phrase "[[there are known knowns]]" in a press conference at the Pentagon on February 12, 2002,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=2636 |title=Defense.gov News Transcript: DoD News Briefing – Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Myers |publisher=United States Department of Defense |access-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-date=September 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905184152/http://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=2636 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
no stockpiles were ever found.<ref name="Frontline who said" /><ref name="FactCheck 2005-09-02" /> Bush administration officials also claimed that there was an operational relationship between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. A Pentagon Inspector General report found that Rumsfeld's top policy aide, [[Douglas J. Feith]], "developed, produced, and then disseminated alternative intelligence assessments on the Iraq and al-Qaeda relationship, which included some conclusions that were inconsistent with the consensus of the Intelligence Community, to senior decision-makers".<ref name="McClatchy 2007-02-07" />

The job of finding WMD and providing justification for the attack fell to the intelligence services, but, according to Kampfner, "Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz believed that, while the established security services had a role, they were too bureaucratic and too traditional in their thinking." As a result, "they set up what came to be known as the 'cabal', a cell of eight or nine analysts in a new [[Office of Special Plans|Office of Special Plans (OSP)]] based in the U.S. Defense Department." According to an unnamed Pentagon source quoted by Hersh, the OSP "was created in order to find evidence of what Wolfowitz and his boss, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, believed to be true—that Saddam Hussein had close ties to [[Al Qaeda]], and that Iraq had an enormous arsenal of chemical, biological, and possibly even nuclear weapons that threatened the region and, potentially, the United States".<ref name="Hersh" />

On January 22, 2003, after the German and French governments voiced opposition to invading Iraq, Rumsfeld labeled these countries as part of "[[Old Europe (politics)|Old Europe]]", implying that countries that supported the war were part of a newer, modern Europe.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 23, 2003 |title=Outrage at 'old Europe' remarks |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2687403.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421002430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2687403.stm |archive-date=April 21, 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 031027-D-9880W-030.jpg|thumb|Romanian President [[Ion Iliescu]] (right) awards the [[Order of the Star of Romania|"Star of Romania"]] decoration to Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.]]

After the war in Afghanistan was launched, Rumsfeld participated in a meeting in regard to the review of the Department of Defense's Contingency Plan in the event of a war with Iraq. The plan, as it was then conceived, contemplated troop levels of up to 500,000, which Rumsfeld felt was far too many. Gordon and Trainor wrote:

{{blockquote|As [General] Newbold outlined the plan ... it was clear that Rumsfeld was growing increasingly irritated. For Rumsfeld, the plan required too many troops and supplies and took far too long to execute. It was, Rumsfeld declared, the "product of old thinking and the embodiment of everything that was wrong with the military".<ref name="inside">Id.Gordon, Michael R. and Bernard E. Trainor, Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq, 2006. Book excerpt from the Denver Post</ref>}}

In a press conference at the Pentagon on February 27, 2003, Rumsfeld told reporters after being asked a question that Army Chief of Staff General [[Eric Shinseki]] suggested it would take several hundred thousand troops on the ground to secure Iraq and provide stability. Is he wrong?. Rumsfeld replied "the idea that it would take several hundred thousand U.S. forces I think is far from the mark. The reality is that we already have a number of countries that have offered to participate with their forces in stabilization activities, in the event force has to be used."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=1957|title=Secretary Rumsfeld Media Availability with Afghan President Karzai|publisher=United States Department of Defense|date=February 27, 2003|access-date=July 22, 2020|archive-date=July 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722060147/https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=1957|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rumsfeld addressed the nation in a press conference at the Pentagon on March 20, 2003, just hours after the launch of the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]], where he announced the first strike of the war to liberate Iraq and that "The days of the Saddam Hussein regime are numbered," and "We continue to feel there is no need for a broader conflict if the Iraqi leaders act to save themselves and act to prevent such a conflict."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=29267|title=Saddam's Days Numbered, Rumsfeld Says|publisher=United States Department of Defense|date=March 20, 2003|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730012601/https://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=29267|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rumsfeld's role in directing the [[Iraq War]] included a plan that was the [[Shock and Awe]] campaign,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalinterest.org/feature/donald-rumsfeld-was-last-good-secretary-defense-188957|title=Donald Rumsfeld Was the Last Good Secretary of Defense|date=June 30, 2021|access-date=May 20, 2023}}</ref> which resulted in [[2003 invasion of Iraq|a lightning invasion]] with 145,000 soldiers on the ground<ref>Belasco, Amy (2 July 2009). [https://sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/R40682.pdf "Troop Levels in the Afghan and Iraq Wars, FY2001-FY2012: Cost and Other Potential Issues"] (PDF). United States: Congressional Research Service. CRS Report R40682. Retrieved 30 March 2025. Table D-2.</ref> that took Baghdad within three weeks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tyler |first=Patrick E. |date=2003-04-10 |title=A NATION AT WAR: COMBAT; U.S. FORCES TAKE CONTROL IN BAGHDAD; BUSH ELATED; SOME RESISTANCE REMAINS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/10/world/nation-war-combat-us-forces-take-control-baghdad-bush-elated-some-resistance.html |access-date=2025-03-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Many government buildings, plus major museums, electrical generation infrastructure, and even oil equipment were looted and vandalized during the transition from the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime to the establishment of the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]]. A violent [[Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)|insurrection]] began shortly after the military operation started.

On March 30, 2003, in an interview with [[George Stephanopoulos]] on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[This Week (American TV program)|This Week]]'' program, Rumsfeld answered a question by Stephanopoulos about finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Rumsfeld stated "We know where they are. They're in the area around [[Tikrit]] and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/30/international/worldspecial/comments-by-donald-rumsfeld-on-this-week.html|title=Comments by Donald Rumsfeld on 'This Week'|work=The New York Times|date=March 30, 2003|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706211247/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/30/international/worldspecial/comments-by-donald-rumsfeld-on-this-week.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 9, 2003, at a press conference at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld addressed reporters during the [[Battle of Baghdad (2003)|Fall of Baghdad]], and stated "The scenes of free Iraqis celebrating in the streets, riding American tanks, tearing down the statues of Saddam Hussein in the center of Baghdad are breathtaking."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=2339 |title=DoD News Briefing – Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Myers |publisher=United States Department of Defense |date=April 9, 2003 |access-date=July 22, 2003 |archive-date=July 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723040329/https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=2339 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After the Iraq invasion, U.S. troops were criticized for not protecting the historical artifacts and treasures located at the [[National Museum of Iraq]]. On April 11, 2003, at a press conference at the Pentagon, when asked at the time why U.S. troops did not actively seek to stop the lawlessness, Rumsfeld replied, "Stuff happens ... and it's untidy and freedom's untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things. They're also free to live their lives and do wonderful things. And that's what's going to happen here."<ref name="StuffHappens">{{cite web |url=https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=2367 |title=DoD News Briefing – Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Myers |date=April 11, 2003 |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |access-date=May 29, 2019 |archive-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211175226/https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=2367 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He further commented that, "The images you are seeing on television you are seeing over, and over, and over, and it's the same picture of some person walking out of some building with a vase, and you see it 20 times, and you think, "My goodness, were there that many vases?"<ref name="StuffHappens" />

On July 24, 2003, at a press conference at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld commented on the release of photographs of the deceased sons of Saddam Hussein, [[Uday Hussein]] and [[Qusay Hussein]]. "It is not a practice that the United States engages in on a normal basis," Rumsfeld said. "I honestly believe that these two are particularly bad characters and that it's important for the Iraqi people to see them, to know they're gone, to know they're dead, and to know they're not coming back." Rumsfeld also said, "I feel it was the right decision, and I'm glad I made it."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=2894|title=DoD News Briefing – Secretary Rumsfeld and Ambassador Bremer|publisher=United States Department of Defense|date=July 24, 2003|access-date=July 23, 2020|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730013957/https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=2894|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=28678|title=Photos of Hussein Brothers' Bodies Provide Proof to Iraqis|publisher=United States Department of Defense|date=July 24, 2003|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930015136/http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=28678|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/24/international/worldspecial/images-of-husseins-sons-met-with-joy-and.html|title=Images of Hussein's Sons Met With Joy and Skepticism|work=The New York Times|date=July 24, 2003|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705051755/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/24/international/worldspecial/images-of-husseins-sons-met-with-joy-and.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2003, Rumsfeld approved a secret Pentagon "roadmap" on public relations, calling for "boundaries" between information operations abroad and the news media at home. The Roadmap advances a policy according to which as long as the U.S. government does not intentionally target the American public, it does not matter that [[psychological operations]] reach the American public.<ref>{{cite book
 |work=National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book
 |publisher=[[National Security Archive]]
 |title=Rumsfeld's Roadmap to Propaganda
 |issue=177
 |editor=Kristin Adair
 |date=January 26, 2006
|url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB177/
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060204214137/http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB177/
 |archive-date=February 4, 2006
 |url-status=live
}}</ref>

On December 14, 2003, Rumsfeld in an interview with journalist [[Lesley Stahl]] on ''[[60 Minutes]]'' after U.S. forces captured [[Saddam Hussein]] in [[Operation Red Dawn]], stated, "Here was a man who was photographed hundreds of times shooting off rifles and showing how tough he was, and in fact, he wasn't very tough, he was cowering in a hole in the ground, and had a pistol and didn't use it, and certainly did not put up any fight at all. I think that ... he resulted in the death of an awful lot of Iraqi people, in the last analysis, he seemed not terribly brave."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/exclusive-rumsfeld-on-saddam/|title=Exclusive: Rumsfeld On Saddam|work=CBS News|date=December 14, 2003|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705045637/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/exclusive-rumsfeld-on-saddam/|url-status=live}}</ref>

As Secretary of Defense, Rumsfeld was deliberate in crafting the public message from the Department of Defense. People will "rally" to the word "sacrifice", Rumsfeld noted after a meeting. "They are looking for leadership. Sacrifice = Victory." In May 2004, Rumsfeld considered whether to redefine the war on terrorism as a fight against "worldwide insurgency". He advised aides "to test what the results could be" if the war on terrorism were renamed.<ref name="FromDesk">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/31/AR2007103103095.html?hpid=topnews|title=From the Desk of Donald Rumsfeld ...|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 1, 2007|first=Robin|last=Wright|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=February 5, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205210652/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/31/AR2007103103095.html?hpid=topnews|url-status=live}}</ref> Rumsfeld also ordered specific public Pentagon attacks on and responses to U.S. newspaper columns that reported the negative aspects of the war.

During Rumsfeld's tenure, he regularly visited U.S. troops stationed in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=26486|title=Rumsfeld Arrives in Baghdad to Visit Troops, Meet with Leaders|publisher=United States Department of Defense|date=May 13, 2004|access-date=July 5, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930025222/http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=26486|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] reported that though Rumsfeld didn't specify a withdrawal date for troops in Iraq, "He says it would be unrealistic to wait for Iraq to be peaceful before removing U.S. led forces from the country, adding that Iraq had never been peaceful and perfect."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-09-25/us-troops-can-leave-before-iraq-peaceful-rumsfeld/557522 |newspaper=Australia Broadcasting Corporation |title=US troops can leave before Iraq peaceful: Rumsfeld |date=September 24, 2004 |access-date=April 28, 2018 |archive-date=October 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027203642/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-09-25/us-troops-can-leave-before-iraq-peaceful-rumsfeld/557522 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On August 2, 2006, at a press conference at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld commented on the [[Sectarian violence in Iraq (2006–2009)|sectarian violence in Iraq]] where he stated "there's sectarian violence; people are being killed. [[Sunnis]] are killing [[Shi'a]] and Shi'a are killing Sunnis. [[Kurds]] seem not to be involved. It's unfortunate, and they need a reconciliation process."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=3692 |title=DoD News Briefing with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace |publisher=United States Department of Defense |date=August 2, 2006 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722174527/https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=3692 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On October 26, 2006, at a press conference at the Pentagon after the failure of [[Operation Together Forward]] in Iraq, Rumsfeld stated "Would defeat in Iraq be so bad?" Well, the answer is: Yes, it would be. Those who are fighting against the Iraqi government want to seize power so that they can establish a new sanctuary and a base of operations for terrorists and any idea that U.S. military leaders are rigidly refusing to make adjustments in their approaches is just flat wrong. The military is continuing to adapt and to adjust as required. Yes, there are difficulties and problems to be sure."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=3772 |title=DoD News Briefing with Secretary Rumsfeld from the Pentagon |publisher=United States Department of Defense |date=October 26, 2006 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724142440/https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=3772 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As a result, Rumsfeld stirred controversy as to whether the forces that did invade Iraq were enough in size.<ref name="inside" /> In 2006, Rumsfeld responded to a question by [[Brit Hume]] of [[Fox News]] as to whether he pressed General [[Tommy Franks]] to lower his request for 400,000 troops for the war:

{{blockquote|Absolutely not. That's a mythology. This town [Washington, D.C.] is filled with this kind of nonsense. The people who decide the levels of forces on the ground are not the Secretary of Defense or the President. We hear recommendations, but the recommendations are made by the combatant commanders and by members of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] and there hasn't been a minute in the last six years when we have not had the number of troops that the combatant commanders have requested.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?121406/121406_sr_rumsfeld&Special_Report&Final%20Interview&acc&Politics&-1&News&486&&&new |title=Special Report with Brit Hume |publisher=[[Fox News Channel]] |date=December 14, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102093658/http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?121406%2F121406_sr_rumsfeld&Special_Report&Final%20Interview&acc&Politics&-1&News&486&&&new |archive-date=November 2, 2012}}</ref>}}

Rumsfeld told Hume that Franks ultimately decided against such a troop level.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/glogin://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/13/us/13cnd-army.html&OQ=_rQ3D1Q26pagewantedQ3D1Q26hp&OP=1b367f6cQ2FAs5tAFLQ7EgQ20LLQ3EQ27AQ2744Q51A(4A(2A6gA(2Q7EHFQ5DJQ20dQ25chQ3Edo |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Blunt Talk About Iraq at Army School |first=Elisabeth |last=Bumiller |date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=May 1, 2010 |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630202720/https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/enter-email?response_type=cookie&client_id=lgcl&redirect_uri=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.nytimes.com%252F2007%252F10%252F13%252Fus%252F13cnd-army.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Throughout his tenure, Rumsfeld sought to remind the American people of the 9/11 attacks and threats against Americans, noting at one time in a 2006 memo to "[m]ake the American people realize they are surrounded in the world by violent extremists".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=MCJYFVHYHCMGNQFIQMGSFGGAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2007/11/02/wgulf402.xml |title=Rumsfeld 'kept up fear of terror attacks' |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=March 11, 2007 |location=London |first=Boris |last=Johnson |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116052736/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml%3Bjsessionid%3DMCJYFVHYHCMGNQFIQMGSFGGAVCBQWIV0?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F11%2F02%2Fwgulf402.xml}}</ref><ref name="FromDesk" /> According to a report by ''[[The Guardian]]'', Rumsfeld was allegedly including [[Bible|biblical]] quotes in top secret briefing papers to appeal George W Bush, known for his devout religious beliefs, to invade Iraq as more like "holy war" or "a religious crusade" against Muslims.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/rumsfeld-gq-iraq-bible-quotes-bush Iraq war briefings headlined with biblical quotes, reports US magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321064920/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/rumsfeld-gq-iraq-bible-quotes-bush |date=March 21, 2020 }} ''The Guardian''</ref>

In a September 2007 interview with ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', General [[Mike Jackson (British Army officer)|Mike Jackson]], the head of the [[British army]] during the invasion, criticized Rumsfeld's plans for the invasion of Iraq as "intellectually bankrupt", adding that Rumsfeld is "one of those most responsible for the current situation in Iraq", and that he felt that "the US approach to combating global terrorism is 'inadequate' and too focused on military might rather than [[nation building]] and diplomacy."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/01/wirq601.xml |author1=Robert Watts |author2=Tim Shipman |title=Gen Sir Mike Jackson's attack draws US ire |work=[[The Sunday Telegraph]] |date=September 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017092732/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F09%2F01%2Fwirq601.xml |archive-date=October 17, 2007 |location=London |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In December 2004, Rumsfeld was heavily criticized for using a [[Autopen|signing machine]] instead of personally signing over 1000 letters of condolence to the families of soldiers killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. He promised to personally sign all letters in the future.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/rumsfeld-to-personally-sign-all-condolence-letters-1.27255|title=Rumsfeld to personally sign all condolence letters|date=December 17, 2004|work=Stars and Stripes|access-date=October 20, 2017|archive-date=October 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021005411/https://www.stripes.com/news/rumsfeld-to-personally-sign-all-condolence-letters-1.27255|url-status=live}}</ref>