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It's
time for Rumsfeld to follow his own advice.
During Vietnam, Rumsfeld Criticized Administration For “Credibility Gap”
06/27/05 "Think
Progress" - - It wasn’t all that long ago when a
young conservative congressman from Illinois named Donald Rumsfeld
spoke eloquently on the floor of the House of Representatives
during the Vietnam War about the need for the Johnson
administration to speak more truthfully about that conflict.
A 1966 article in the Chicago Tribune quoted Rumsfeld as
saying the following: “The administration should
clarify its intent in Viet Nam,’ he said. ‘People lack
confidence in the credibility of our government.’ Even our
allies are beginning to suspect what we say, he charged.
‘It’s a difficult thing today to be informed about our
government even without all the secrecy,’ he said.
‘With the secrecy, it’s impossible. The American people will
do what’s right when they have the information they need.”
[Chicago Tribune, 4/13/66]
Rusmfeld entered into the Congressional Record an article
from the Chicago Sun-Times entitled “Why U.S. Viet Policy
Lacks Friends—Our Credibility Destroyed” Rumsfeld stated:
“I do, however, believe it is important to the future
of our Nation to recognize that there is a problem of
credibility today.” [Congressional Record, 89th Cong.
Pg. A1454, 3/15/66; Chicago Sun-Times, 12/5/65]
In entering a New York Times editorial into the Congressional
Record, Rumsfeld said, “I believe the following significant
and timely editorial which appeared in today’s issue of the
New York Times and which discusses our involvement in Vietnam
merits wide attention. I concur in the conclusion expressed
therein that the people of the United States must know
not only how their country became involved but where we are
heading.” [Congressional Record, 89th Cong. Pg.
21081, 8/19/65; New York Times, 8/19/65]
Rumsfeld said the following in a speech on the House floor:
“Accurate judgment is predicated on accurate information. Government
has an obligation to present information to the public promptly
and accurately so that the public’s evaluation of Government
activities is not distorted. Political pundits speak of
the ‘credibility gap’ in the present administration. Indeed,
this appellation is so widespread that it has become a household
word.” [Congressional Record, 90th Cong. pg A792, 2/21/67]
Don’t look now Rumsfeld, but “credibility gap” is
becoming a household word again, and it’s directly related to
your actions.
Gen. Barry McCaffrey (Ret.), U.S. Army: “People are
skeptical of what they’re hearing out of the Pentagon. I think
Secretary Rumsfeld’s credibility has been damaged by serious
misjudgments.” [MSNBC, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, 6/23/05]
“Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said it was obvious why public
opinion polls were down. ‘We have a credibility gap here with
the American people,’ he said.” [AP, 6/24/05]
Headline: “Bush’s Credibility Takes a Direct Hit From
Friendly Fire” [LAT, 6/26/05]
Headline: “Bush’s Credibility on Iraq Undercut by
Violence, Slow Progress” [Bloomberg, 6/27/05]
It’s time for Rumsfeld to follow his own advice.
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