Here we are at the start of another year, and that means it is time to look back and reevaluate. As a straw in the wind, I came across an e-mail entry of mine dated January 24th, 2003. It concerns that arrogant know-it-all and war criminal, Donald Rumsfeld, who was the U.S. Secretary of Defense for G.W. Bush. It will be recorded that Rumsfeld rivaled Dick Cheney, the CEO of the Bush Administration, for the important title of being the biggest "useful idiot" and frontman for the Neocons.  The top two Neocons in the country worked directly under Rumsfeld at the Pentagon. As you no doubt recall, these were Professor PaulWolfowitz and Douglas Feith, Esq., both of whom have performed a disappearing act, as well they should. My e-mail is commenting upon an article in the English newspaper, The Telegraph, entitled "French give Rumsfeld Cambronne Treatment". Here it is, along with The Telegraph article...

January 24th, 2003

Friends,

 

I love it. General Pierre Cambronne was Napoleon's rough-and-tumble advance man. He made possible the amazing escape from Elba and the march back to Paris. Always in the thick of it. He would rather bleed to death than surrender. “La garde meurt et ne se rend pas!” He commanded the Old Guard in the battle of Waterloo. 

Herewith we have Rumsfeld demonstrating American arrogance and presumption at its worst. No doubt about it, the power of these "Bushmen" has gone to their heads. The irony, of course, is that they are such nincompoops to begin with, starting with Bush Jr. himself. 

It would be most wise for Europe, and in the best interests of the world at large, if European leaders were to detach themselves from Washington and follow a strictly European policy--either as a single unit acting through the EU or individually for each country. The English, unfortunately, are hopeless.

At the moment, Washington regards Europe as a lackey, nothing more. If Europe does not stand up to the would-be dictators in Washington, these dictators  will perform further colossal stupidities unchallenged. There will be no end to American folly.

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The Telegraph (London)

French give Rumsfeld Cambronne treatment

Toby Harnden in Washington and Philip Delves Broughton in Paris

12:01AM GMT 24 Jan 2003

One of the most ill-tempered transatlantic rows in years intensified yesterday when Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, dismissed the leaders of France and Germany as part of an "old Europe".

Paris and Washington traded insults, with one French minister saying he was "profoundly vexed" by America's attitude over European opposition to war with Iraq.

With calculated insouciance, Ari Fleischer, President George W Bush's spokesman, said France and Germany had the "prerogative, if they choose, to be on the sideline", making clear that US forces would go ahead in any event.

French politicians reacted with fury after Mr Rumsfeld, angered by anti-war comments from President Jacques Chirac and Germany's Gerhard Schroeder, dismissed the two allies.

When asked about European opposition, Mr Rumsfeld said: "You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. That's old Europe.

"If you look at the entire Nato Europe today, the centre of gravity is shifting to the east. Germany has been a problem, and France has been a problem. But you look at vast numbers of other countries in Europe. They're not with France and Germany on this, they're with the United States."

Francis Mer, the French finance minister, said: "This mention of the old Europe is very irritating. I would like to remind everyone that this old Europe has spirit and is capable of bouncing back."

Roselyne Bachelot, the environment minister, said Mr Rumsfeld was talking "Cambronne's word". Cambronne was a French general who, when wounded at Waterloo, said simply "merde".

M Chirac called for the Iraq debate to be conducted "seriously and serenely" while Joschka Fischer, the German foreign minister, said Mr Rumsfeld should "cool down" his rhetoric.

Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, was more emollient than Mr Rumsfeld when he appeared at a press conference with Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary.

"I don't think we will have to worry about going it alone," he said. "I am sure it will be a strong coalition. I think France and Germany do understand that the obligation is on Iraq; and if there is any confusion about that, I'm sure we will clear it up."