RUMSFELD TALKS TOUGH ON IRAQ AT REAGAN LIBRARY BRIEFING TERRORISM, CUBA ALSO ON PROGRAM.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer Despite a difficult week of bloodshed in Iraq and political fallout back home, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld found a proud and supportive audience Friday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Center for Public Affairs and Museum. Rumsfeld made no mention of reports that President George W. Bush was looking to replace him, or that the administration's new plans for stabilizing Iraq were apparently drawn up without his input. Addressing a crowd of more than 500, he drew broad comparisons between the freedoms Reagan helped gain for the former Soviet Union and its Eastern-bloc neighbors, and those Bush hopes to secure in the war on terrorism Terrorist acts and the threat of Terrorism have occupied the various law enforcement agencies in the U.S. government for many years. The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, as amended by the usa patriot act . ``(Reagan) had a way of getting people's eyes up off their shoelaces and off to the horizon. ... It was that leadership that elevated all of us and changed the world,'' he said during remarks at the library's Center for Public Affairs Those public information, command information, and community relations activities directed toward both the external and internal publics with interest in the Department of Defense. Also called PA. See also command information; community relations; public information. . ``Today, as we fight the global war on terrorism, our goal is to leave the world freer and safer than we found it, just as President Reagan did.'' But he stressed that the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. can't simply ``hunker hun·ker intr.v. hun·kered, hun·ker·ing, hun·kers 1. To squat close to the ground; crouch. Usually used with down: hunkered down to avoid the icy wind. 2. down'' and protect itself from attacks at home. ``It is not humanly possible to defend every place, every time,'' he said in response to an audience member's question about America's borders. ``I am convinced President Bush is right. The way to deal is to go after them where they are and don't think we can hunker down here and defend against every one of them.'' The noontime noon·time n. See noon. talk drew former first lady Nancy Reagan, former California Gov. Pete Wilson and those who paid $50 to hear what what some characterized as straight talk on Iraq. During the Q&A session, the secretary took about 10 questions and showed the wit for which he has become well known. ``It's nice to hear more of the story, the full story,'' said Miriam Baum of Agoura Hills, who attended with her husband, Larry. ``The whole thing with Iraq is going to be long-term. It's not going to be an overnight success.'' Canoga Park resident Robert Wallace, who attended with his wife, Judy, said Rumsfeld exuded the confidence he was looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. to show the country's headed in the right direction. ``That, in turn, makes citizens like myself, my wife, feel better,'' said Wallace. ``I had a whole different take after the speech.'' As for reports that Bush might dismiss Rumsfeld if the president wins a second term, Larry Baum called it pre-election politics. ``I personally think Rumsfeld is the kind of guy you want,'' he said. ``I want Rumsfeld in there if he comes back.'' The audience questioned the secretary on a range of items - from getting out more positive information on Iraq to events in Cuba. One man asked why - if the government was as powerful as right-wing conspiracy theorists suggest - the administration didn't simply plant the missing weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or . The crowd chuckled. ``Oh, my, kind of nice to be out of Washington,'' Rumsfeld quipped. But one woman asked Rumsfeld what was his biggest surprise in Iraq. ``The thing that probably surprised me the most was the ability of the so-called fedayeen fe·da·yee n. pl. fe·da·yeen A commando or guerrilla, especially an Arab commando operating in the Middle East. [Arabic fid , Saddam's people,'' to terrorize ter·ror·ize tr.v. ter·ror·ized, ter·ror·iz·ing, ter·ror·iz·es 1. To fill or overpower with terror; terrify. 2. To coerce by intimidation or fear. See Synonyms at frighten. the people ``and cause them not to come over to the other side,'' he said. ``They used all the tricks of the trade.'' Lisa Mascaro, (818) 713-3761 lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld answers questions during a talk at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Friday in Simi Valley. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion