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Donald Rumsfeld death latest – Ex-Defense Secretary and ally of Dick Cheney dies of multiple myeloma at New Mexico home
FORMER Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has died of multiple myeloma at age 88.
Rumsfeld was at his home in New Mexico.
His family released a statement that read: "It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Donald Rumsfeld, an American statesman and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
"History may remember him for his extraordinary accomplishments over six decades of public service, but for those who knew him best and whose lives were forever changed as a result, we will remember his unwavering love for his wife Joyce, his family and friends, and the integrity he brought to a life dedicated to country."
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- Katie Balevic
RUMSFELD SURVIVED BY WIFE
The late Donald Rumsfeld leaves behind his wife, Joyce.
Credit: Getty - Katie Balevic
RUMSFELD 'REGRETTED' NOT LEAVING OFFICE SOONER
But Rumsfeld insisted that if senior military officers had reservations about the size of the invading force, they never informed him.
In a lengthy section on the administration’s treatment of wartime detainees, Rumsfeld said he regretted not leaving office in May 2004, after the Abu Ghraib prison scandal erupted.
"Looking back, I see there are things the administration could have done differently and better with respect to wartime detention," Rumsfeld acknowledged.
- Katie Balevic
RUMSFELD CRITICIZED PRESIDENT BUSH
He suggested that Bush was at fault for not doing more to resolve disagreements among senior advisers.
Bush "did not always receive, and may not have insisted on, a timely consideration of his options before he made a decision, nor did he always receive effective implementation of the decisions he made," Rumsfeld wrote.
Addressing charges that he failed to provide enough troops for the Iraq war, the former defense chief wrote: "In retrospect, there may have been times when more troops could have helped."
- Katie Balevic
RUMSFLED PEGGED MISSTEPS IN WAR ON INCOHERENT DECISIONS
Speaking out for the first time since leaving office, Rumsfeld offered a vigorous explanation of his own thoughts and actions about the war and is making available on his website many previously classified or private documents.
Much of Rumsfeld’s explanation of what went wrong in the crucial first year of the occupation of Iraq stems from a pre-war failure to manage the post-war political transition when the State Department and Pentagon held vastly different views.
Rumsfeld depicted Bush as presiding over a national security process that was marked by incoherent decision-making and policy drift, a detriment to the war effort.
- Katie Balevic
RUMSFELD REMEMBERED BY COLLEAGUES AS 'COMBATIVE'
Regarded by former colleagues as equally smart and combative, patriotic and politically cunning, Rumsfeld had a storied career under four presidents and nearly a quarter-century in corporate America.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld smiled while flanked by US President George W. BushCredit: Getty - Katie Balevic
RUMSFELD FAMILY STATEMENT
"It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Donald Rumsfeld, an American statesman and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather," it read.
"History may remember him for his extraordinary accomplishments over six decades of public service, but for those who knew him best and whose lives were forever changed as a result, we will remember his unwavering love for his wife Joyce, his family and friends, and the integrity he brought to a life dedicated to country."
- Katie Balevic
RUMSFELD DIED 'SURROUNDED BY FAMILY'
A statement from his family confirmed the tragic news on Wednesday afternoon, adding that he died "surrounded by family" in Taos, New Mexico.
Credit: AP:Associated Press - Katie Balevic
REPUBLICAN CHUCK GRASSLEY REMEMBERS RUMSFELD FONDLY
The Iowa senator issued a warm statement in honor of Rumsfeld on Twitter.
"He was an outstanding public servant & fierce defender of America," Grassley said.
- Katie Balevic
RUMSFELD REMEMBERED FOR INVADING IRAQ
Donald Rumsfeld is being remembered on Twitter for invading Iraq, despite the administration never actually finding the weapons of mass destruction that they claimed were a threat.
“We know they have weapons of mass destruction. We know they have active programs. There isn’t any debate about it," Rumsfeld said at the time.
- Katie Balevic
AP NEWS FACES BACKLASH FOR RUMSFELD HEADLINE
The AP News is facing backlash for a headline that reads, "Donald Rumsfeld, a cunning leader undermined by Iraq war."
"Ah yes, that great victim of the Iraq War, Donald Rumsfeld," one person said. "This is an embarrassment @AP, and an insult to hundreds of thousands of innocent victims of this war criminals actions."
"The Hindenburg, a cunning airship undermined by that one time it exploded and killed everyone," another said sarcastically.
"Donald Rumsfeld, a cunning leader undermined by his own bad decisions and leadership," another added.
- Katie Balevic
TEEN VOGUE LABLES RUMSFELD 'ACCUSED WAR CRIMINAL'
Teen Vogue published a story titled: "Donald Rumsfeld, Former Defense Secretary and Accused War Criminal, Dead at 88".
"Rumsfeld is considered an architect of the U.S. invasions in Afghanistan and Iraq," the article reads.
- Katie Balevic
BUSH SECRETARY OF STATE HONORS LATE RUMSFELD
Condoleezza Rice, former President George W. Bush's Secretary of State, honored the late Donald Rumsfeld in a tweet.
- Julia Fields
WHEN DID BUSH FIRE RUMSFELD?
Bush fired Rumsfeld in 2006, following thousands of deaths of US troops as well as Iraqi and Afghani civilians.
- Julia Fields
KEY DECISION MAKER IN IRAQ WAR
Rumsfeld was working in the White House during 9/11 and it's aftermath. He oversaw Pentagon’s response and its initial attack on al-Qaida bases in Afghanistan.
From there, he became a key decision maker during the Iraq War, turning the Pentagon’s attention to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2002.
In 2003, forces invaded Iraq to prevent Hussein from launching attacks with weapons of mass destruction.
This prompted a guerrilla war in the country after none were found.
- Julia Fields
'A KNOWN UNKNOWN'
- Julia Fields
CNN ANCHOR TWEETS RUMSFELD QUOTE
- Julia Fields
FORMER PRESS SECRETARY REMEMBERS RUMSFELD
- Julia Fields
RUMSFELD OVERSAW REACTION TO 9/11
Rumsfeld oversaw Bush's reaction to the 9/11 attacks which involved the war on al-Qaida in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq under Saddam Hussein.
- Julia Fields
OTHER POSITIONS ROMSFELD HELD
In addition to serving as Secretary of Defense under two presidents, he also served as Ford's White House Chief of Staff and an ambassador to NATO under both Ford and President Richard Nixon.
- Julia Fields
FAMOUS 'WHAT WE KNOW' QUOTE
Rumsfeld was widely known for this response to a question about Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction in 2002.
"As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don't know we don't know."
- Julia Fields
RUMSFELD OVERSAW AFGHANISTAN INVASION
In 2001 he began his second tour as Pentagon chief under President George W. Bush, but his plan to “transform” the armed forces was overshadowed by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
He oversaw the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, where he was blamed for setbacks including the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal and for being slow to recognize a violent insurgency.
- Julia Fields
WHAT POLITICAL PARTY DID RUMSFELD BELONG TO?
Donald Rumsfeld was a registered member of the Republican Party.
- Julia Fields
OLDEST AND YOUNGEST DEFENSE SECRETARY
Rumsfeld is both the oldest youngest and oldest defense secretary to ever serve.
He first took the office at 43 years old.
- Julia Fields
WHO DID RUMSFELD SERVE UNDER?
Rumsfeld served as Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under Gerald Ford, and again from January 2001 to December 2006 under George W. Bush.
- Julia Fields
PIERS MORGAN TWEETS FOR RUMSFELD
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