Slice-o-Life: Newsweek howls at Donald Rumsfeld

Slice-o-Life: Newsweek howls at Donald Rumsfeld
by Mike Madias, Clinical Sociologist and Columnist

September 3, 2002

Columnist Mike Madias The September 2 Newsweek runs this story: "The Battle For The President’s Soul - Hawks, Doves and Dubya - To move forward on Iraq, the president must first end the war between his troops."

The story starts with a nasty slant right in the headline. Newsweek is owned by The Washington Post. It is logical to conclude that if this story has a bias, it will be in the direction of supporting the opinions of the editorial board of the publication. The editors and publishers are responsible for the veracity of the story and the way it is conveyed, it’s rhetorical feint.

A publication may and should have an editorial position on important matters. It should have values. If it has a disagreement with the way things are, it should express it’s case. In that this is a republic where the freedom of the press is protected, Newsweek certainly may throw a cheap shot, and an ad hominem attack, and call it news reporting.

But I wish that they would not do that type of writing and call it hard news. I think it is lazy, and does dishonor to the profession.

Here is the essence of the Newsweek story. President Bush met with many cabinet level officers at his ranch in Crawford Texas. Secretary of State Colin Powell was not there.

The rest of the story expresses a Newsweek reporter’s observations that there are a variety positions, amongst people of responsibility in the government, as to how the US should relate to other nations.

The remainder of the story discusses trivial matters, such as the weather in Crawford, the condition of livestock, and the president’s choice of attire.

The rest of the Newsweek article consists of a series of opinions about other people’s opinions about the influence of the opinions of the secretary of defense on the president’s opinions about how this government should conduct foreign policy.

And the ad hominem attacks on the secretary of defense:

- "And there standing next to Bush, squinty-eyed and square-jawed, was the nation’s hawk-in-chief, Donald Rumsfeld (pictured, top right), barely sweating in a gray business suit (Bush was in sportswear)."

- "Rumsfeld has become — "the big stud in town," as one Washington official describes him, famed for his frank talk at the podium about killing Al-Qaeda in an imperious but jocular manner."

- "Even some White House press aides are said to study Rumsfeld’s briefing transcripts for tips. So rampant is Rummy worship at the White House that one insider says, "I think they’re kind of afraid of him."

- "They complain that the GOP’s old policy of moderate ‘internationalism’ has been trashed by an influential cabal of superhawks who are a little too eager to assert America’s vast power, unconcerned by the qualms of its longtime allies."

Newsweek is not expressing criticism of certain foreign policy options, as much as it is attacking Donald Rumsfeld.

There was a meeting on the Bush ranch with the best minds of Bush Administration -- and there was Donald Rumsfeld:

-- who is a squinty eyed excuse of a human being, so cold he would not sweat in the heat;

-- who wears clothes that are dressier than his boss;

-- who can talk about killing and joke about it at the same time;

-- who scares his associates;

-- who is part of an influential cabal of superhawks;

-- who is trashing a moderate foreign policy with his eagerness to assert America’s military power.

In my humble opinion, Newsweek does not think highly of Rumsfeld. Why? Because Newsweek does not like his personality?

Joseph Goebbels is said to have been friendly to children in the Hitler Youth and he was kind to small domestic animals.

The point is this, it really doesn’t matter how warm and/or fuzzy the secretary of defense, might be. If some PBS avuncular guy in a cardigan sweater were in his place, the country might still take the wrong path. We need someone who is ethical and competent at the top of the defense department. If Newsweek had uncovered evidence that showed that Rumsfeld was incompetent or unethical, then this is actual news. It is actual reporting.

Otherwise, it is drivel. ***

Photo of Mike Madias courtesy of the author
Photo of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld courtesy of Reuters

A clinical sociologist living in the Metropolitan Detroit area, Mike's work has appeared in The Detroit News. He may be reached by e-mail at News4629@aol.com.