State of Denial

I'm now reading Bob Woodward's new book, State of Denial. I like it: it is easier to read that some others of his books, which I don't think he actually wrote. The narrative of this book flows better; you can tell he's a journalist. Here are two excerpts:

1. "Later I asked Rumsfeld about Clark. 'Terrific guy,' he said. But the question of Clark becoming chairman was apparently a touchy subject, because when I said that I understood General Shelton had recommended Clark, Rumsfeld said, 'I don't know that.'

We then got into a verbal wrestling match.

'You don't believe he made that --' I began.

'I didn't say I believed it or didn't believe it,' Rumsfeld said. 'I said I don't know that. I'm very precise. If you say something that I don't remember, I'm not going to say it's wrong and I'm not going to say it's right. I'm going to say I don't know that.'

'Okay.'

'And I don't,' he said.

'You don't recall, so you --'

'I don't recall it,' he finally said, answering the question. Of Clark he said, 'He didn't seem to want it. He was very engaged in the Navy, doing a terrific job, and I didn't have the feeling that he was leaning forward, anxious to do that.' Clark was high on his list and the president knew that, he said, 'but I kind of like someone who wants to do something, because these are tough jobs and you take a lot of stuff. And it strikes me that someone needs to be leaning forward and wants to do it. And I had the sense that maybe Vern didn't' " (Woodward, 2006, p. 68).

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2. "Myers got along with Rumsfeld, but they had several heated exchanges. He believed that Rumsfeld overstated to make his points" (p. 71).

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Me again: okay, how does someone who describes himself as 'very precise' not know the real definition of "anxious"? And who describes himself as "very" precise? Isn't it good enough just to be "precise"?

Rumsfeld is an arrogant, incompetent prick who thought he knew better than our professional military leaders who actually have experience. The one good thing I can say is that at least he served in the military, unlike most of the cowards in the current administration.