corrente

So now, unindicted felon (back) Rumsfeld can actually sign the condolence letters to the soldiers he and his boss killed in their war of choice:

In a statement provided to Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper, Rumsfeld said: "I wrote and approved the now more than 1,000 letters sent to family members and next of kin of each of the servicemen and women killed in military action. While I have not individually signed each one, in the interest of ensuring expeditious contact with grieving family members, I have directed that in the future I sign each letter."

"Expeditious contact with grieving family members..." I love it! And call me crazy, but it seems to me one way to really expedite the process would be not to have so many letters to sign.... So get off the pot and get these guys the armor they keep asking for, Rummy!

The controversy arose when soldier-turned-writer David H. Hackworth penned a column on Nov. 22 reporting that two Pentagon-based colonels told him that Rumsfeld "has relinquished this sacred duty to a signature device rather than signing the sad documents himself." After checking with various families of the dead, Hackworth wrote that "one father bitterly commented that he thought it was a shame that the SecDef could keep his squash schedule but not find the time to sign his dead son's letter."

Hackworth wrote that a Pentagon spokesman, Jim Turner, dutifully told him that "Rumsfeld signs the letters himself." Now, that assertion turns out to be inoperative.

Film at 11...

Stars and Stripes quoted families of the dead saying they were insulted that Rumsfeld did not sign the letters himself. They also said they were suspicious about the signature on similar letters they received from President Bush, but a White House spokesman said Bush does put pen to paper himself.
(via WaPo)

Right. And a White House statement becomes inoperative when Hell freezes over. Poor Rummy. He's starting to look expendable. I wonder if he has a nanny?