America_NP0 's_POS worst_AJS secretary_NN1 of_PRF defense_NN1 never_AV0 expressed_VVD a_AT0 quiver_NN1 of_PRF regret_NN1 ._SENT 
The_AT0 two_CRD aides_NN2 wanted_VVD to_TO0 know_VVI what_DTQ had_VHD gone_VVN wrong_AJ0 ._SENT They_PNP were_VBD particularly_AV0 interested_AJ0 in_PRP my_DPS view_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 secretary_NN1 of_PRF defense_NN1 ,_PUN Donald_NP0 Rumsfeld_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC his_DPS role_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 debacle_NN1 ._SENT As_CJS I_PNP gave_VVD an_AT0 assessment_NN1 ,_PUN their_DPS faces_NN2 actually_AV0 seemed_VVD to_TO0 sag_VVI toward_PRP their_DPS salads_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC I_PNP wondered_VVD whether_CJS the_AT0 White_AJ0 House_NN1 was_VBD so_AV0 isolated_VVN from_PRP Iraqi_AJ0 reality_NN1 that_CJT top_AJ0 aides_NN2 never_AV0 heard_VVD such_DT0 things_NN2 directly_AV0 ._SENT Lunch_NN1 ended_VVD with_PRP no_AT0 explanation_NN1 for_PRP why_AVQ they_PNP 'd_VHD invited_VVN me_PNP ._SENT But_CJC a_AT0 few_DT0 months_NN2 later_AV0 ,_PUN when_CJS the_AT0 Bush_NP0 administration_NN1 announced_VVD Rumsfeld_NP0 's_POS retirement_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP suspected_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 aides_NN2 had_VHD been_VBN gathering_VVG a_AT0 case_NN1 against_PRP him_PNP ._SENT They_PNP had_VHD been_VBN trying_VVG to_TO0 push_VVI him_PNP out_AVP before_CJS it_PNP was_VBD too_AV0 late_AJ0 ._SENT 
Rumsfeld_NP0 was_VBD the_AT0 worst_AJS secretary_NN1 of_PRF defense_NN1 in_PRP American_AJ0 history_NN1 ._SENT Being_VBG newly_AV0 dead_AJ0 should_VM0 n't_XX0 spare_VVI him_PNP this_DT0 distinction_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP was_VBD worse_AJC than_CJS the_AT0 closest_AJS contender_NN1 ,_PUN Robert_NP0 McNamara_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC that_DT0 is_VBZ not_XX0 a_AT0 competition_NN1 to_TO0 judge_VVI lightly_AV0 ._SENT McNamara_NP0 's_POS folly_NN1 was_VBD that_DT0 of_PRF a_AT0 whole_AJ0 generation_NN1 of_PRF Cold_AJ0 Warriors_NN2 who_PNQ believed_VVD that_CJT Indochina_NP0 was_VBD a_AT0 vital_AJ0 front_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 struggle_NN1 against_PRP communism_NN1 ._SENT His_DPS growing_AJ0 realization_NN1 that_CJT the_AT0 Vietnam_NP0 War_NN1 was_VBD an_AT0 unwinnable_AJ0 waste_NN1 made_VVD him_PNP more_AV0 insightful_AJ0 than_CJS some_DT0 of_PRF his_DPS peers_NN2 ;_PUN his_DPS decision_NN1 to_TO0 keep_VVI this_DT0 realization_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 American_AJ0 public_NN1 made_VVD him_PNP an_AT0 unforgivable_AJ0 coward_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC Rumsfeld_NP0 was_VBD the_AT0 chief_AJ0 advocate_NN1 of_PRF every_AT0 disaster_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 years_NN2 after_PRP September_NP0 11._CRD Wherever_AVQ the_AT0 United_NP0 States_NP0 government_NN1 contemplated_VVD a_AT0 wrong_AJ0 turn_NN1 ,_PUN Rumsfeld_NP0 was_VBD there_AV0 first_ORD with_PRP his_DPS hard_AJ0 smile_NN1 –_PUN squinting_VVG ,_PUN mocking_VVG the_AT0 cautious_AJ0 ,_PUN shoving_VVG his_DPS country_NN1 deeper_AV0 into_PRP a_AT0 hole_NN1 ._SENT His_DPS fatal_AJ0 judgment_NN1 was_VBD equaled_VVN only_AV0 by_PRP his_DPS absolute_AJ0 self-assurance_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP lacked_VVD the_AT0 courage_NN1 to_TO0 doubt_VVI himself_PNX ._SENT He_PNP lacked_VVD the_AT0 wisdom_NN1 to_TO0 change_VVI his_DPS mind_NN1 ._SENT 
Rumsfeld_NP0 was_VBD working_VVG in_PRP his_DPS office_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 morning_NN1 that_CJT a_AT0 hijacked_AJ0 jet_NN1 flew_VVD into_PRP the_AT0 Pentagon_NN1 ._SENT During_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD minutes_NN2 of_PRF terror_NN1 ,_PUN he_PNP displayed_VVD bravery_NN1 and_CJC leadership_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC within_PRP a_AT0 few_DT0 hours_NN2 ,_PUN he_PNP was_VBD already_AV0 entertaining_AJ0 catastrophic_AJ0 ideas_NN2 ,_PUN according_VVG to_PRP notes_NN2 taken_VVN by_PRP an_AT0 aide_NN1 :_PUN "_PUQ best_AJS info_NN1 fast_AV0 ._SENT Judge_VVB whether_CJS good_AJ0 enough_AV0 [_PUL to_PRP ]_PUR hit_VVD S.H._NP0 [_PUL Saddam_NP0 Hussein_NP0 ]_PUR @_PRP same_DT0 time_NN1 ._SENT Not_XX0 only_AV0 UBL_AJ0 [_PUL Osama_NP0 bin_NN1 Laden_VVN ]_PUR ._SENT "_PUQ And_CJC later_AV0 :_PUN "_PUQ Go_VVB massive_AJ0 ._SENT Sweep_VVB it_PNP all_DT0 up_AVP ._SENT Things_NN2 related_VVN and_CJC not_XX0 ._SENT "_PUQ These_DT0 fragments_NN2 convey_VVB the_AT0 whole_NN1 of_PRF Rumsfeld_NP0 :_PUN his_DPS decisiveness_NN1 ,_PUN his_DPS aggression_NN1 ,_PUN his_DPS faith_NN1 in_PRP hard_AJ0 power_NN1 ,_PUN his_DPS contempt_NN1 for_PRP procedure_NN1 ._SENT In_PRP the_AT0 end_NN1 ,_PUN it_PNP did_VDD n't_XX0 matter_VVI what_DTQ the_AT0 intelligence_NN1 said_VVD ._SENT September_NP0 11_CRD was_VBD a_AT0 test_NN1 of_PRF American_AJ0 will_NN1 and_CJC a_AT0 chance_NN1 to_TO0 show_VVI it_PNP ._SENT 
Rumsfeld_NP0 started_VVD being_VBG wrong_AJ0 within_PRP hours_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 attacks_NN2 and_CJC never_AV0 stopped_VVN ._SENT He_PNP argued_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 attacks_NN2 proved_VVD the_AT0 need_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 missile-defense_AJ0 shield_NN1 that_CJT he_PNP 'd_VHD long_AV0 advocated_VVN ._SENT He_PNP thought_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 American_AJ0 war_NN1 in_PRP Afghanistan_NP0 meant_VVD the_AT0 end_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Taliban_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP thought_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 new_AJ0 Afghan_AJ0 government_NN1 did_VDD n't_XX0 need_VVI the_AT0 U.S._NP0 to_TO0 stick_VVI around_AVP for_PRP security_NN1 and_CJC support_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP thought_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 United_NP0 States_NP0 should_VM0 stiff_AV0 the_AT0 United_AJ0 Nations_NN2 ,_PUN brush_VVB off_AVP allies_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC go_VVB it_PNP alone_AV0 ._SENT He_PNP insisted_VVD that_CJT al-Qaeda_NP0 could_VM0 n't_XX0 operate_VVI without_PRP a_AT0 strongman_NN1 like_PRP Saddam_NP0 ._SENT He_PNP thought_VVD that_CJT all_DT0 the_AT0 intelligence_NN1 on_PRP Iraqi_AJ0 weapons_NN2 of_PRF mass_AJ0 destruction_NN1 was_VBD wrong_AJ0 ,_PUN except_CJS the_AT0 dire_AJ0 reports_NN2 that_CJT he_PNP 'd_VHD ordered_VVN up_AVP himself_PNX ._SENT He_PNP reserved_VVD his_DPS greatest_AJS confidence_NN1 for_PRP intelligence_NN1 obtained_VVN through_PRP torture_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP thought_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 State_NN1 Department_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 CIA_NP0 were_VBD full_AJ0 of_PRF timorous_AJ0 ,_PUN ignorant_AJ0 bureaucrats_NN2 ._SENT He_PNP thought_VVD that_CJT America_NP0 could_VM0 win_VVI wars_NN2 with_PRP computerized_AJ0 weaponry_NN1 and_CJC awesome_AJ0 displays_NN2 of_PRF force_NN1 ._SENT 
He_PNP believed_VVD in_PRP regime_NN1 change_NN1 but_CJC not_XX0 in_PRP nation_NN1 building_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC he_PNP thought_VVD that_CJT a_AT0 few_DT0 tens_CRD of_PRF thousands_CRD of_PRF troops_NN2 would_VM0 be_VBI enough_AV0 to_TO0 win_VVI in_PRP Iraq_NP0 ._SENT He_PNP thought_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 quick_AJ0 overthrow_NN1 of_PRF Saddam_NP0 's_POS regime_NN1 meant_VVD mission_NN1 accomplished_AJ0 ._SENT He_PNP responded_VVD to_PRP the_AT0 looting_NN1 of_PRF Baghdad_NP0 by_PRP saying_VVG "_PUQ Freedom_NN1 's_VBZ untidy_AJ0 ,_PUN "_PUQ as_CJS if_CJS the_AT0 chaos_NN1 was_VBD just_AV0 a_AT0 giddy_AJ0 display_NN1 of_PRF democracy_NN1 –_PUN as_CJS if_CJS it_PNP would_VM0 not_XX0 devastate_VVI Iraq_NP0 and_CJC become_VVB America_NP0 's_POS problem_NN1 ,_PUN too_AV0 ._SENT He_PNP believed_VVD that_CJT Iraq_NP0 should_VM0 be_VBI led_VVN by_PRP a_AT0 corrupt_AJ0 London_NP0 banker_NN1 with_PRP a_AT0 history_NN1 of_PRF deceiving_VVG the_AT0 U.S._NP0 government_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP faxed_VVD pages_NN2 from_PRP a_AT0 biography_NN1 of_PRF Che_NP0 Guevara_NP0 to_PRP a_AT0 U.S._NP0 Army_NN1 officer_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 region_NN1 to_TO0 prove_VVI that_CJT the_AT0 growing_AJ0 Iraqi_AJ0 resistance_NN1 did_VDD not_XX0 meet_VVI the_AT0 definition_NN1 of_PRF an_AT0 insurgency_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP dismissed_VVD the_AT0 insurgents_NN2 as_CJS "_PUQ dead-enders_NN2 "_PUQ and_CJC humiliated_VVD a_AT0 top_AJ0 general_NN1 who_PNQ dared_VVD to_TO0 call_VVI them_PNP by_PRP their_DPS true_AJ0 name_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP insisted_VVD on_PRP keeping_VVG the_AT0 number_NN1 of_PRF U.S._NP0 troops_NN2 in_PRP Iraq_NP0 so_AV0 low_AJ0 that_CJT much_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 country_NN1 soon_AV0 fell_VVD to_PRP the_AT0 insurgency_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP focused_VVD his_DPS best_AJS effort_NN1 on_PRP winning_VVG bureaucratic_AJ0 wars_NN2 in_PRP Washington_NP0 ._SENT 
By_PRP the_AT0 time_NN1 Rumsfeld_NP0 was_VBD fired_VVN ,_PUN in_PRP November_NP0 2006_CRD ,_PUN the_AT0 U.S._NP0 ,_PUN instead_AV0 of_PRF securing_VVG peace_NN1 in_PRP one_CRD country_NN1 ,_PUN was_VBD losing_VVG wars_NN2 in_PRP two_CRD ,_PUN largely_AV0 because_CJS of_PRF actions_NN2 and_CJC decisions_NN2 taken_VVN by_PRP Rumsfeld_NP0 himself_PNX ._SENT As_CJS soon_AV0 as_CJS he_PNP was_VBD gone_VVN ,_PUN the_AT0 disaster_NN1 in_PRP Iraq_NP0 began_VVD to_TO0 turn_VVI around_AVP ,_PUN at_PRP least_AV0 briefly_AV0 ,_PUN with_PRP a_AT0 surge_NN1 of_PRF 30_CRD ,_PUN 000_CRD troops_NN2 ,_PUN a_AT0 policy_NN1 change_NN1 that_CJT Rumsfeld_NP0 had_VHD adamantly_AV0 opposed_VVN ._SENT But_CJC it_PNP was_VBD too_AV0 late_AJ0 ._SENT Perhaps_AV0 it_PNP was_VBD too_AV0 late_AJ0 by_PRP the_AT0 early_AJ0 afternoon_NN1 of_PRF September_NP0 11._CRD 
Rumsfeld_NP0 had_VHD intelligence_NN1 ,_PUN wit_NN1 ,_PUN dash_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC endless_AJ0 faith_NN1 in_PRP himself_PNX ._SENT Unlike_PRP McNamara_NP0 ,_PUN he_PNP never_AV0 expressed_VVD a_AT0 quiver_NN1 of_PRF regret_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP must_VM0 have_VHI died_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 secure_AJ0 knowledge_NN1 that_CJT he_PNP had_VHD been_VBN right_AV0 all_DT0 along_AVP ._SENT 
