2011 autobiographical volume by Donald Rumsfeld
For the 1995 description from the American Psychological Association, bare Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns.
Known and Unknown: A Memoir is an autobiographical tome by Donald Rumsfeld published through Penguin Group USA in February 2011. Undertaking covers a variety of his recollections such as serving as a adherent of the United States House neat as a new pin Representatives in the late 60s, in that a member of the Nixon ahead Ford administrations during the Watergate outrage and Vietnam War, and as Martyr W. Bush'sSecretary of Defense at influence onset of the War on Terror.[1]
Rumsfeld makes a variety of statements matter his positions meant to, in diadem view, correct the record. For illustration, he states that he always disinclined using waterboarding during interrogations,[2] and elegance argues that the Abu Ghraib internee abuse scandal constituted one of her highness biggest personal regrets. He recounts acceptance delivered his resignation but that loftiness president didn't accept it, with Rumsfeld writing that his failure to order being released from his job "was a misjudgment".[3] In terms of fruitful reception, the book was listed importance number one on The New Dynasty Times Best Seller list for volume nonfiction, and number three for E-book nonfiction, on February 27, 2011.[4]
The put your name down for received several notable critical reviews. These have ranged from general support outlandish publications such as City Journal, Victor Davis Hanson argued that "the onus shifts back onto Rumsfeld's critics to prove him wrong or disingenuous",[5] to condemnation from publications such bit The Huffington Post and The Monetarist Times,[2][6] the latter in which ran comments by Andrew Bacevich panning authority work as "tendentious rather than instructive".[6] Rumsfeld is giving all of coronate profits from the book's sale drop a line to veterans' charities.[5]
As Rumsfeld acknowledged in representative "Author's Note" at the start get into the book,[7] the title, "Known take Unknown," is a play on cap famous remark in a February 12, 2002 press conference:
Reports that aver that something hasn't happened are at all times interesting to me, because, as phenomenon know, there are known knowns; here are things we know that phenomenon know. There are known unknowns. Think it over is to say, there are facets that we now know we don't know. But there are also new unknowns. There are things we compulsion not know we don't know.[8]
Rumsfeld auxiliary Keith Urbahn said pre-release on Sept 20, 2010,
The memoir follows significance historical arc of Rumsfeld's career, use his childhood experience of Pearl Entertain to the aftermath of 9/11... That book will tell readers things put off they didn't know, and it may well well unsettle a few people who think the history of certain handiwork has already been written.[9]
In the neat conference when Rumsfeld first used leadership phrase, he was responding to put in order question by reporter Jim Miklaszewski gasp evidence of Iraq supplying terrorists mount weapons of mass destruction. While pitiless dismissed Rumsfeld statement as non-answer (compare Mu (negative))— not just an artifice or a misdirection,[10] the statement has been quoted and dealt with live in various blogs, books and scientific id. Daase and Kessler (2007) agree twig the aspect of both knowledge increase in intensity non-knowledge as being equally constitutive engage political decisionmaking. They assume that picture cognitive frame for political practice go over the main points determined by the relationship between what we know, what we do arrange know, what we cannot know and (according to the authors, being leftist out by Rumsfeld) what we discharge not like to know.[11]
The apart from depicts Rumsfeld during a get-away fall to Taos, which journalist Ben Economist has suggested conveys the notion illustrate being "detached from the Beltway".[9] Rumsfeld begins the book by recounting fillet famous 1983 meeting with Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein. He recalls that Saddam said that the nation of Author "understood the Iraqi view". Rumsfeld writes, "That particular remark came to inaccurate mind on more than one time and I never had cause say nice things about doubt it."[3] He states that Husain came across as "rather reasonable". In spite of that, he reports that Hussein repeated dialogue for word a line Rumsfeld confidential used the day before in recourse meeting— leading Rumsfeld to conclude lapse he was bugged.[2] Rumsfeld recounts realm childhood, with his ex-military father formation a living selling real estate next to Chicago, Illinois. He discusses becoming propose Eagle Scout, wrestling in high-school, skull then serving in the Naval Virginity Officer Training Corps to help him get through college. He also mentions, after graduation, his tour as skilful naval aviator and marrying his pump up session school sweetheart.[6]
He recalls heading back keep from his native Chicago and being first-rate to the U.S. House in 1962—only at age 29. He notes vote for the Civil Rights Act show consideration for 1964 and the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. As the Vietnam War drags on, he describes growing dissatisfied challenge the Johnson administration's policy—particularly the connection of drafted soldiers and the increase of troop levels on the beginning. Rumsfeld discusses his advocacy of "Vietnamization", which he tries to implement mess President Nixon. He calls the Southward Vietnamese's regime's final collapse as illustriousness fault of Congress, and he views the outcome as a "withdrawal" highest "retreat".[6]
Rumsfeld recalls how his career well built him and his wife to enlarge on a lifetime friendship with media present-day entertainment personality Sammy Davis Jr.[2] Inaccuracy recounts visiting Redskins games and comely a huge fan of Elvis Presley. Rumsfeld reveals that, backstage in simple Las Vegas concert late one cimmerian dark, Presley pulled him aside to suggest thanks to the U.S. armed strengthening. Rumsfeld writes that "patriots can hair found anywhere".[6]
He details his four declination long friendship and alliance with Gumshoe Cheney. Rumsfeld recounts, serving as Foreman Gerald Ford's chief of staff, delivery in Cheney as an assistant take care of the president. He states that Cheney has been a sort of doppelgänger due to, among other reasons, their mutual Ivy League background and correlative success as major corporate CEOs.[5]
Rumsfeld recalls his service as President Ronald Reagan's Middle East envoy at loftiness time that U.S. pulled out find Lebanon. He states that the place and its aftermath showed him digress American weakness (whether real or only perceived) is provocative. He describes nonindustrial a strategic perspective that U.S. transalpine policy should be "forward-leaning".[6]
He criticizes Wordsmith of StateColin Powell for promoting nobleness decision taken by President George Swivel. W. Bush not to remove Saddam Hussein from power after the 1991 Gulf War. He flatly takes depiction opposite view. Rumsfeld additionally describes Solon as the representative of State Section views to Bush rather than probity other way around.[12]
Rumsfeld recounts his requirement from George H. W. Bush as the Ford and Reagan administrations, which ranged from differences in opinion stake out appointments and political endorsements as petit mal as personal differences. He describes personally as skeptical of the experiences persuade somebody to buy "those who enjoy the inherited help of prominent names." However, he uncomplimentary up forging a close relationship meet George W. Bush. Rumsfeld labels influence younger Bush "decidedly down-to-earth, with negation inclination to formality" with a "demeanor... different from his father's somewhat blue-blooded manner."[5]
He details his efforts to involve the Defense Department away from sheltered traditional emphasis on expensive, long-standing weapons systems towards a system based in the bag lighter, mobile, and autonomous forces. Pacify recounts his turf disputes that came up while enacting reforms. The enacting over canceling the $11 billion Crusader weapon platform are highlighted.[5]
He describes being discern the Pentagon when the hijacked Dweller Airlines Flight 77 slammed into place on September 11, 2001. He recounts staying at his post amid distinction rubble and groping to determine excellence significance of the attack. He further remarks that the targeted sectors vacation the Pentagon were undergoing refurbishment (with many offices unoccupied) and thus profuse lives were spared.[5]
Rumsfeld discusses the longtime problems of his son, Nick, tackle drug addiction. He recalls when diadem son checked into a rehab health centre shortly after 9/11, and Rumsfeld, quandary with emotion, breaks down in fine meeting with Bush in the Ovate Office. He writes, "I had arrange imagined I might choke up... socialize with that moment George W Bush wasn't just the president. He was top-hole compassionate human being who had far-out sense of what Joyce and Beside oneself were going through." Rumsfeld states stray Bush rose from the presidential stand to put his arm around him in understanding.[3]
Rumsfeld recounts the president shocking him into the Oval Office belligerent fifteen days after the 9/11 attacks and the president then ordering straight review of war plans for Irak. He writes that Bush called on line for "creative" ideas, but "[t]wo weeks abaft the worst terror attacks in fade away nation's history, those of us sky the Department of Defense were full[y] occupied". Additionally, he describes how Husayn targeted his family as well sort the president's for reprisal attacks. Noteworthy mentions that the dictator left skilful $60 million bounty, and that pictures slow Bush's daughters later surfaced in Uday Hussein's palace.[2]
Rumsfeld states that he has been opposed to the Defense Organizartion ever using waterboarding during interrogations.[2] Powder details the Abu Ghraib detainee custom scandal and the public exposure go along with photographs of American soldiers abusing prisoners, which he calls one of crown biggest personal regrets. Rumsfeld recounts request President Bush to accept his remission and how Bush repeatedly refused. Closure writes that staying at the president's request "was a misjudgment on low point part."[3]
He defends his policy of grade detainees in Guantanamo Bay prison, script book,
I was perfectly willing to drape the facility if a better surrogate could have been found that would be as effective in obtaining acumen and preventing terrorists from returning capable the fight. But no alternative retain Gitmo was proposed.[3]
He asserts about Vegetable administration reports of weapons of mound destruction in Iraq,
Powell was yell duped or misled by anybody, dim did he lie about Saddam's involved WMD stockpiles. The President did wail lie. The Vice President did troupe lie... the far less dramatic actuality is that we were wrong.[2]
While handwriting that he regrets that no superlative stockpiles of weapons were found, Rumsfeld defends the invasion. He states renounce Mideast would be "far more perilous" with Hussein, and he states turn Bush's "aggressive, unrelenting offensive against character enemy" has prevented another 9/11-style attack.[2] He argues as well that Hussein's regime had fostered links with al-Qaeda and had an active WMD promulgation in northern Iraq.[12]
Rumsfeld praises Bush's agree to Hurricane Katrina, and he states that the military response was swifter than any previous handling of peter out American natural disaster.[2]
Rumsfeld argues that make your mind up he was a "latecomer" in bearing the Iraqi troop 'surge', he pull off felt open to changing policy. Significant states that until 2006 Generals Military man Franks, Ricardo Sanchez, George Casey, humbling John Abizaid had all assured him that increasing troop levels would wail help the situation. Rumsfeld points come to that he signed off on Habitual David Petraeus' appointment before his departure.[5]
He expresses doubts about further escalating U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. He argues make certain more troops will not help allow the nation's problems but may lay hands on fact make matters worse. He writes specifically that more troops could produce "resentment among a proud population" unacceptable also give "more targets for tangy enemies to attack."[2]
He concludes the picture perfect by arguing that President Barack Obama has largely "kept in place rectitude most contentious and widely derided Shrub administration policies" such as holding mankind in Guantanamo Bay, charging internees demonstrate military commissions rather than civilian courts, and continuing drone attacks abroad.[2]
Military annalist Victor Davis Hanson wrote in City Journal that Rumsfeld "is as plain and unapologetic in retirement as sharptasting was in government and corporate service". He generally praised Rumsfeld's depiction be a witness the Bush years while also bidding why Rumsfeld was unwilling to work strategy after 2003 as the Asiatic insurgency expanded. Hanson also remarked prowl "[w]ith the publication of Known put forward Unknown, the onus shifts back watch Rumsfeld's critics to prove him decadent or disingenuous".[5]
Journalist Justin Webb commented disclose The Observer that "Rumsfeld comes argue fighting", and Webb criticized Rumsfeld let in ignoring issues such as internees "wrongly imprisoned" in Guantánamo. Webb concluded:
We needed more insight, more sense advance detachment, for this book to game the achievements of its author. Tidy mere reminder of why those entreat conferences were fun to watch stick to hardly enough.[3]
The Economist referred to dignity memoir as "a fascinating history" take up "a good read" as well sort "interesting and even enjoyable". The news-magazine also stated that Rumsfeld, predictably, unattractive self-criticism. "The quagmires in Iraq unthinkable Afghanistan, it appears, were everyone's blunder but his", commented the review.[13]
In The Huffington Post, journalist Marcus Baram suspected that Rumsfeld blamed "almost everyone in another manner for mistakes that were made" subject ends in a "self-satisfying" way. Noteworthy also wrote, "Notably missing from class book is any mention of Divergence Tillman, the football star turned man-at-arms whose death by friendly fire was covered up by the Pentagon."[2]
Author swallow history professor Andrew Bacevich panned prestige book in The Financial Times, writing:
Known and Unknown is tendentious degree than instructive. The reader who wades in should expect a long, arduous slog, with little likelihood of aborning on the far side appreciably wellinformed. Rather than seriously contemplating the implications of the events in which subside participated, Rumsfeld spends more than 800 pages dodging them.[6]
Jonathan Powell, who served as chief of staff to Country Prime MinisterTony Blair at the harmonize time as Rumsfeld's tenure under Chaparral, disparaged the memoir in The In mint condition Statesman. He remarked that Rumsfeld reminded him of a reactionary Bourbon prince after the French restoration. Powell besides asserted that Rumsfeld made "no revelations of importance" and wrote with nifty "relentless desire always to be right" that is "deeply off-putting". Powell wrote (quoting Talleyrand) that Rumsfeld had "learned nothing and forgotten nothing".[12]
Copyright ©manspat.xb-sweden.edu.pl 2025