ATTENTION! ATTENTION! DER FUHRER-DECIDER DECIDES!

By C. William Boyer

As we know, all great military leaders start their careers by going AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard. Or as little corporals in the Austrian army.

Here's what that military genius, George W. Bush, said when questioned about the half-dozen generals clamoring for Secretary of Defense (and Iraq Disaster architect) Donald Rumsfeld's resignation:



Some pesky White House reporter asked a follow up question that Der Fuhrer deigned to answer.

Reporter: What do you say to the critics who believe that you are ignoring the advice of retired generals and military commanders who say there needs to be a change?

Bush: I say I listen to all voices but mine's the final decision and Don Rumsfeld is doing a fine job. He's not only transforming the military, he's fighting a war on terror - He's helping us fight a war on terror. I have strong confidence in Don Rumsfeld. I hear the voices and I read the front page and I know the speculation but I'm the decider and I decide what is best and what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of defense.

Ah. Der Fuhrer has spoken. Doesn't matter what people and the polls say, or Congress or even the generals trained in war: Der Fuhrer-Decider Decides.

Of course, the last time a Fuhrer-Decider of such limited military talents stubbornly ignored his generals' advice as they opposed a flawed military plan, the generals struck back. Alas, the plot failed and war raged on.