WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would not have approved Christian-themed covers to intelligence reports on the invasion of Iraq, calling them "counterproductive to the war effort," a spokesman said Tuesday.
The covers, some of which were published in the latest issue of GQ magazine, juxtaposed images from the 2003 invasion with verses from the Bible.
According to the magazine, Rumsfeld used the covers to curry favor with then-President George Bush, a devout evangelical.
In a written statement Tuesday, Rumsfeld spokesman Keith Urbahn said the secretary saw the reports only occasionally, and they were never shown to Bush.
"Rumsfeld was fully aware that words and actions could be harmful and counterproductive to the war effort. It's safe to say that some of these cover slides could be considered in that category," Urbahn said. "The suggestion that Rumsfeld would have composed of, approved of, or personally shown the slides to President Bush is flat wrong. It did not happen."
The story of the slides was only part of a larger, highly critical article about Rumsfeld, who was fired in 2006 after the unpopular war in Iraq helped contribute to that year's Republican electoral losses. An official quoted anonymously in the GQ article said the slides - which had been prepared by a two-star general on the Pentagon's intelligence staff - could have done damage "as bad as Abu Ghraib" if they had become public during the invasion of an Islamic nation.
Among the covers published by GQ was one showing a U.S. tank silhouetted by a desert sunrise below a quote from the New Testament book of Ephesians: "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
Another featured a quote from the first book of Peter atop a photo of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. It read, "It is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men."
The article's author, Robert Draper, penned a 2007 book on the Bush presidency. Urbahn said Draper was "being taken by people with an axe to grind." But the story had the ring of truth to David Kuo, who led the White House "faith-based" program office during the Bush administration.
"The guy knows how to market things, and clearly he knew how to market things to his boss, to his audience of one - the president of the United States. And that was to use these biblical quotes," Kuo told CNN.
Kuo said Iraq was "always a war in search of justification." But he called the slides "frankly appalling to me, as a follower of Jesus."
"I never saw these memos. But I've got to tell you, if their use of biblical language and spiritual ignorance is anything as bad as their military ignorance, it is clear why the Iraq war is a debacle," he said.
From CNN Politics
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Then what did happen?
Well... everyone KNOWS the reputation for GQ magazine and their hard-hitting reporters... so it must be true!
(eyes rolling)
Let's hear from Rumsfeld himself; what a wimp...sending out someone else to spread his lies for him!! Then would the GOP demand his apology??
I don't believe anything Rumsfeld says...
IDIOT!!
Yea right.lol
Sorry, Dude! I don't believe ONE WORD you say!!
People who believe Pelosi, but hate Rumsfeld spewing stupidity in 3,2,1...
There must be a special level in Hell for these war criminals. They disgraced our country and perverted Christianity to do it. What is the difference between a Crusade and a Jihad?
Ahem, liar.
I call bull. He knew and he liked ... as long as it was between him and W.
Why would I ever believe a word Rummy would say?
As much animus as I have felt for Don Rumsfeld since he first came upon the national scene, I am almost convinced that his office was not the originator of these briefings, but that they were very probably from the office of Doug Weith who absolutely had no compunctions whatever about abrogating the concept of separation of church and state. Weith did everything he could during his thankfully short time in office to assist the President and his followers in the massive accumulation of power and arrogance within the executive.
It never ceases to amaze me how Christians attempt to sanctify their sins by invoking the name of Christ. It's okay to torture. It's okay to lie. It's okay to kill innocent women and children. It's okay to "hunt Muslims for Christ." Jesus said so. The God of Love.
Oops, delete the W and insert an F, for Doug Feith.
Some people commit crimes or order others to do it, in the name of God. Nothing has changed though the human history.
They might as well sit back and let the other shoe drop. It's all going to come to light now. They can thank Dick Cheney for not letting it go. President Obama wanted to move on, but Cheney wouldn't let him.
Now the truth must be told, no matter how ugly it is. There are all kind of people who were too afraid during the Bush era to say anything. Thank God, those days are over.
LIE LIE LIE! Put Rumsfeld in Jail
Soooooo Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and Rove LIE, LIE, LIE about the war and now the Repubs think they have something with legs on Pelosi. Pah Leezzzzzzz
**The Republicans owe the country an apology for the war crimes and torture.
This is just one more example of what America gets when it votes bible thumpin' evangelical jeez-zus freaks into office.
The country got just what it deserved for voting for the "family values" and "religuous foundation" professed by a candidate instead of the competentance of the candidate – A war dressed up as a rightuous crusade...
And the motto of these con artists? God bless America....
I do NOT believe Rumsfeld.He is a "Bushie". That makes him less than honest.
That's what you get when you elect nincompoops who believe that some big invisible man in the sky created the universe 6,000 years ago. Everyone knows that the flying spaghetti monster created the universe last Thursday. Can I prove that? No. Can you prove me wrong? No. Have a nice day!
That's the Bush Rove years: cast out Jesus on a hook, and reel the suckers in.
How can he be so bold, the proof is there on paper.
Sure he does. WHAT else would we expect from this horrific administration who can't seem to tell the simplest truth the whole 8 years they were in office. I mean it's one BIG LIE after another.
WHY is America surprised?
Boy, these guys weren't only stupid, they were dangerous!
Absolutely disgusting, very disturbing. Bush, Rumsfeld and Je$u$, what a team! Glad to see the world's "most advanced" military still depends on good old iron-age philosophy! Religion will ruin everything for everyone, just give it some time. Modern technology combined with religion might be the most dangerous weapon to mankind, just look what it got us on 9/11. Time to wake up, put down old books/myths, and start believing in human potential.
We need a Truth and Reconciliation Committee that will investigate EVERYTHING. There are way too many issues where the separate parties involved are making mutually irreconcilable claims.
And why should anyone believe Rumsfield or anyone from his office?
We do not even know how many things will come out eventually about the past administration.
Reminds me of an old Tonka Toy ad. Father asks his 4 year old how the little toy truck got broken, and the little boy says that an elephant stepped on it. Rummy was never much for the USN. They have a long standing tradition that the Captain is responsible for EVERYTHING that happens to his ship, whether he is on watch or asleep. Rummy's replacement does not seem to have any problem with or avoidance of responsibility.
What a bunch of fruitcakes!! Make ya shudder that these twits were once our devoted leaders??!! Ughhhhhhhhh!
I don't understand... the title of each document is "Secretary of Defense Worldwide Intelligence Report" and Rumsfeld "saw the reports only occasionally"? And... "they were never shown to Bush"? Then, who was the intended audience for these cover sheets? Who DID see them? What gives? We need some better reporting here, not just a press release from Rummy. I'm sorry this story didn't get more attention. I see these images and Bible verses as confirmation that the most powerful pro-war voices were waging a Christian holy war, or at least selling it as such within the power circle. Despicable.
I have to believe Rummy on this one. after all, he would never do something so stupid and insensitive, that would be like not sending enough troops into war, starting a second war before the first one was finished, and sending troops out with insufficient armor. Rummy would never be that idiotic when it came to his job.
"But I've got to tell you, if their use of biblical language and spiritual ignorance is anything as bad as their military ignorance, it is clear why the Iraq war is a debacle"
LOL and he wins the prize for loaded statement of the day
That's ridiculous. It's really sad that CNN would consider this news with an annonomous source and and a random guy who was in the White House saying "if" this happened. Are you kidding me? Yes, all of us would expect GQ, a publication for entertainment to write about this. CNN is suppose to be a serious news source.
That's ridiculous. It's really sad that CNN would consider this news with an anonymous source and and a random guy who was in the White House saying "if" this happened. Are you kidding me? Yes, all of us would expect GQ, a publication for entertainment to write about this. CNN is suppose to be a serious news source.
And we are upset that arabs, or Al Quaida use religion as a justification for war? Oh right, they aren't Christian, therefore they're evil. Christianity was NEVER used for war...
question; then how did these classified documents, cover and all come into existence? who produced them, who authorized their printing, and what agency of our government printed them? this guy,urbahn, well, he can't be believed, no, this material, as well as the whole iraq mess, must be laid at the feet of rumsfeld, and his supporting cast,..the obama people, because of their voting record on this war, will not, and can not do a thing..
How anybody can accuse bush of being a religious person after all he has done to the people of this country is beyond me.
Rumsfeld is still talking about the CHAOS he and Cheney engineered????? I though he had gone into the Benedictan monastery to plead absolution for the thousands and even millions of lost lost because of this senseless war!
PLEASE....The world has heard all it ever wants to hear about this RIGHT WING NUT...He and his butt buddy BUSH have murdered thousands in the world, including 4500 of our own people. He belongs in a federal prison..
INTERPOL has an arrest warrant out for him right now. If he ever sets foot in europe..His crime...WAR CRIMINAL..Just like the NAZI's..
George Bush should be ashamed to call himself a christian. He is a WAR-CRIMINAL.
In a written statement Tuesday, Rumsfeld spokesman Keith Urbahn said the secretary saw the reports only occasionally, and they were never shown to Bush.
Please do any of the Bush Administration ever tell the truth. Please we all no Bush seem them and approved them. They are can lye all day long becasue they are nolonger in office.
Bush's crusade of Christianity as a means to justify an invasion is the most tell tale sign of the failure of his Republican Administration. Bush is responsible for hundreds of thousands of innocent lives lost. He will never pay, but thankfully, history will never let the Republicans be forgotten for this.
Here comes the backpedalling.
Losers...
I don't believe the Rummy spokesman. I believe David Kuo. That sounds more accurate.
There is no doubt that these reports would have been counterproductive to the war effort, but then many things Rummy did fit that bill. That would not preclude him from doing this, as his aide seems to suggest.
What should concern Americans is the fact that these slides were made in the first place and never repudiated by the Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld or Pres. George Bush. They should have come out against these slides. Yes, the Repubican Party and the Bush Administration used Christianity and the Far Right Fundamentalist to engage is exactly what is alleged. After all, President Bush called the war a crusade and led some people into believing he was called by God to engage in the War at whatever means he had available to him and we, as Americans, carry the burden of his actions, including his lies, deceit, and torture interrogation tactics. Shame of you, Rummy!
whatever..who can believe whatever any of them say..........tell us another one Rummy!..I'm on your every word!
So the Secretary of Defense saw them "only occasionally". Gee, I only had to see them ONCE to realize they were counter-productive. He did not personally show them to the President? Then WHO did?
And that anonymous 2 star general is close to a coward. Speak up. Tell America how many troops were exposed to this religious indoctrination? You know – the public.
Just another reason why Bush and his administration were bad for the country. When Bush didn't understand the question of a Iraq being a war of necessity or a war of choice, that should have been a huge clue to everyone that he needed a different and more up to date brain (more than Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove and others).
So whose reports are these?And the Sec. of Defense never saw reports about the war? Sounds a little fishy to me.
I'm sure this 'aide' is totally reliable.
Rumsfeld and his ilk have crippled our military and American jurisprudence for decades to come.
this is BEYOND disturbing
The 8 years of lies in the Bush administration killed our party and left thousands dead on both side, all for no reason at all!
There is much that disturbs the mind with just a cursory examination of the internal workings of the eight years of the Bush administration; but I find these "slides" created by Rumsfeld particularly striking and disturbing.
Beyond just the content of these "slides", the general lack of aesthetic and the screaming text and collage-like handling of information/image remind me of the work of outsider artists, or the work of the mentally ill.
Believe me, if I were naive enough to believe in the Biblical quotes used in these intelligence briefings I would steadfastly call to my higher power to explain to me how such insane ignorance could invade the highest office of the land.
Let Rumsfeld state this under oath before Congress or in a court, and I'll believe it. Until this happens, why should anyone believe anything about this disgusting fiasco other than that it took place?
Sounds like they were doing an American jihad.Great photo of dumb and dumber.
not good
"counterproductive to the war effort"? how about just plain wrong? to go to war in iraq for christianity is just plain WRONG. notice how rumsfield's camp isn't saying that.
I'm not buying their retort.
Rumsfeld is a human sos.
Rumsfeld's spokesperson says the Sec. of Defense saw these intelligence reports "only occasionally".
Does he really think not reading intelligence reports is a better defense?
"The suggestion that Rumsfeld would have composed of, approved of, or personally shown the slides to President Bush is flat wrong. It did not happen."
Yet the war still happened... amazing.
These 2 Crooks – Should be in Jail.
Just say no to hate and ignorance. Say no to religion.