Hold on a second. First off, the AP article you cite doesn't claim he compared critics to SYMPATHIZERS, but to APPEASERS. There's actually quite a large difference there, and yet you felt free to simply substitute one for the other, without comment or explanation. So you're misrepresenting what the AP reported. The irony, though, is that the AP is also misrepresenting what Rumsfeld actually said (see
http://www.qando.net/details.aspx?Entry=4496 for some comparisons). You can find the actual transcript of what Rumsfeld said here:
http://www.defenselink.mil/Speeches/Speech.aspx?SpeechID=1033
Now, if you want to read what he ACTUALLY said, and not merely how the AP reports it, and report back on your subsequent outrage, maybe we can talk about that. But as it stands now, it looks an awful lot like you're getting upset because you misinterpreted the AP's misinterpretation of what was actually said.
It bugs me when people say things they clearly don't mean, but they aren't even trying to be sarcastic. Do you honestly mean "by any means necessary"? I doubt it, because if you DID mean that, you would be advocating his assasination, since that might be what's necessary to remove him from office. And you wouldn't be advocating murder, would you? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt: you're not actually that crazy, you're just mouthy.
'By *any* means neccessary'? Of course not; murder is never a viable option. It should have said, 'By any
legal means neccessary'. The mistake was mine.
The very fact that Rumsfeld is still trying to tie critics of this war to ANYTHING 'un-American', is still offensive, regardless.
And, by the way, 'mouthy' people are the ones who brought this whole fiasco to light in the first place. Do you mean to say, that we should just sit back, let them do what they will, and suck it up, compliant and non-complaining?
Do you favour being mislead and lied to, by the very people who we've entrusted with our safety and well-being?
Are you in favour of this abomination that's taking place in Iraq, with 3000 Americans and countless others (Allied troops and Iraqis) dead, and no real known reason as to why it's going on? Every time a reason comes up, it's always somewhat different: WMDs, terrorist cells, Saddam was threatening his neighbours, threatening the U.S., etc. Do you know the real and true reason(s) as to why it's happening? Because I sure don't.
I'm tired of being looked at as un-Patriotic, un-American, un-co-operative, and un- anything else, simply because I'm sick and tired of seeing stories of soldiers dying on the news every night, involved in a war that was started by a bunch of rich, white frat boys who've
never been involved in actual combat before in their lives, and acting like they've all the angles and answers to this situation.
And, before you ask, NO, I don't have any answers to this at all.