The Boy in the Man

By Rense Johnson, Chairman
Citizens for Term Limits

One of the few genuine pleasures which has emerged in our lives as a result of Infamy Day 2001 is that of watching Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in his daily press and television briefing.

Like a favorite uncle whom you love to have visit in your home, Rumsfeld is friendly, yet at once deadly serious, deadly in his intent. He is totally honest, carefully editing his own words as he utters them — while at the same time fencing with the media representatives as they seek to mine him for every nugget of information they can pry loose from him.

Recently, I played hooky from my other chores, and it was a rewarding transgression. I got to watch the Secretary's press conference in Tampa, Florida. Early in the conference, in which four-star general Tommy Franks was reporting, Rumsfeld interrupted the proceedings with an exclamation of "WOW." Picking up from the lectern a device the size of a small flashlight, he exclaimed "A laser pointer!" brandishing it as would a child playing cops and robbers. "Is it lethal?" came a voice from among the attendees. "Looks like it could be," he exulted with a devilish grin.

Perhaps it is the little boy in Rumsfeld that (A) makes him the appealing favorite uncle, and (B) helps him keep his equilibrium in his pressure cooker job. Now we can assume he is happy with his new toy, the pointer, which General Franks may have difficulty getting back from him.

I hope — and suspect — he will get to keep it.

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