Disappeared News

There is no shortage of post-election analysis in the daily papers or the blogosphere. Here's one you may find different--a behind-the-scenes analysis of why Rumsfeld had to resign.

It has to do with a risky "October surprise" that could have resulted in war with Iran just days before the election. But there's more. The secret is out thanks to Danny Schechter's News Dissector blog and his military analyst Joe Dunphy.

Here's the beginning. Click on over to the News Dissector for the rest of the story, involving Israel, Turkey, the Taliban, and those vowel-short Eastern republics with all that oil:

The press made it seem like a Beltway story. It is not. Late last month, the Eisenhower task force stood off the Straits of Hormuz, with undisclosed orders, rattling its sabers toward Iran. And Iran responded with a full-scale alert, with Iran Daily reporting some 10 Iranian brigades (about 3 1/3 divisions), and test firing missiles with ranges from 1,000-2,000 Km.

Now, after you have read the back story, you'll of course wonder why Bush said that Rumsfeld was doing a fantastic job and "would remain with him for the rest of his presidency." Didn't Bush know what Joe Dunphy knew? Of course he did. Bush was lying. Check that out here. That Bush would lie should be no surprise. After all, it was just before the election. Even generals were calling for Rumsfeld's resignation, and Bush was trying to save what votes he could. He has lied for less.

Today, he announced Rumsfeld is resigning and being replaced by former CIA Director Robert Gates. At the press conference, Bush said that "the only way to answer that question, and get it on to another question, was to give you [the reporters] that answer." Bush admitted that he had talked to Rumsfeld about resigning and was actively searching for his replacement at the time.

The article includes a transcript from Bush's news conference.

In case you'd like to learn more about Robert Gates, Rummy's replacement, Danny has some links at the top of his blog that will bring you up to date. You'll want to check the links not only to learn about Gates' background but his connection with the 9/11 coverup.