Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) accused Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld of “presiding over a failed policy” in Iraq during a terse confrontation at an Aug. 3 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Clinton told Rumsfeld “You appeared before this committee and made many comments and presented many assurances that have, frankly, proven to be unfulfilled.” Clinton asked, “Why should we believe your assurances now?” to which Rumsfeld replied, “I have never painted a rosy picture.” To refute the Secretary’s claim, the senator released a statement, which lists Rumsfeld quotes from hearings and public interviews from 2002-06. There’s nothing like being a sitting duck.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.