The Unknown
As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know.

- Donald Rumsfeld, Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing

So long, Donald Rumsfeld. I think history will judge you very harshly. For whatever successes you might have had at transforming the military or the initial invasion of Iraq, they will be more than offset by your arrogance, obstinence and multiple failures including but not limited to letting Afghanistan slide into chaos, running roughshod over the State Deptartment, ignoring adivce from your generals, sending the troops into harm's way without proper protection, not recoginizing the America had too few troops in Iraq to create stability, allowing the looting after the fall of Baghdad and creating a sense a lawlessness that pervades to this day, not recognizing the insurgency, not recognizing the civil war, not leaving successful commanders in the field, hunkering down in the green zone, firing General Shinseki, firing Jay Garner, giving happy talk to the American people, deceiving Congress and on and.

Then again, as you know, you go to war with the Secretary of Defense you have. ... not the Secretary of Defense you might want or wish to have at a later time.

One thing America knows: we don't want you. I suppose that makes it a known known. Thanks so much for the memories. Good fucking riddence.