Sorry! It's Been Real, But I Gotta Go!

Mr. Rumsfeld gets a little sassy. Washington Post (02.17.05):

"Two dozen members of the House Armed Services Committee had not yet had their turn to question Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld at yesterday's hearings when he decided he had had enough. At 12:54, he announced that at 1 p.m. he would be taking a break and then going to another hearing in the Senate. 'We're going to have to get out and get lunch and get over there,' he said. When the questioning continued for four more minutes, Rumsfeld picked up his briefcase and began to pack up his papers." Emphasis supplied. Secretary On the Offensive

Excerpts:

• Asked about the number of insurgents in Iraq, Rumsfeld replied: "I am not going to give you a number."
• Did he care to voice an opinion on efforts by U.S. pilots to seek damages from their imprisonment in Iraq? "I don't."
• Could he comment on what basing agreements he might seek in Iraq? "I can't."
• How about the widely publicized cuts to programs for veterans? "I'm not familiar with the cuts you're referring to."
• How long will the war last? "There's never been a war that was predictable as to length, casualty or cost in the history of mankind."
• About an estimate of the costs for increases in troops' death benefits and life insurance: "I've never heard that number."
• About long-term Army expenses being included in an emergency spending package: The matter was "beyond my pay grade."
• About soldiers' death benefits: "As a presidential appointee, I tend to support the president."
• To Virginia Republican Representative J. Randy Forbes:"You had so many questions there. Now let me see if I can pull out another one."
• About being more responsive to the questions: "Hey why don't I just drop my drawers so each one of you can kiss my ass?"

Naw!! I made that last one up.