Rumsfeld Slammed for ‘Christmas’ Wish to Troops
(2004-12-24) — In another act that raised questions about whether Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is sensitive enough to lead U.S. war efforts, the embattled Pentagon chief visited troops in Iraq today in order to wish them a so-called “Merry Christmas.”
“This is like salt in the wound,” said an unnamed senate aide. “Rumsfeld clearly doesn’t want our troops to have ‘happy holidays’ or even ‘lucky winter.’ He insists on bludgeoning them, in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, with ‘Merry Christmas’ greetings. It’s a bigoted attempt to impose his religious views on his subordinates.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said a suit may be filed as early as Monday against Mr. Rumsfeld by its subsidiary, the American Military Liberties Union (AMLU), claiming that he used taxpayer funds in the ‘Merry Christmas’ wishing, thereby violating the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution.
An ACLU spokesman said the AMLU would have filed the suit today, but much of its staff is off for the Christmas holiday.
Asked to respond to critics, Mr. Rumsfeld said, “Christmas commemorates how God made the ultimate sacrifice by sending his only son to save the world through his suffering and death. I think even our troops who are not Christians can relate to that.”
