Read the Full Transcript
Judy Woodruff:
There s word tonight that former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who championed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has died. His family says he passed away Tuesday in Taos, New Mexico.
Nick Schifrin reports on his life and legacy.
Nick Schifrin:
A Navy veteran and Republican congressman from Illinois, Donald Rumsfeld was America s youngest defense secretary during the Cold War. He was also its oldest defense secretary and oversaw the wars post-9/11 and served amid deep and lasting controversy.
On the morning of September 11, he was a stretcher-bearer, ferrying wounded from the Pentagon.
Donald Rumsfeld:
The Forever Wars Continue on America s Most Famous War Memorial When Will They End?
military.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from military.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
With an Aim to End Forever Wars House Repeals 2002 Iraq War Resolution
rollingstone.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rollingstone.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Iraq: The Missing Keystone in U.S. Policy in the Gulf
April 29, 2021One of the odd side effects of both the U.S. focus on withdrawal from Afghanistan and on the possible revival of the JCPOA agreement with Iran is that U.S. relations with Iraq seems to be getting passing attention at best. In practice, U.S. relations with Iraq, its development as a stable and secure state, and ensuring that it can become independent of Iranian influence may well be far more important than leaving Afghanistan and reviving the JCPOA.
Important as the dealings with Iran and other issues driving stability and instability in the MENA region are, retaining U.S. ties to Iraq, building it up as a stable state and counterbalance to Iran, reducing its deep internal tensions and the lasting threat of extremism may well represent America’s most important immediate strategic challenges in the region. The U.S. has many strategic objectives in the MENA region, but forging a successful strategic relationship wit