I admire Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He encourages out-of-the-box thinking and is effective at implementing unconventional plans, such as the Special Forces-led war in Afghanistan. In fact, I admire him so much that I think he should resign. His unusual skills are needed at the State Department and—isn’t this convenient?—Colin Powell’s steady hands would be useful at the Pentagon. Rumsfeld and Powell should switch jobs.
It’s not going to happen, but it isn’t an unreasonable notion. If there’s a non-military solution to the problems in the Middle East—and there might be–Rumsfeld would be the one to figure it out and get it done. It would involve a bold and risky diplomatic approach on Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinians/Israelis and Egypt. Powell is too cautious for this sort of ruthless diplomacy; he’s a manager rather than an initiator. Yet his experience in the last Gulf War would make him the right man to lead the Pentagon if Secretary of State Rumsfeld was unable to find a non-military solution.
But cabinet members switching jobs? I must be dreaming.
