Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Leader as DOD
Review: I'm amazed at the critics of Rumsfeld who think they have struck a landmine by noting he shook hands with Saddam. Or that he was part of the plan to arm Saddam. These claims, while true, lack any historical analysis or perspective. Sometimes in life and all the time in politics (especially foreign affairs), it is necessary to choose between the lesser of two evils.Why did the U.S. arm Iraq? Iraq was viewed as a secular state and one that was more stable than the Islamic Fundamentalist government in place in Iran. Iran had taken U.S. citizens prisoners in 1979-80. Iran was the greater threat -- let Saddam and the Iraqis neutralize Iran and then we will deal with Saddam. Anyone who cannot understand this logic has clearly put little if any thought into the subject.
Rating:
Summary: Insight into the man
Review: If you want insight into who D. Rumsfeld's is, how he operates, and what challenges he faces--read this. It's fluid and interesting. (Disregard the transparently biased reviews that don't like D.R. in the first place.) Someday in, say, 30 years someone will write a biography of D.R. in the vein of the one done on Stimson and Marshall and even more thoroughly document what it looks like to have a warrior in the warrior's position in our government. I give it five stars for being the first, not for being the consummate biography on Rummy. He'll deserve more in the years ahead.
Rating:
Summary: Insight into the man
Review: If you want insight into who D. Rumsfeld's is, how he operates, and what challenges he faces--read this. It's fluid and interesting. (Disregard the transparently biased reviews that don't like D.R. in the first place.) Someday in, say, 30 years someone will write a biography of D.R. in the vein of the one done on Stimson and Marshall and even more thoroughly document what it looks like to have a warrior in the warrior's position in our government. I give it five stars for being the first, not for being the consummate biography on Rummy. He'll deserve more in the years ahead.
Rating:
Summary: Rummy the Revolutionary
Review: May Donald Rumsfeld live long and prosper. He single-handedly liberated the DoD from its malaise of analysis paralysis and inspired efficiency, excellence and results. The book is well written and enjoyable to read. One frustration: the books references "Rumsfeld's Rules" often but only elaborates on and few. I would have loved to read the complete list.
Rating: 
Summary: Fire Rumsfeld!
Review: Poor Leadership, Lying, Cover-Ups, etc... This books does not cover the real Rumsfeld. Instead it creates an imaginary figure who had done nothing wrong. Fire Rumsfeld!
Rating: 
Summary: This is a real insider's book
Review: Reading this book is like sitting next to Rumsfeld from the first hours of the al Qaeda attack. It's peppered with inside info showing how he took charge of the war on terror and fought to whip the Pentagon into shape after years of neglect under Clinton. Interspersed are stories from Rumsfeld's past, which make the case that Rumsfeld has been preparing his whole life to lead the U.S. into battle against a hostile enemy. At the same time, the book doesn't hide his warts. He's not what you'd call a team player, getting into turf wars with Rice, Powell, etc. You finish this book thinking that even though Rumsfeld isn't perfect, America has been incredibly fortunate to have him at the helm after Sept. 11.
Rating:
Summary: Help Bin Laden-buy this book
Review: Rowan Scarborough and his colleague at the Washington Times, Bill Gertz (BTW, Gertz's one line review praising the book fails to point out he's helping a buddy and has a conflict of interest) have hurt, yes, hurt national security with their articles and books. Why? Because they delight in printing leaked classified information about current operations that have blown sources, methods, and put U.S. troops even further into harms way. Don't support these guys-buy a book that doesn't have an agenda and doesn't hurt the effort to keep the nation safe.
Rating:
Summary: A great book about a great man
Review: Rowan Scarborough does a great job. Don Rumsfeld is a tough old U.S. Navy aviator who does not suffer fools. He was one of the first people on scene at the Pentagon helping the injured on 9-11 after Islamic fanatics crashed the plane into the Pentagon. The negative reviewers from the UK and dead beat debtor Argentina are crazed lefties who would rather America allow Kofi Annan to protect are citizens. Rumsfeld does not want to negotiate with murderers like Bill Clinton & John F. Kerry-Fonda. Rumsfeld realizes this approach is a waste of time. Thank goodness America still has leaders like Rumsfeld.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for Pentagon junkies and powerbrokers alike
Review: Rowan Scarborough's inside look at Donald Rumsfeld is seminal reading for those of us who've long admired Rummy -- from his work in several presidential administrations as well as his masterful press conferences carried live on CNN. Scarborough, one of Washington's best and most unsung national security reporters, paints more than a historical portrait of Rumsfeld's imprint on national defense. His behind the scenes accounting of war strategy co-mingled with Rumsfeld's sturdy approch to leadership is a must-read not only for those interested in military gamesmanship but also those interested in managerial moxie. The book might look like brainy, inside baseball at first, but once the reader gets a few pages in, it reads quick and sharp, not unlike Scarborough's dispatches at The Washington Times. This is bigtime reporting and writing with a simple flair. Rumsfeld emerges as a model leader and decent guy -- a CEO of sorts for the nation at war.
Rating:
Summary: Inside baseball on one of the greatest Americans in the
Review: short history of our Republic. He's picked up at 6:00 a.m. Works a twelve to fourteen hour day fighting terror. He plays squash with much younger men. He establishes civilian control of the Pentagon. He wins TWO wars. And while doing all this writes a book about his wife, Joyce. What more can you say? Newt Gingrich says he is, "intimidatingly smart." But he's no Robert McNamara. One thing I think the press and public miss is that it was HIS people who ran the war and commanded the troops. Gen. Tommy Franks is HIS guy. Army Secretary Tom White crosses Rumsfeld and he's out. This is not the definitive account but better than Midge Dicter's book. And think where we'd be if Gore had won the election. No Rumsfeld. I shudder to think about that. If there is any question about God being on the side of America the fact that Donald Rumsfeld and George Bush were in the right place at the right time settles the question.
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