Donald Rumsfeld is this generation's Robert McNamara.

Over 12 years after overseeing and helping to design the 2003 invasion of Iraq - the former secretary of defense is now re-writing his own role in the invasion.

In an interview with "The Times" of London Rumsfeld called the Bush administration's approach to Iraq "unrealistic." He was referring specifically to the Bush administration's goal of toppling a dictatorship and building a model democracy in the Middle East - and he said "I'm not one who thinks that our particular template of democracy is appropriate for other countries at every moment of their histories. The idea that we could fashion a democracy in Iraq seemed to me unrealistic. I was concerned about it when I first heard those words."

The statement is stunning considering that Rumsfeld, along with George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz, was one of the biggest architects and cheerleaders of the invasion that destabilized the region and provided fertile ground for ISIS and other extremist groups to begin their current reign of terror in the region.

But like Robert McNamara did 30 years after Vietnam - Rumsfeld is admitting that the war may not have been such a good idea.

But Rumsfeld isn't going as far as McNamara did -McNamara admitted that the Vietnam War was "wrong, terribly wrong."

Rumsfeld's not saying that the war itself was wrong - he's just saying that he didn't think it was possible to rebuild Iraq as a democracy. And that's still more than Bush or Cheney have admitted.

Which raises the question - why hasn't anyone prosecuted Bush and Cheney for the 4,500 American soldiers murdered in Iraq?

It's possible - as former prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi pointed out on this show last year - take a look.

Read more here.

-Thom

Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Melissa Fitzgerald speaks out on Justice For Vets (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)

 

Be sure to check out our newest video: RESTORATION - narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio & Thom Hartmann, directed by Leila Conners / Visit GreenWorldRising.org to check out all the videos: CARBON, LAST HOURS & GREEN WORLD RISING - narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio & Thom Hartmann, directed by Leila Conners

 

Need to Know: Why Democrats Need To Shift More To The Left
- America's Lawyer Mike Papantonio, Ring of Fire  

 

Screwed: Who's Really Behind The Push To Pass The TPP?
- Organizer Stewart Acuff, Playing Bigger Than You Are  

 

Best of the Rest: Are Republicans Finally Joining The 420 Crowd?
- Lt. Cmdr. Diane Goldstein, (ret'd), Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (L.E.A.P.)    

 

PLUS, Melissa Fitzgerald speaks out on Justice For Vets
- Melissa Fitzgerald, Justice For Vets    

  

Thursday's Daily Stack 

In for Thom today, progressive commentators Danielle and Shane-O.

 

Hour One: What does the Supreme Court's ACA ruling mean for you?
- Igor Volsky, Think Progress  

Article: "More than 85% of Obamacare enrollees qualify for subsidies" by Noam N. Levey.

Article: "Study Details Deadly Consequences Of Gutting Obamacare" by Ian Millhiser.

 

Article: "Manhunt for escaped killers expands to Vermont" by Greg Botelho, Ray Sanchez and Holly Yan.

Article: "House leaders say trade fight end in sight, schedule Friday vote" by Deirdre Walsh.

Article: "Some States Make Obamacare Backup Plans, As Supreme Court Decision Looms" by Elana Gordon.

Article: "What's At Stake When The Supreme Court Rules On Health Plan Subsidies" by Julie Rovner and Mary Agnes Carey.

Article: "America drops to 33rd place in list of world's best place to be a mother" by Myriah Towner.

Article: "Equal Protection Clause" (14th amendment) by Wikipedia.

Article: "10th Amendment" "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people".

Article: "Oops: Chuck Todd slips, admits he can't do tough interviews because 'no one will come on' my show" by David Edwards.

Hour Two: Who Stole the American Dream...and Can We Get It Back?
- Hedrick Smith, Who Stole the American Dream 

Site: Reclaiming The American Dream 

Article: "Why a GOP Governor Embraced Tuition Free Community College" by Reclaim the American Dream.

Article: "US will erase student debt for Corinthian students" by AP.

Article: "How SeaTac Won First U.S. $15 Hour Minimum Wage" by Reclaim the American Dream.

Article: "How Public Anger Fueled Reform in Colorado" by Reclaim the American Dream

Article: "16th Amendment. "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."

Article: "How California Outed the Koch Network" by Reclaim the American Dream

Article: "The Last Stand of the Middle Class" (Market Basket) by Reclaim the American Dream

Site: Where is Mary Jo White?

 

Case: "Burwell v. Hobby Lobby", 2014.

Article: "Chevron Deference" by David Kemp.

Case: "Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.", 1984.

Article: "Republican Governor Says He Wants The Supreme Court Case Against Obamacare To Lose" by Ian Millhiser.

Site: FYI Nation.

Case: "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission" (2010).

Article: "Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement" (TPP) by EFF.

 

Talk Radio News Segment:
- Ellen Ratner, Bureau Chief 

Article: "Sen. Graham Introduces Abortion Control Legislation" by William McDonald.

Article: "Boehner: "Encouraged" Over Upcoming TPA, TAA House Votes" by Anna Merod.

Article: "Port Canaveral-Gulftainer Agreement Considered Simple Lease By Feds" by Space Coast Daily.

Article: "America's Strategic Infrastructure Compromised: Did Clinton Pay-To-Play Arrangement Compromise National Security?" by Alan Jones.

Article: "Jeb Bush: U.S. Should Send More Troops To Europe" by William Hadden.

Article: "Pentagon: The Lily Pad Strategy In Iraq" by James Cullum.

Article: "UN: Boko Haram 'On The Defensive'" by Luke Vargas.

Site: "Goats for the old Goat".

Site: Governor Free Don Siegelman.

Article: "TRNS News Notes 6/11" by Victoria Jones.

Article: "TRNS News Notes 6/10" by Victoria Jones.

Hour Three: We Still Have Time to Stop the TPP!!
- Ari Rabin-Havt, The Morning Agenda (SiriusXM Progress 127)/The Benghazi Hoax    

Article: "Bipartisan Agreement: Foreign Governments Pay Former Senate Leaders to Sell TPP" by Ari Rabin-Havt.

 

Video: Alito mouths "not true" as Obama criticizes Sup Ct for opening floodgates to special interests.

Article: "Obama trade agenda in trouble" by Jake Sherman, John Bresnahan and Lauren French.

Article: "Expecting 'Goodies' for Fast Track Vote? New Report Cautions Lawmakers on Broken Promises" by Deirdre Fulton.

Article: "How Bernie Sanders Can Kill the 1%'s TPP Trade Deal" by Robert Naiman.

Article: "This 32-Year-Old Florida Woman Is Dead Because Her State Refused To Expand Medicaid" by Tara Culp-Ressler.

Site: Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO).

 

Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET 

 

Author Harvey Kaye, Professor of Democracy and Justice Studies-University of Wisconsin at Greenbay, will be here to talk about Hillary, FDR and the Four Freedoms.

 

And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...

 

The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"

 

And don't forget...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...

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Sincerely,

The Thom Hartmann Program is a Charity Wine Partner with the Organic Wine Company. Purchase any wines and they will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Hunter School for children with autism, ADHD, and other learning challenges.

 

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