Retirement of a Giant

There have always been men who do our hard jobs for us, the thankless, but necessary, tasks that require keen insight, yea, even prescience. It is not rare that these visionaries are vilified, nor is it uncommon that their achievements are belittled by lesser individuals, but the truth is that genius is rarely recognized by its contemporaries.

Mr. Rumsfeld did not need the job, he had a good one. He did not need a pinnacle to crown off his legacy, he'd already served many times and well. And, as we were reminded daily by the press and the liberals, the Secretary didn't need the aggrandizement for his ego, he was well supplied in that category.

He took the job for the challenge, certainly, but the overriding reason this terrifically talented guy spent his energy, intellect, stamina, and courage was because he knew it was his duty.

Duty is an underused word of late because so few can be bothered with such mundane matters....probably the reason our troops in the field know why they're there and the reason the critics don't get it.

Mr. Rumsfeld understands what his grunts understand...duty...that's why he was good at it. We owe him.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary. When it counted, you did your duty.