GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Former United States defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld spoke to a crowd at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
He talked about his new book, “Rumsfeld’s Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life.”
He didn’t speak long before taking questions. One audience member asked Rumsfeld how he would approach the current situation with Syria and a potential military strike.
“The last thing we ought to be sending out is the signal that there is a redline, and we fired a shot across the bound or not to worry, it’ll be minimalist,” Rumsfeld said.
He asked what would the outcome would be if the us intervened in Syria.
“If someone walking down the street or in an elevator, I would say you either ought to change the regime or do nothing,” he said.
Rumsfled said it’s silly to ask whether or not the president has the right to use force. That’s a potential move Congressman Justin Amash takes issue with.
Amash has been outspoken about the president’s desire to possibly take action in Syria with a military strike. So the congressman is holding a number of forums around his district. He’s hearing from constituents on what they feel should or shouldn’t be done.
“I don’t know if I speak for all of us, but I’m awfully tired of war. I’m tired of the money that’s being spent on these wars that aren’t really going anywhere,” one Rockford area resident said.
She added, “But I also believe that we have a moral obligation to do something about the situation. Maybe the United States isn’t the answer. May the answer is with the United Nations.”
Amash responded, “Nobody is okay with what the government has allegedly done over there.”
“I think you do have to have more of an international coalition, and I don’t think military strike should be your first option. I think that should be a last resort,” he added.
Amash has several more stops in West Michigan tomorrow.
