Rumsfeld Says Critics Appeasing Fascism

Speaking at the American Legion convention here, Rumsfeld delivered his most explicit and extended attacks yet on administration opponents -- leading Democrats to accuse him of "campaigning on fear."

By likening today's U.S. foreign policy to that during World War II and the Cold War, Rumsfeld sought to portray skeptics of the Bush administration as being on the wrong side of history. He ridiculed American officials who had hoped to negotiate with Adolf Hitler.

"Once again, we face similar challenges in efforts to confront the rising threat of a new type of fascism," Rumsfeld said. "But some seem not to have learned history's lessons."

He continued, "Can we truly afford to believe that, somehow or someway, vicious extremists could be appeased?"

Rumsfeld did not directly accuse any specific critic or group of advocating the appeasement of terrorists, and he did not identify the administration opponents who were the focus of his criticism. Surveys have shown that although most Americans believe the Iraq war was a mistake, they support U.S. efforts to track down terrorists.

Rumsfeld's use of the word "appease" was particularly notable, referring to the failed efforts of the pre-Churchill British government to mollify Hitler. Administration officials in the past have used the term "appeasement" to deflect criticism or justify White House policies -- President Bush did so just before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. But Rumsfeld in his speech appeared to use the term in a markedly more pointed way.

The Defense secretary has become one of the administration's most divisive figures, and demands for his resignation have become a litmus test in congressional races around the country as Iraq confronts deepening violence and civil strife. Rumsfeld aggressively defended the war and his leadership of it in speeches to the American Legion on Tuesday, the Veterans of Foreign Wars a day earlier and in other meetings with service members this week.

In each speech, Rumsfeld has acknowledged the reality of debate in a free society. But he has attacked the media, charging that news reports have been manipulated by Iraqi insurgents or Al Qaeda terrorists. And he has suggested that negative news articles and criticism of the war threaten to sap the nation's will to continue to fight in Iraq.