Wow.

It's one thing to know things are this bad. It's another to admit it, even in electronic text...

You talk about "rumsfeld's fondest ideas and theories" as if you have the first clue as to what those are. I have worked with him side-by-side for five years, and I wouldn't even try to divine what his fondest ideas and theories are.

There it is. Even Rummy's chief of staff, Larry DiRita, has no idea what the boss is up to. It's one of a series of startling statements from DiRita in an email exchange he had with Joe Galloway following a recent Galloway column focusing on retired Marine Corps Lt. General Paul Van Riper's critique of the Rumsfeld Pentagon. For instance, there's this...

The army is so much more capable and suitable for the nation's needs that it was 5 or 10 years ago.

That's right. Officials at the highest level of the Department of Defense believe that. And woe be it to any brass hat who dares differ.

Be afraid.

Be very afraid.

Don't miss the whole exchange, with Galloway's informed and effective takedown of Rumsfeld. It's, well, inspiring is a suitable word.