MovieChat Forums > Fort Apache (1948) Discussion > Col. Thursday (Fonda) = Donald Rumsfeld....

Col. Thursday (Fonda) = Donald Rumsfeld...no joke

posted 18 years ago by JimLoneWolf
6 replies | jump to latest

As I watched this brilliant film, I was reminded again just how valuable movies (and history) can be. In this case, the parallels with reality are staggering. I found myself wondering during Fort Apache whether or not Donald Rumsfeld had seen it, and if so, whether or not he had understood what it was saying.

I've read portions of Bob Woodward's book "State of Denial", and the portrait that emerges of Don Rumsfeld is the spitting image of Col. Thursday, right down to his maniacal obsession with the chain of command. Hell, the two men even SOUND alike! It is Col. hursday's underestimation of the enemy that costs him so dearly in this film, just as it has cost us dearly in Iraq. Like Col. Thursday, Rumsfeld is so obsessed with the trivialities of his command that he makes crucial tactical blunders as a result of his micromanagement of responsibilities that would have been better handled through their delegation.

I'm unsure of how popular this film is or how active its message board, but I'm interested to see what others think of these fascinating parallels. I am especially intrigued by the manner in which Wayne's proclamations at the film's end seem to mirror the rationale for staying in Iraq...to honor the deceased men and women who, like the brave soldiers who gave their lives in Thursday's foolish attack, transcend the mistakes of arrogant, egotisical, and uninformed men like Donald Rumsfeld.

Pretty relevant for a 58 year old film set nearly 150 years ago!
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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] artihcus022 17 years ago

I am especially intrigued by the manner in which Wayne's proclamations at the film's end seem to mirror the rationale for staying in Iraq...

Of course you do know that John Wayne's character in no way condones what happens or for that matter Thursday's popular revisionism. That look on his face at the end when he corrects one guy's malapropism of Collingwood says it all. He's doing it because it works for the army and the soldiers who are actually fighting most of whom are working class sloppy joes who are told to follow orders by superior officers even if it means following them to death. And even though he knows it's wrong, stupid and even immoral he never one rails against Thursday in a manner that could be insubordinate.

As for Rumsfeld and Thursday...well you can say the similarity exists between many similar conservative bigots who care more about climbing hierarchies than maintaining peace. In my opinion, Thursday is better than Rumsfeld because he actually fights the battle himself and leads the charge and puts his own life on the line alongside the soldiers he leads unlike Rumsfeld who's comfortable in Washington.

How much is a good nights sleep worth?

[–] pocomarc 16 years ago

JimLoneWolf demonstrates how the leftwingers will stink up any subject in order to get out their propaganda.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] conductor71-2 16 years ago

> I'm unsure of how popular this film is

Among the militaries? Well, Gen. McArthur hated this film and banned it from being seen in the occupied Japan, he being the highest commanding officer of the occupation forces. But he loved She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.

> or how active its message board, but I'm interested to see what others think of these fascinating parallels.

Rumsfeld is certainly not the only real-life figure resembling to Thursday. What Thursday represents is an attitude often seen in officers who never worked on the front, and is bureaucratically obsessed about authorities. Needless to say, Ford disliked immensely that kind of attitude, while there were and there still is, there probably will be more and more. He himself encountered these bureaucratic officers when he was serving the Navy during WW II.