Rumsfeld: Middle East Is In A "Turbulent Period"

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said the Middle East is in for a “turbulent period” Tuesday.

“In a perfect world, you would have leaders that favor a stable situation,” Rumsfeld said during an appearance before the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. “But who at the same time will move towards something that gives their people a bigger voice in their governments.”

“Regrettably none of those roads are smooth,” Rumsfeld continued. “They are rough roads and they are difficult roads.”

When directly prompted to discuss the current government protests in Libya, the Bush administration official said “it’s tough to find redeeming qualities” in the Libyan government and in the country’s leader Muammar al-Gaddaffi. 

“The only positive thing I can think about Gaddaffi is the fact that he gave up his nuclear program and he invited the inspectors in,” Rumsfeld said. “That was a big thing.” 

The former Defense Secretary was at the Heritage Foundation to promote his new book Known and Unknown: A Memoir, which chronicles his half century career in the international political scene.