Outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is a “dedicated and energetic” man who loves his country, President George W. Bush said at the Pentagon this afternoon where Rumsfeld is being honored.

“I have come to appreciate Don Rumsfeld’s professionalism, dedication, his strategic vision, his deep devotion to the men and women of this nation who wear the uniform and his love for the United States of America,” the president said.

On the day of the 9/11 attacks, Bush said, “Secretary Rumsfeld’s first instinct was to run toward danger” to help those who were injured at the Pentagon.

Bush told Rumsfeld, who is about to be replaced by the confirmed, but not yet sworn-in Robert Gates, that “the country thanks you for six outstanding years at the Department of Defense and I thank you for your sacrifice and your service and your devotion to the men and women of our armed services.”

History will judge the true influence of Rumsfeld, 74, by all accounts a polarizing figure. Some believe he is a man of honor and strength, even an inspiration to us all. Many disagree with his Iraq war policies and admit he made major miscalculations, but are nevertheless willing to acknowledge his long and distinguished career in public service.

Others believe, to the contrary, that he set back the image of this country and the entire concept of human freedom like no one in U.S. history.

He has been described as arrogant, an egomaniac, out of touch with reality, and certainly far worse. One thing is for certain in all of this - Rumsfeld shouldered an enormous burden as the fall guy for an administration whose mishandling of Iraq borders on epic, and Robert Gates has one hell of a mess to clean up.