Donald Rumsfeld Is Stepping Down

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, intends to resign after six stormy years at the Pentagon, Republican officials said Wednesday.

Officials said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, would replace Rumsfeld.

The development occurred one day after midterm elections that cost Republicans control of the House, and possibly the Senate, as well. Surveys of voters at polling places said opposition to the war was a significant contributor to the Democratic victory.

President Bush was expected to announce Rumsfeld's departure and Gates' nomination at an afternoon news conference. Administration officials notified congressional officials in advance.

Last week, as he campaigned to save the Republican majority, Bush declared that Rumsfeld would remain at the Pentagon through the end of his term.

Rumsfeld, 74, was in his second tour of duty as defense chief. He first held the job a generation ago, when he was appointed by President Ford.

Gates is the president of Texas A&M University and a close friend of the Bush family. He served as CIA director for Bush's father from 1991 until 1993.

Gates first joined the CIA in 1966 and served in the intelligence community for more than a quarter century, under six presidents.

His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate.


Rummy

Might be some issues in the confirmation hearing.....The term Iran/Contra should be hitting the news (again) real soon.

Gee, the Generals must be excited to be working with a CIA guy.

Rummy needed to go about five years ago.

Count Rummie's resignation as a victory for the insurgents. They ratcheted up the violence during Ramadan/US elections, and look what happened. The US turned against the Republicans despite a solid economy. But there's also another angle. Sometimes Americans just want change for change's sake. The pendulum swings back and forth about every six to eight years. Example: 8 years of Reagan, 8 years of Clinton, 8 years of W. Bush. But after six years, the US became somewhat disaffected with each: Reagan and Iran Contra; Clinton and Lewinsky; Bush and Iraq War.

Donald Rumsfeld will be sorely missed, even by those too clouded with political animuus to know it. Rumsfeld's beliefs on warfare doctrine can be traced back to the 1970s whenever a streamlined military was simply a euphemisim for the Democrats wanting to chop our forces to bits.

We've suffered some from not fighting the war as it ought to be fought i.e. too many political considertions and not enough troop consideration. but Rummy and the better military that he has helped to build is taking the blame unduly for the politicians' waffling.

IMO Rumsfeld was Dubya's Les Aspin, and Iraq his Blackhawk Down.

I heard Rummie micromanaged troop deployments down to 100 troop units! Lighter, faster, more mobile worked great for Shock and Awe but the Occupation has been a dismal failure. I agree with the commanders who said we needed about 400K troops. Secured weapons caches. Processing, vetting and re-employment of Saddam's military.

And control of military decisions by commanders in theater.
We know, for example, there were diehard Nazi snipers and bombers after the formal surrender of German forces in WW2. How did Eisenhower handle this? He ordered that any such be shot on site and/or hung. No trials, no prisoners. They were DEAD, baby. If Sanchez had ordered that, the CINC would have fired him immediately (after hounding and Democrat handwringing).