Robert Gates to be named Secretary of Defense

Perdogg

[Perdogg]

Per AP

[Perdogg]

This is more about Iraq, this is about the big picture. The Strategic situation in the area has to do with more than just Iraq.

[SJackson]

Rumsfeld's resignation disgusts me. I had hoped today 'we' would come out standing firm and swinging. Instead, we give in with sacrificing

No, we gave in weeks ago, you and I just didn't know about it. Stupid move, speaking for myself, I wouldn't have stayed home over Rummy's resignation or likely the change in Iraq policy, but the information should have been out there. And it would have impacted undecideds.

[Lurking in Kansas]

I couldn't believe my eyes that Wikipedia already had that written up and posted. What's up with that?aaaaa

You can write anything anytime on Wiki. You could have done it if you'd been faster... :-)

[Huck]

OK i thought about it....what do you think of this... as i think about it...i think

#1, GWB had info that told him they were gonna lose, and prolly pretty big. because they had to interview the new guy and lay all the groundwork before today or yesterday...so this was in the works already...

#2, its actually pretty smart, cuz with the dem victory, the first thing they would have done is started pounding away...rumsfeld's gotta go, the war is a failure, blah blah, and this way, he totally steals their thunder and beats em to the punch, and

#3, it makes gwb look reasonable, because he just said at the press conf basically, hey, the dems won the election, he acknowledges its time for a new direction and he's ready and moving on it already.

so it might actually be a very smart move on his part...the dems can still go out and say, see i told you so, but americans dont want to hear much of that..that'll last a day or so...chrissy mathews is gonna have a woody all day and all night, but in the long run, gwb is putting them in a position where they have to work with him. i just hope they get the job done one way or the other...and i wasnt crazy about rummy...he was arrogant and made ppl dislike him.(uh oh...last line requires flame retardant suit)

[George W. Bush]

Just too many votes to make up. The Senate is gone.

In general, yes. But with Webb and Lieberman there and with some support by the Breax/Nelson moderates, I think we have something close to a majority for continuing in Iraq for at least a year or two.

It's not all over yet. No matter what, Lieberman will stick with the WOT. He's already paid the price for it and they couldn't defeat him. Joe Lieberman plus Dick Cheney makes 51 votes, no matter what. And Webb is likely to go along. So is Breax and Casey and maybe even Hitlery and Carry.

We aren't going to have any immediate pullout.

[SJackson]

Pull out immediately. Whatever happens happens. It will anyway. But no more Americans have to die.

I'll wait for the "plan", but that appears to be what's in store. In which case I suppose it should be rapid. The Iraqis are simply going to have to stand on their own.

[Jambe]

Short term it's probably well that SecDef Rumsfeld depart.

With the Dem's in control of the House and possible Senate, every Dem chairman/chairwomen would be dragging Rumsfeld and staff before some investigative panel for the sole purpose of bringing the U.S. down.

Thank you Mr. Rumsfled for your service to our country.

[jrooney]

More Americans will die if we pull out of Iraq. Radical Islamists will over throw the young democracy there, then they will have a staging ground to train and plan attacks against Americans, Israel and our weztern allies. We will have to go back to Iraq again in the future then. No, we stay, we finish the job and we win.

[Interesting Times]

It makes Bush look like he can be cowed.

That's the more charitable interpretation...

[NeoCaveman]

We are so F.....

I knew it they day they brought Baker back into the fold. I didn't say it because I would have gotten screamed at (or worse) here on FR. Also, because I didn't want to believe it.

[Sabramerican]

Exactly.

And what is wrong is the over all foreign policy.

The wrong person is being tossed.

James Baker will now be the de facto Sec of State, if not more. Saudi interests will prevail.

[cgk]

What was it? It's been edited & locked apparently:

"Because of recent vandalism or other disruption, editing of this article by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled. Such users may discuss changes, request unprotection, or create an account."

[George W. Bush]

Thank you Mr. Rumsfled for your service to our country.

Ditto. Probably the best since our last Secretary Of War during WW II, Henry Stimson.

[redgirlinabluestate]

If Bush had done this before the elections the liberals would have beat him and all republicans over the head with it.

And? We might have lost the election?

[Publius Valerius]

There is a large article in Texas Monthly this month on this fellow, I believe.

I only skimmed it, but it seemed to be very flattering.

[SoCal Pubbie]

You may be right, but few here want to hear it. Fighting the Dems tooth and nail will not work after you've just lost an election. Sun Tzu wrote "If you are strong, appear weak". Let's see what Bush can do in the next two years. All is not lost.

[ProudFossil]

I have another prediction which is primarily based on Rumsfield leaving. Do not be surprised if Pakistan declares the US as persona-non-grata within the next few days. Unexpected dominoes will start to fall now.

[Sabramerican]

The "plan" will be to rely on the neighboring Arabs for stability.

The Arab price will be a pound- or ton- of Israeli flesh.

Baker will be more then happy to comply.

Israel will be sold out...and there will be no stability.

[Youngman442002]

"Les Aspin is extremely dead."


But he did just vote

[countess]

Gates is a member of the Baker commission. Wonder what he's gonna do in iraq? /sarc

I have no idea. But I know the dems have been saying we don't have enough troops in Iraq. Not sure if we'll hear that again.