Bush Says Rumsfeld Is Stepping Down

WaPo ^ | 11/8/2006 | Staff

[Dark Skies]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Wednesday Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is stepping down and former CIA Director Robert Gates will take over at the Pentagon and in prosecuting the war in Iraq.

Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, intends to resign after six stormy years at the Pentagon, Republican officials said.

[brownsfan]

"It seems, in fact, as though you're suggesting that he should step down so that someone who is incapable of making mistakes can replace him."

Yeah, that's what I said.

When trying to solve a problem, sometimes I have to walk away and come back later. Sometimes it requires a new approach. And sometimes it requires new leadership to get that new approach. Perhaps the new mistakes will be better, maybe they'll be worse, but they most likely will be different.

[Shermy]

"I'm warming to the idea of impeachment, honestly. Cheney could do this job better than Bush ever could."

I heard Cheney on Rush trying to defend Bush's immigration policy agenda. Cheney did not sound convinced when he spoke.

I want to see him take Bush's place.

[George W. Bush]

Have to start a new List now. LOL

We really need a List of all our Lists.

[MNJohnnie]

You are not even reading the data. You are just screaming nonseical talk radio slogans. READ the data I gave you. If all you can do is regugitae talking points you just waste all our time. 3 links go READ them

[Defiant]

Rumsfeld was the most talented, best member of this administration, including Bush.

[George W. Bush]

I heard Cheney on Rush trying to defend Bush's immigration policy agenda. Cheney did not sound convinced when he spoke. I want to see him take Bush's place.

1. It would kill him. Too much stress.
2. With his, what, 15% popularity, the Dims would simply walk all over him on every issue.

Be careful what you wish for.

[GOP_1900AD]

In his shoes, I would have left too.

[steve-b]

Rumsfeld Cuts And Runs.

[Eagle Eye]

his "go to war with the Army you have" when armor is scarce and IEDs are exploding everywhere didn't much help is statue.

Exactly.

If he'd have planned to secure the area earlier he wouldn't have had a prolonged occupation.

And no, that isn't hindsight, many of us knew it back in '03 that the troops were spread too thin to secure the country.

[Lib-Lickers 2]

saying so doesn't make it so

he needed to fire some generals over there and take the offense again

tell us all about the progress made in the last 6 months in Iraq

a new SOD can only help the situatuion and I'm betting Rummy agrees

[doorma]

One possible military strategy would be to surrender. Question: To whom, exactly, would we surrender? Terror? Islamofascists? The "evildoers?" Who's on the other side of the table?

[ichabod1]

If Bush had fired Rumsfeld the first thing the rats would have said would have been "This is a good start, now the President needs to redeem himself by resigning himself."

[ichabod1]

If the troops had been given orders to hammer the insurgency Rumsfeld wouldn't have had to resign.

[ichabod1]

Less boots are the future.

ISLAM is the future.

[taxed2death]

re: post #144.

I read 'em MHJ.....they look like too little....too late. Rummy's reaction to insurgents was too little to late. This of course stemmed from his "war-lite" policy. You secure one terrorist hang out and leave....only to have the shit pit fill up immediately with more a-hole muzzies while you scurry off to try and secure another town. I have quite a few Jarheads as friends and get some pretty interesting info from them as they rotate back. Anyway...
I'm sure this won't be the last time we disagree. Rummy is a Patriot for sure.,.. but he just screwed up too many times. So be it.

[donsj]

1. Why in heaven's name didn't he do this before the election when it might have made a difference?

2. The Democrats will claim they are responsible for this. Oh never mind, my wife says Pelosi just gave a news conference and claims they demanded his resignation in their meeting with the president this morning.

3. Bush now says this was decided before the election. If so, why in the crap did he tell us before the election that Rumsfeld was going to stay through the end of his 2nd term?

[Gordongekko909]

Totally not. I'm just really mad at the President right now.

[George W. Bush]

Rumsfeld Cuts And Runs.

No. Had Bush wanted him and thought it would be best for the WOT, Rummy would have stayed, no matter what the Dims put him through.

Remember, he's a very tough old political bird. Dims don't scare him. In fact, he might have enjoyed taking on the entire Dim establishment. He was a little...ahem...combative with liberals.

I almost wish Bush would have kept him. The Senate Dims would have been easy prey for him. Those hearings would have been PPV material. But it's probably best for the war and the military for him to retire now, stealing an issue for the Dims to use against Bush and the cause of Iraq. And I don't want to see his career end with Dims sniping at him mercilessly.

[Leisler]

Islam has lots of boots. Thrives well amongst losers. Loser nation, loser cultures, loser people. Low cost operation system, aquires the work of others quickly. Basically the Democrat party/Socialism without the politics.

[Salvation]

Just watched the news conference from the White House where W introduced Gates and thanked Rumsfeld. Did you see it?