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.

[Dark Skies]

I should have posted a barf alert for that statement.

I think the war has been a great success for everyone but the extreme left...and Saddam and family.

[NotchJohnson]

Wouldn't you do this BEFORE the election? Timing people, timing.

[meandog]

Rummy is a great American.

Yup, but a rotten wartime SECDEF!

[taxed2death]

"Oh what joy. The Neo Isolationists of Bush 1 are back. We just surrender the War on Islamic Facism."

Well based on Rummy's "success" in Iraq....if he had been the head of a corporation, he would have had his walking papers a long time ago. The truth hurts sometimes. You can't impose "democracy" on 12th century savages. Especially with less than half of the troops needed to occupy the country.

[Obadiah]

I love GW Bush, but I completely fail to see how handing the Democrats another victory scalp will assist things. Do you think it will stop? Do you think the Democrat beast and their MSM companion will ever be satiated? Nope. We are caving fast.

[beckett]

The brilliant Rumsfeld, so strong and reassuring a presence in the days immediately after 911, got lost somewhere between his military philosophy (hi-tech, fewer boots) and what was happening on the ground in Iraq. It seemed every negative development in the war zone was downplayed, evey call for a change in strategy effectively ignored.

Flexibiliy was supposed to be a hallmark of Rumsfeld's new military, but it seems his own personal inflexibility is what doomed him.

I'll always admire him, and curse his critics more than I'd ever curse him, but as one of the primary architects of the badly mismanaged War in Iraq, it's fitting he should walk the plank.

[Texas Songwriter]

The election has not been certified, and not Bush caves and begins a democrat agenda. Rumsfeld is the first sacrificed. War crimes next. I expect there will be a call for Cheney to resign. I predict that he will, but for crass political reasons...to groom a moderate, liberal, Rockefeller Republican for the next election.

It begins today with the President of the United States rolling over for the democrats. I am dissappointed.

[CDHart]

"Given their situation with their new Dims, they may be forced to increase funding and troop levels to Iraq. In fact, I think it's likely."

I hope you're right. But Rumsfeld leaving at this juncture is not going to do much for troop morale. It's not doing a whole lot for mine, either.

Carolyn

[BibChr]

For us, the freed Iraqis, and anyone yearning for peace and freedom in that region.

Totally serious.

[HelloooClareece]

I'm really getting sick of you.

[RangerM]

See 47

[SmoothTalker]

"This is better than Earth Day and United Nations Day combined. Oh joy!"

Don't forget Kwanza and Ramadan.

[penowa]

I am not worrying about impeachment.

Neither am I. The Democrats know the Republicans don't have the balls to fight them so there will be a ton of resignations before it reaches impeachment. Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Teddy Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry are busy "re-stocking" Bush's cabinet. Sooner or later, they'll get to Bush too, no matter how many people he tosses overboard.

[007girl]

Over My Dead Body!!!!!! Hahahaaa

[stevestras]

To all you losers who want to attack Bush and/or Rumsfield because you didn't get your way in yesterdays election,

GROW UP!

If any of you has accomplished a fraction of what eather of these two have accomplished for our country, I take it back.

[MNJohnnie]

Ah NO. Because all your stated assumption about Iraq are all nonsense. The seem to be wholly based on your inability to learn any fact that does not validate your preconceived Dinocon dogmas. Here the data. Try learning the facts rather then cling mindlessly to your Neo Isolationist Dogmas. Your statments demonstrate you have a complete ignorance of any facts about Iraq. Try speaking less and learning more.

http://icasualties.org/oif/

http://icasualties.org/oif/IraqiDeaths.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Security_Forces

[lwg8tr]

"Mommy is it ok to lie?".."Well Johnny it's just a little white lie about The Sec of Defence being fired because Daddy does'nt want to try and not look too political". Awful just awful for him to say that. John Conyers is drawing up the Articles of Impeachment right now. This is gonna be fun the next few months until Nancy Pelosi and the village idiots start farking up the country because they can't help themselves. Man listening to Rush I can gurantee El Rushbo won't be invited to the Whitehouse anytime soon.

[auboy]

IIRC, Rumsfeld offered his resignation back in 2004. Recently reelected President Bush refused it.

[Obadiah]

What I'd like to know is exactly what role is JIM BAKER now playing in this administration?

[Solitar]

The neocons cost Republicans congress and may result in the Democrats winning the Presidency. One more should be dumped -- Cheney should step down.

Any more than that would be viewed as a rout.

We've two years to salvage what's left and elect a Republican, a real Goldwater type conservative. Are there any? Or are we faced with only neocons and RINO's?