This was decided weeks ago.
Let the dems have the illusion that they forced him out. They will then overreach. When Gates reaches the same conclusions Rumsfeld did they'll have nowhere to go.
I don't think there will be any change in policy; stay the course will be adapted to something like adapt to win (like Ken Melman was saying during the campaign). Gates will understand that cutting and running is a win for AQ and we will not do that. The President looks so down now and the media has done everything in its power to destroy this man. He needs to bounce back and hope he does soon. The media should be scorned and shunned for what they are doing.