[chiller]

And I would prefer that the President had stuck with Mr. Rumsfeld, who has performed well under adverse conditions and remained loyal.

I suspect the timing was Rummy's call. As soon as he knew Dems won the Senate, Rummy knew he'd be going through two years of congressional hearings. He may be required to testify but I suspect he'll tell 'em to stuff it.

[Bernard]

Might be, but it feels more like a political choice; I wonder if any of this would have been announced if the election had turned out differently, or just put away as a contigency plan.