Rumsfeld Steps Down; Gates To Succeed Him

Bush: Defense Secretary To Be Replaced By Ex-CIA Chief

(CBS/AP)  After years of defending his secretary of defense, President Bush on Wednesday announced Donald H. Rumsfeld's resignation within hours of the Democrats' triumph in congressional elections. Mr. Bush reached back to his father's administration to tap a former CIA director to run the Pentagon.

The Iraq war was the central issue of Rumsfeld's nearly six-year tenure, and unhappiness with the war was a major element of voter dissatisfaction Tuesday — and the main impetus for his departure. Even some GOP lawmakers became critical of the war's management, and growing numbers of politicians were urging President Bush to replace Rumsfeld.

Mr. Bush said Robert M. Gates, 63, who has served in a variety of national security jobs under six previous presidents, would be nominated to replace Rumsfeld. Gates, currently the president of Texas A&M University, is a Bush family friend and a member of an independent group studying the way ahead in Iraq.

The White House hopes that replacing Rumsfeld with Gates can help refresh U.S. policy on the deeply unpopular war and perhaps establish a stronger rapport with the new Congress. Rumsfeld had a rocky relationship with many lawmakers.

"Secretary Rumsfeld and I agreed that sometimes it's necessary to have a fresh perspective," Mr. Bush said in the abrupt announcement during a post-election news conference.

Gates is currently a member of the Iraq study group, which is charged with charting a new course in Iraq, CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod reports.

"Because our long-term strategic interests and our national and homeland security are at risk, I did not hesitate when the president asked me to return to duty," Gates said.

In a later appearance at the White House with Rumsfeld and Gates at his side, President Bush praised both men, thanked Rumsfeld for his service and predicted that Gates would bring fresh ideas.

"The secretary of defense must be a man of vision who can see threats still over the horizon and prepare our nation to meet them. Bob Gates is the right man to meet both of these critical challenges," the president said.

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Bio: Rumsfeld's Long Career
Learn more about Robert Gates

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In brief remarks, Rumsfeld described the Iraq conflict as a "little understood, unfamiliar war" that is "complex for people to comprehend." Upon his return to the Pentagon after appearing with Mr. Bush and Gates, Rumsfeld said it was a good time for him to leave.

"It will be a different Congress, a different environment, moving toward a presidential election and a lot of partisanship, and it struck me that this would be a good thing for everybody," Rumsfeld told reporters.

But underscoring that he would not bow to those pushing for a quick U.S. withdrawal, he also said, "I'd like our troops to come home, too, but I want them to come home with victory."

There was little outward reaction among officials at the Pentagon, beyond surprise at the abrupt announcement.

Asked whether Rumsfeld's departure signaled a new direction in a war that has claimed the lives of more than 2,800 U.S. troops and cost more than $300 billion, Mr. Bush said, "Well, there's certainly going to be new leadership at the Pentagon."

Despite saying that he wanted to work with Democrats on Iraq, at times Mr. Bush seemed as dug in as ever about compromising on his wartime policies, Axelrod reports.

"See, if the goal is success, then we can work together," Mr. Bush said. "If the goal is to get out now regardless, then that's going to be hard to work together."

Voters appeared to be telling politicians that the sooner the war ends the better. Surveys at polling places showed that about six in 10 voters disapproved of the war and only a third believed it had improved long-term security in the United States.

[pakaal]

machnews,

I get the whole part about "Know it all Pelosi" but what's wrong with Gates? He has long-time experience in government, experience in Iraq, ex-CIA so he knows the intelligence community, has worked with six Presidents.... He seems like a reasonable choice for the job.

[highthis]

It's a good thing that we have a new sectary Defense. We need a new guy for this postion.

[tinker3478]

What would make the last couple of days even sweeter is Congress taking up the impeachment of the Scoundrel from Crawford come next year. But face it-what would be gained? We can't bring back our dead but maybe we can bring home our troops. Democrats and Republicans need to put aside the pettiness and the name-calling, and see if we can rebuild this country.

[usawatchman]

sorry wrong board

[usawatchman]

checks and balances

We may have to take up ARMS and
run those CRIMINALS out
ONE GOVERNMENT BUILDING AT A TIME

===========

"culture of corruption." insinuates CRIMES have been COMMITTED
and NOW people need to go to JAIL...

MY Constitutional rights were VIOLATED
by the highest court in the land (and those below it)

==========
The COURTS and GOVERNMENT are CORRUPT
==========
It better NOT be BUSINESS a USUAL

WE NEED IMPEACHMENT SOME OF THESE JUDGES
in the SUPREME and other US COURTS

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
James B. Veasaw v. Cari M. Domingues,et al.
No: 05-1467

Securities and Exchange Commission was giving away and/or selling Govt. jobs, and Government employees commit CRIMES against the
people (me and others) Perjury, mail/wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence...etc and the COURTS
(US SUPREME COURT!) were helping them it COVER UP..!
=============
Do you know why they call it CIVIL COURT ?

Because Gentlemen thought there had to be
a better way to settle disputes other than with VIOLENCE

When the COURTS are CORRUPT
You no longer have a CIVIL SOCIETY

You now have a TYRANNY..

[usawatchman]

Well now we're down to two WMD, Dubya and Dead Eye ***. I am proud of what the American people did Tuesday, great job and don't let your guard down, we may have to do it again in two years.
Posted by mjv2944 at 08:29 AM : Nov 09, 2006

mjv2944

We may have to take up ARMS and
run those CRIMINALS out ONE BUILDING AT A TIME

===========

%u201Cculture of corruption.%u201D insinuates CRIMES have been COMMITTED
and NOW people need to go to JAIL...

MY Constitutional rights were VIOLATED
by the highest court in the land (and those below it)

==========
The COURTS and GOVERNMENT are CORRUPT
==========
It better NOT be BUSINESS a USUAL

WE NEED IMPEACHMENT OF SOME OF THESE JUDGES
in the SUPREME and other US COURTS

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
James B. Veasaw v. Cari M. Domingues,et al.
No: 05-1467

Securities and Exchange Commission was giving away and/or selling Govt. jobs, and Government employees commit CRIMES against the
people (me and others) Perjury, mail/wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence...etc and the COURTS
(US SUPREME COURT!) were helping them it COVER UP..!
=============
Do you know why they call it CIVIL COURT ?

Because Gentlemen thought there had to be
a better way to settle disputes other than with VIOLENCE

When the COURTS are CORRUPT
You no longer have a CIVIL SOCIETY

You now have a TYRANNY..

Wow Don Rumsfeld resigns as secretary of defense and President Bush nominated bob gates as the new secretary of defense. He nominated the wrong person , He should of nominated Know it all Nancy Pelosi as the new secretary of defense. That way the country can see what a fool she really is and she wouldn't be speaker of the house!

Wow Don Rumsfeld resigns as secretary of defense and President Bush nominated Bob Gate as the new secretary of defense , He nominated the wrong man for the job. Maybe he should of nominated know it all Nancy Pelosi and her growd of war time criticizers as the new secretary of defense. Then she would not be speaker of the house and the nation can see what a real fool she is!

[grumpas]

I have to agree with ozilot. We made one step to a better government in electing people of the opposite party! That has been the problem for 6 long years now! One party has ruled and ruled badly! That isn't democracy there is no place for the opposing side to even be heard! Now we need to work on getting more American's involved in the process. Now we need to see that people are educated enough to vote intelligently! I personally think all the hot-botton or wedge issue's needs to be gotten out of the election process. To many times they are used to grab votes the candidate would not otherwise get! People need to concentrate on what's good for the country not petty issues that aren't even issues!

[politikz]

Great job, Mr.Rumsfeld! I wish you could finish out your tour of duty in Iraq. Help out the fellas that you and Dubya sent over. Oh well. Don't worry. Where you and some of your pals will be heading, it gets alot hotter!!

[mjv2944]

Well now we're down to two WMD, Dubya and Dead Eye ***. I am proud of what the American people did Tuesday, great job and don't let your guard down, we may have to do it again in two years.

[exusmcsgt]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Bush, as late as last week was screaming to the rooftops that Rumsfeld would stay.

Yesterday, according to CNN, Bush said while Rumsfeld's resignation had been in the works for a period of time, he held off any announcement until Wednesday because he "didn't want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days" of the election campaign.

He and Rummy realized after getting their butts kicked that a Democrat-controlled Congress would bust Rummy down to private in 5 seconds flat.

If Bush had been in touch enough with the electorate he would have dumped Rummy like a hot potato last week to de-fang the electorate's frustration and hold on to a few more seats in Congress.

But then, he's never been in touch......

[djermano]

Having a military is the first sign of defeat. You are afraid that you will be taken over or occupied. Those who use guns to persuade or defend are cowards. It is the idea... that men can live without violence. Achieving its goal certainly involves absorbing the blows of violence. Militaries will never bring honor or success to any country. They are a drain of productivity and creation.

The only bad men in the world are the men who think they are not bad hiding behind a national gun. Guns don't kill people. People do!

The world is violent because they think militaries are power. In fact it is quite the opposite.

[djermano]

Having a military is the first sign of defeat. You are afraid that you will be taken over or occupied. Those who use guns to persuade or defend are cowards. It is the idea... that men can live without violence. Achieving its goal certainly involves absorbing the blows of violence. Militaries will never bring honor or success to any country. They are a drain of productivity and creation.

The only bad men in the world are the men who think they are not bad hiding behind a national gun. Guns don't kill people. People do!

The world is violent because they think militaries are power. In fact it is quite the opposite.

[juliehg-2009]

Yes, Mr. President, we can accept defeat. Sucking it up, telling the truth, and assuming responsibility are real character builders. You should try it sometime.

sawfingers, don't believe everthing you read at globalsecurity.org, hell they can't even put together a website without errors

[sawfingers]

I suggest you go to GlobalSecurity.org for an objective assessment of the war in IRaq and why we are there. So many comments here are not based on fact, but subjective and acriminous rhetoric.

[frankly6]

Don't olive branches have thorns anyway?

[radiob-2009]

Closer scrutiny will prove that the olive-branch comes with poisoned leave. Or is a prickly rose bush instead good to the eye but dangerous to the body.Better keep this guy out in the sagebrushes of Texas where he belongs.

[crloftin]

I was just saying that the Sandinistas in Nicaragua never had a chance the first time around, because of the low intensity warfare of the Reagan White House. At that time Gates was nominated to succeed Casey at the CIA, only to withdraw his nomination when questioning began about his knowledge of the Iran-Contra affair. North was in Managua to support Pastora%u2019s campain against Ortega. Pastora was one of the leaders of the Nicaraguan Contras. Maybe this time would be different. It's not from the "Mountains to the Ministries" for the Sandinitas anymore, and Daniel Ortega professes to have mellowed although he is openly untrusting of unbridled-capitalism. I%u2019m aware that Venezuela%u2019s Chavez has given inexpensive petroleum to Nicaragua to support Ortega%u2019s campaign, but Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, accepted low-cost donations of oil from Venezuela for impoverished families from the Bronx last winter. Bloomberg is an extremely popular mayor and businessman%u2013and is the only Republican for whom I%u2019ve ever voted%u2013and who more recently helped Senator Lieberman to retain his seat in the Senate. Who are we to judge Ortega for doing essentially the same: accepting oil from Venezuela for impoverished Nicaraguans? Gates is a nominee that the Democrates should oppose, despite appearing to turn their backs on a proffered olive-branch by Bush. Closer scrutiny will prove that the olive-branch comes with poisoned leave.