Global War Critics Hail Rumsfeld Departure

Critics Sigh Relief, Supporters Say They'll Work Closely With Replacement

(AP)  The departure of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld cheered critics around the world who saw him as a symbol of a failed war in Iraq, while supporters of the military mission pledged to work closely with his successor.

"The U.S. has to get out," declared Chandra Muzaffar, president of the International Movement for a Just World think-tank in Malaysia. "The occupation will have to end. There is no other way."

Rumsfeld resigned on Wednesday after Democrats won a narrow majority in the Senate and regained total control of Congress, dealing a powerful blow to President Bush.

Rumsfeld was both reviled and grudgingly respected around the world for his stance on Iraq and support for controversial Bush administration policies like the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

On the streets of Baghdad, critics blamed Rumsfeld for mounting bloodshed in Iraq and crimes they said were committed by American troops.

"Rumsfeld's resignation is not enough," said Osama Ahmed, 50, a Higher Education Ministry employee. "He should be put under investigation for his responsibility in the ... killings and rapes carried out by U.S. soldiers against Iraqi citizens."

Reaction was triumphant in other parts of the Middle East. In Lebanon, the English-language The Daily Star newspaper called Rumsfeld "a casualty of the war he launched in Iraq." The Syrian state-run Tishreen newspaper said he was "the first of the drowning hawks."

Outspoken Bush critic President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela was giddy as he read aloud a news report of Rumsfeld's resignation.

"Heads are beginning to roll," Chavez said during a news conference Wednesday. "It was about time he resigned. The president should resign now."

U.S. allies, meanwhile, pledged to work closely with Mr. Bush's chosen replacement for Rumsfeld, Robert Gates, a former CIA director.

Indonesia hoped for continued military cooperation with the U.S., while Japan and Australia vowed to continue their backing for reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Australia has 1,300 troops in the country; Japan has withdrawn its troop contingent but is still providing air support for reconstruction.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki refused to comment directly on Rumsfeld's departure, but said Tokyo expected its close security ties with the U.S. to continue under Gates.

"Since he has worked at the CIA and was a member of the National Security Council, I have heard that he is extremely well-versed in security issues," Shiozaki said.

Australia's conservative Prime Minister John Howard on Thursday reaffirmed his support for the Iraq war, and said he did not believe Washington would pull its troops out of Iraq, despite following the U.S. midterm elections.

"The strategy is not going to change," Howard told reporters in Canberra. "Although they are clearly looking for ways in which their tactics may change ... They are not going to suddenly pull out of Iraq."

Howard, a staunch Bush supporter, described the decision to replace Rumsfeld as "a gesture" to voters unhappy with the deteriorating situation in Iraq. But he said he did not believe the United States would substantially alter its position on the war.

"Clearly the president has reacted to the vote, obviously he has and that is sensible, but his reaction does not amount to a fundamental change in direction," he said.

In Afghanistan, the government of President Hamid Karzai expressed sadness over Rumsfeld's abrupt departure.

"We are sad that he has resigned," Jawed Ludin, the chief of staff for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, told The Associated Press. "We in Afghanistan are very pleased and very grateful for (Rumsfeld's) support for Afghanistan."

Ludin added that Kabul did not expect Washington to changes its policy toward the country.

In South Korea, speculation emerged that the change in leadership at the Pentagon and in the Congress could pressure the Bush administration to back down on its refusal of one-on-one talks with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program.

Pyongyang has long demanded direct talks with Washington to discuss U.S. financial restrictions imposed for the North's alleged illegal activities like counterfeiting and money laundering. The U.S. has insisted it will talk to the North only within the framework of multilateral talks.

"The basic U.S. policy will change little, but in its approach, the Bush administration may come under pressure to talk directly to North Korea," said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Dongguk University.

[grazinggoat]

Very well said ceekuei, and verrz. Matter of fact the change to be brought in, from Rumsf to Gates, makes no major change, for the time being.

Nonetheless the major sweep the Dems have realised in the very recent mid-elections, will temper the savage limitless and disproportionate reaction the war machine and submachine was causing this administration to subdue the nations on Earth. This was a 'monster' feared by a majority of the population on Earth. Hence inspiring the general view of danger Bush represented to peace on Earth.

One can hope for the best. One can only hope this gang of democracy robbers be put to trial, and brought in front of the United Nation Crime against Humanity tribunal, for all the massacres directly casued by them, result of misleading the American public, corruption, coup, imprisonment, torture, killings, destruction and assassinations (AbuGraib-Guantanamo).

[ceekuei]

Throwing out a garbage (Rumsfeld) is quite different from throwing out the garbage (Bush and Cheney. Unfortunately those who are equally responsible have since disembarked from the bus to no where)According to studies, 650,000 thousands have died because of their adventure. Discount this by 50% you still have a lot of dead bodies in 325,000 thousands. Saddam is reputedly to have killed 300,000 odd plus with arms provided by the West and Rumsfeld shaking Saddam's hands in goodwill gesture for his help in the US/Iran conflict. Saddam, presumabl, will hang for his killing of 14 Kurds (?) and where should we place Bush and gang on the scale of mass murderers and crime against humanity for a war of choice not of necessity?

[verrz]

Its funny, even though this resignation is long overdue, in the end its a bit sad to see a high flying hawk bite the dust.
On the abstract level of politics though, this event represents a ray of light breaking through storm clouds. Mr. Rumslfeld may have some admirable attributes, but as one of the main archetects of the silent neocon coup that threated to upend long cherished American principles, he represented a dark and eerie abberation of democratic man. If momentum continues to flow in this direction, we will witness the complete exterpation of a cancerous militarism that usually arises only in desperate and failing states. Too many Americans have died fighting related tyranny to rest easy under such a "regime change."

[Syndicate]

You people are never happy you get what you want and still *** about it. I don't blame Rumsfield. I blame the Beuracracy. The only thing thats killed more people than the worst dictator.

[tibu987]

Glad to see Rumsfeld go, but Robert Gates? That is just more of the same. Here is a guy that has been a Washington lackey for many years. Gates' strings will be pulled by "W" and cronies. Some things never change.
What can he do that is different from Rumsfeld?
Nothing.
'Nuff said.

Rumsfeld departure indicates what many have known for at least three years - that the neoConservative agenda and policies for maintaining American strength by dominating foreign countries - doesn't work. Moreover the implementation has led them to lie, to act unjustifiably, led to immoral contradictions, led to corruption at many corporate levels, altered the meaning and intent of the Constitution, distorted the sources and use of information, worsened the environment, among many, many other issues.

Thank God rumsfeld is out. One hopes that all human beings recognize that the Conservative Agenda is no way to be an American, period.

[torii187]

We are about to see, because of Rumsfelds policies, what I call the "Cannon Fodder syndrome". Under MacNamara's reign, Sub standard people "Category IV)" with GT scores in the 80's were allowed to enlist (and be drafted). Under Rumsfeld, the age is being extended to gain more soldiers. Next will come the lowering of mental standards. The training times will be shortened. This will result in unfit, untrained, and lower intelligence in the Army for the next generation. Just check with those of us who had to rebuild the Army after Vietnam. The new Sec'y ccomes from the same school as the old. Changes will be minimal!