News & Politics - Donald Rumsfield is stepping down

Bkrstar · 11-08-2006, 11:12 AM

GOP officials: Rumsfeld stepping down - CNN.com

Quote:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, intends to resign after six stormy years at the Pentagon, Republican officials said Wednesday.

Officials said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, would replace Rumsfeld.

The development occurred one day after congressional elections that cost Republicans control of the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate as well. Surveys of voters at polling places said opposition to the war was a significant contributor to the Democratic Party's victory. (Watch why the Army Times said Rumsfeld had to go -- 1:49 Video)

President George W. Bush was expected to announce Rumsfeld's departure and Gates' nomination at a news conference. Administration officials notified congressional officials in advance.

Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier about the results of last night's elections, I read this. I'm seriously giddy right now.

collide · 11-08-2006, 11:24 AM

President Bush just announced this. Hee.

ceilirose · 11-08-2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bkrstar (View Post)

GOP officials: Rumsfeld stepping down - CNN.com

Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier about the results of last night's elections, I read this. I'm seriously giddy right now.

ITA. More so - a theory floating around teh last few weeks was that if Lieberman won, Bush would appoint him of Secretary of Defense and the Republican Governor of CT would appont a Republican.

The fact that this guy is a former CIA head isn't comforting but he couldn't do any worse than Rumsfeld.

UnsilentMajorty · 11-08-2006, 11:32 AM

Rumsfeld's main problem is he was an arrogant businessman who thought he could fight wars like you run a business: On the cheap and with as little resources to get the job done.

This is the major factor of why post-war Iraq is such a mess, insurgents not withstanding.

Rumsfeld didn't requisition enough troops to secure the peace and when advisers told him this (pre-invasion) he fired them. Rumsfeld worked off the assumption everyone would greet the U.S. as liberators, there would be no power vacuum and no ethnic and religious struggle once Saddam was gone and it would be a turn-key operation where the U.S. literally hands over a newly liberated country to its provisional government and everything is hunky dory from that point on.

Rumsfeld's main agenda was to do things differently than Bill Clinton did during Bosnia, and that meant using mostly U.S. forces and not spread the cost and responsibility among other nations. The "Coalition of the Willing" was just a smoke screen when the U.S. is the one who defeated Saddam, is still there and financing 99% of the reconstruction costs when most other nations realize it isn't worth the cost (in lives and resources) because they have no vital interests, I.E. oil to remain.

Jacob1983 · 11-08-2006, 11:33 AM

Joe Lieberman might take Rumsfield's place? Is that really going to happen? I think it's probably best for Rumsfield to step down now than to be canned by the Democrats. My question is "who in America wants the job"? The person that takes Rumsfield's place is going to be under a lot of pressure and will be expected to do a better job ASAP. I feel sorry for the person that takes Rumsfield's place.

**sunnykerr** · 11-08-2006, 11:36 AM

According to MSNBC...

Quote:

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, is resigning after six stormy years at the Pentagon, President Bush said Wednesday.

Bush said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA under the first President Bush, would be tapped to replace Rumsfeld.

migamoo · 11-08-2006, 11:40 AM

This is great news. I don't know much about Gates, can anyone give any good info? I looked in Wikipedia though.

Jacob1983 · 11-08-2006, 11:47 AM

Good luck to the new guy. He's gonna need all the luck he can get.

ceilirose · 11-08-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob1983 (View Post)

Joe Lieberman might take Rumsfield's place? Is that really going to happen? I think it's probably best for Rumsfield to step down now than to be canned by the Democrats. My question is "who in America wants the job"? The person that takes Rumsfield's place is going to be under a lot of pressure and will be expected to do a better job ASAP. I feel sorry for the person that takes Rumsfield's place.

How could he have been canned by the Democrats? Bush is still the President.

And no - Lieberman is not going to take Rumsfeld's place - I said it was just a theory floating around.

Jacob1983 · 11-08-2006, 12:00 PM

Let's face it, I'm sure there are some Democrats in Congress that would love to see Bush and his administration crash and burn even more than they already have. This might sound bad but I do think that some Democrats in Congress hate Bush so much that they wouldn't mind if something happened to him.
Back to Rumsfield, I actually think this will help Bush somewhat. A lot of Democrats say they want change. Maybe this is a sign of that change.

Lexis · 11-08-2006, 12:01 PM

I did a little "woo hoo!" when they announced this on the BBC. I'm so glad this hack is gone and am praying that the new guy can turn it around. What has been done already is unforgivable but hopefully we can spare those still there in Iraq and Afghanistan some of the more brutal screw ups of Rumsfeld.

ceilirose · 11-08-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob1983 (View Post)

Let's face it, I'm sure there are some Democrats in Congress that would love to see Bush and his administration crash and burn even more than they already have. This might sound bad but I do think that some Democrats in Congress hate Bush so much that they wouldn't mind if something happened to him.
Back to Rumsfield, I actually think this will help Bush somewhat. A lot of Democrats say they want change. Maybe this is a sign of that change.

I think you're wrong - that would mean Cheney would be President and that would be an even worse scenario.

Gates was in the CIA when the Iran Contra mess happened so it remains to be seen what he'll do..we'll just have to wait and see.

CourtneyS416 · 11-08-2006, 12:06 PM

Robert Gates is currently the president of Texas A&M University. I had an opportunity to meet him while I was a student there. He is a great man. I'm very happy to hear that he will be Rumsfield's replacement.

Here is a link to a bio of Gates.
FOXNews.com - FOX Facts: Dr. Robert M. Gates - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum

Bkrstar · 11-08-2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Let's face it, I'm sure there are some Democrats in Congress that would love to see Bush and his administration crash and burn even more than they already have. This might sound bad but I do think that some Democrats in Congress hate Bush so much that they wouldn't mind if something happened to him.
Back to Rumsfield, I actually think this will help Bush somewhat. A lot of Democrats say they want change. Maybe this is a sign of that change.

Something happen, like impeachment? Than yes, I'll agree with you. I think there are alot of Dems who hope that by taking back the House they can expose and help correct many of the fraudulent dealings of this administration. It's not just the Democrats who hope to cause trouble for the other party -- Monicagate ring a bell?

And I think Bush would've had a lot more credibility in asking Rumsfield to resign if he had done it back before the elections. Now he's attempting to struggle with this new concept of "bipartisan politics" -- a pharse I bet gets said more by the administration during the following two years than it has during all of the previous six.

*Ledi* · 11-08-2006, 12:11 PM

I came here just to post this. It's such great news!


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