ADN

Bush names Gates to replace Rumsfeld

QUOTEPresident Bush introduced Robert Gates on Wednesday afternoon as his nominee to replace Donald Rumsfeld as secretary of defense.

Gates, a former CIA chief, was a member of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that is making recommendations to Bush on how to proceed in Iraq.

Gates traveled with the panel to Iraq earlier this year, an experience, Bush said, that will enable Gates to "provide the department with a fresh perspective and new ideas on how America can achieve our goals in Iraq."

Gates said Wednesday he accepted the nomination because "the United States is at war" and the president called.

Bush announced Rumsfeld's departure earlier Wednesday.

"The timing is right for new leadership at the Pentagon," Bush said in announcing the resignation.

Rumsfeld has been heavily criticized for his policies in Iraq, and exit polls taken during Tuesday's midterm election, seen by some as a referendum on Bush and his administration, showed strong voter dissatisfaction -- 57 percent -- with the Iraq war.

You can all stop bitching now. He finally resigned...

i never thought he would do it. it seemed as though Bush was behind him 100%.

As a matter of fact, Kramer, I am happy that he resigned. While he may have made a great peace-time SecDef, he was known to not listen to the folks in the Pentagon who've made it their careers to know how to prosecute a war. I truly believe that Gates will make a far superior SecDef as he has extensive intelligence background.

Of course, this is purely my opinion and subject to all the appropriate disclaimers, but I believe (and hope and pray) that things will improve now.

Well I really didn't think Rumsfeld was that bad of a SecDef but if replacing him means that the war will go better and that Congress will actually corporate with the President then I'm happy.

never liked him for the SECDEF role. he had little ability to envision the US Armed Forces as a single organism. not sure Gates CIA background is much better.

We need a friggin war time General who grew into his stars to see this operation Top-Down. and we would have to outsource for that at this time.

Please read the Saddam sentencing thread to find my opinions on the Rumsfeld issue.. lol

finally indeed! /:D" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt=":D" />

one less moron trying to destroy my world.

The U.S. doesn't care about your world...

hey. this might come as a surprise to you: we all live on the same world!

no shit!

check this out

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Wow... you missed an obvious insult toward your country. Meh... you'll probably get it when the smoke clears. lol