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Written by Staff
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Wednesday, 08 November 2006 |
U.S. President George W. Bush today announced that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is resigning. Just hours after the Democrats took control of the House of Representatives, pending House Leader Nancy Pelosi's first order of business involved the removal of Rumsfeld referring to him as "the civilian leadership at the Pentagon".
"There has to be a signal of a change in direction on the part of the president", Pelosi said early Wednesday. She added that a leadership change would "signal an openness to new fresh ideas on the subject [of Iraq]".
Rumsfeld has held the position of Defense Secretary under President Bush since 2001. Since the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, calls for Rumsfeld's resignation have increased as the situation in Iraq continues to spiral out of control. President Bush has always stood by Rumsfeld and maintained that Rumsfeld was doing a fantastic job. Bush vowed to strongly support the Defence Secretary and told reporters earlier this month that he wanted both Rumsfeld and VP Cheney at his side until the end of his presidency.
Rumsfeld had shown no indication that he would consider resigning depending on the results of Tuesday's election. Speculation suggests that after learning of Pelosi's intent to immediately replace him, he resigned before he could be fired.
President Bush has nominated Robert Michael Gates, former head of the CIA as Rumsfeld's replacement. His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate Armed Services Committee and the U.S. Senate.
Dr.Gates who received his doctorate in Russian and Soviet history, was born in Wichita Kansas in 1943. He is married and has two children. |
