Listening to the radio at work. Breaking news.
Rumsfeld is resigning, just announced and Bush will be speaking on the topic shortly.
Thats all I know.
Breaking News! Rumsfeld is stepping down!
Listening to the radio at work. Breaking news.
Rumsfeld is resigning, just announced and Bush will be speaking on the topic shortly.
Thats all I know.
Don't taze me bro!
Fox News has it in their headline, but no details. The Pentagon isn't saying anything. Good call on your part if it's true.
According to CNN, he's being replaced by Robert Gates, the ex-CIA director, which wouldn't be a bad call at all.
President speaking now on CNN....
Quicklook at what the President's said (press conference):
... Election has changed many things but not Bush's responsibility to protect the United States. Secretary Rumsfeld and President have decided it is time for new leadership at the Pentagon and a fresh perspective on the war. Has asked Bob Gates (former Director, CIA) to be the new SECDEF.... Gates is currently serving as a member of the Iraq Study Group. President will have more to say later today on Rumsfeld and Gates...
On the elections, to our enemies, do not mistake the election results as a change in our resolve. To the people of Iraq do not be fearful, America will stand by you. To our service men and women, we will always support you...
Anybody familiar with Bob Gates?
SFC W
Wiki Entry...
Here is the Wikipedia entry on Bob Gates:
Robert Michael Gates (born September 25, 1943) is an American intelligence official. He served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council. Under President George H.W. Bush Gates served as Director of Central Intelligence. After leaving the CIA, Gates wrote his memoirs and became president of Texas A&M University, serving on several corporate boards.
President George W. Bush announced on November 8, 2006, the day after the 2006 midterm elections, that he would nominate Gates to succeed the resigning Donald Rumsfeld as U.S. Secretary of Defense. The Senate must confirm this nomination for Gates to become Secretary.
Childhood and education
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Gates attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated from Wichita East High School in 1961. Gates received his bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary in 1965, his master's degree in history from Indiana University in 1966, and his Ph.D. in Russian and Soviet history from Georgetown University in 1974.
Intelligence career
While at Indiana University, Gates was recruited to join the Central Intelligence Agency. But before joining the CIA full-time as an intelligence analyst, he spent two years in the Air Force; one job was giving intelligence briefings to ICBM missile crews at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. (The CIA offered no escape from the draft during the Vietnam War.).
Gates left the CIA in 1974 to serve on the National Security Council staff but returned to the CIA in late 1979. He was named the Director of the DCI/DDCI Executive Staff in 1981, Deputy Director for Intelligence in 1982, and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from April 18, 1986, to March 20, 1989. In early 1987 he was nominated to become the Director of Central Intelligence in early 1987, but withdrew after it became clear that the Senate would reject the nomination because of controversy about his role in the Iran-Contra affair.
Gates was Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs from March until August of 1989, and was Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Adviser from August 1989 until November 1991. He was nominated (for the second time) for the position of Director of Central Intelligence by President Bush on May 14, 1991, confirmed by the Senate on November 5, and sworn in on November 6, becoming the only career officer in the CIA's history (as of 2005) to rise from entry-level employee to Director. Deputy Directors during his tenure were Richard J. Kerr (from November 6, 1991, until March 2, 1992) and Adm. William O. Studeman (from April 9, 1992, through the remainder of Dr. Gates’ tenure).
During his 26-year career as an intelligence professional, he spent almost nine years on the National Security Council, serving four Presidents of both major political parties.
In 1996, his memoirs were published under the title From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insider's Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War.
Gates has been highly decorated for his service: he was the recipient of the National Security Medal and the Presidential Citizens Medal, was twice awarded the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and three times received the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.
Career after leaving the CIA
Gates became the 22nd President of Texas A&M University on August 1, 2002 following a tenure as Interim Dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M from 1999 to 2001. He has served as a member of the board of trustees of Fidelity Investments, and on the board of directors of NACCO Industries, Inc., Brinker International, Inc. and Parker Drilling Company, Inc. He also served as President of the National Eagle Scout Association during the mid-2000s.
Director of National Intelligence Offer
In February 2005, Gates wrote in a message posted on his school's website that "There seems to be a growing number of rumors in the media and around campus that I am leaving Texas A&M to become the new director of national intelligence ('Intelligence Czar') in Washington, D.C." The message said that "To put the rumors to rest, I was indeed asked to take the position, wrestled with perhaps the most difficult -- and close -- decision of my life, and last week declined the position."
Gates committed to remain as President of Texas A&M University through the summer of 2007; President George W. Bush offered the position of United States Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to John Negroponte, who accepted.
Gates said in a 2005 discussion with the university's Academy for Future International Leaders that he had tentatively decided to accept the DNI position out of a sense of duty and had written an email that would be sent to students during the press conference to announce his decision, explaining that he was leaving to serve the U.S. once again. Gates, however, took the weekend to consider what his final decision should be, and ultimately decided that he was unwilling to return to Washington, D.C. in any capacity simply because he "had nothing to look forward to in D.C. and plenty to look forward to at A&M."
Secretary of Defense
On November 8, 2006 George W. Bush nominated Robert Gates to serve as Secretary of Defense in the wake of Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. Robert Gates will now face confirmation in the Senate.
?
I'm perplexed about what the Gates appointment gives us. Sure, it may be a "fresh perspective", but unless he continued to be read in during his time at A&M, is he current on the strategic, operational, and tactical situation in Iraq/Afghanistan.
Remember, there are two open fronts in the GWOT. How long is it going to take a guy to get up to speed, and can he do it in a manner that makes his perspective relative?
Rumsfeld - Gates News Roundup...
Way too many links to post here individually - go here to the SWJ Daily News Links for:
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
- Press Conference by the President - White House News Transcript
- Bush Replaces Rumsfeld After Republican Defeat - Voice of America
- Bush, Rumsfeld Agree: ‘Timing Right for New Leadership at Pentagon’ - AFPS
- Rumsfeld to Step Down as Defense Secretary - Washington Post
- Rumsfeld Resigns Under Pressure - Washington Times
- A Meek Departure From the War Cabinet - Washington Post
- Rumsfeld Resigns as Defense Secretary - New York Times
- Rumsfeld Resigns; Bush Vows to ‘Find Common Ground’ - New York Times
- Rumsfeld Resigns as Secretary of Defense - Stars and Stripes
- Rumsfeld Resigns After Democrat Victory - London Daily Telegraph
- Rumsfeld and Bush: Casualties of Iraq - London Times
- Shake-Up, Part 2: Rumsfeld Departs - Christian Science Monitor
- Rumsfeld Resigns As Secretary of Defense - Associated Press
- Rumsfeld Quits After Democrats Ride Iraq to Win - Reuters
- Rumsfeld Out as Bush Takes Election Blame - Agence France-Presse
- Rumsfeld Replaced After Poll Loss - BBC News
- Rumsfeld’s Resignation Decided Yesterday, Bush Tells Reporters - AFPS
- Bush Changes Tunes on Rumsfeld Staying - Associated Press
- Rumsfeld Departure Shakes Bush Administration - BBC News
- Rumsfeld Sought New Role for Pentagon - Los Angeles Times
- Rumsfeld, A Newsmaker Who's Certainly Hard to Follow - Washington Post
- Rumsfeld a Forceful, Divisive Pentagon Chief - Reuters
- Rumsfeld Worked to Transform Defense Department During Tenure - AFPS
- Rumsfeld: Long Public and Private Career - Associated Press
- Profile: Donald Rumsfeld - BBC News
- Exit Strategy, Post-Rumsfeld - Los Angeles Times Editorial
- Rumsfeld’s Departure - New York Times Editorial
- The Verdict on Rumsfeld - Boston Globe Editorial
- The Defense Secretary We Had - Washington Post Commentary
- "Like Rumsfeld, Only Smaller" - Tech Central Station Commentary
- Why Master Tactician Had to Fall on His Sword - London Times Commentary
- Casualty of Own 'War on Terror' - London Daily Telegraph Commentary
- I Question The Timing, And The Sanity - Captain's Quarters Blog
- Mr. Rumsfeld Out, But Problems Remain - Westhawk Blog
- Rumsfeld Resigns - Belmont Club Blog
- Rumsfeld Resigns – With Analysis - Austin Bay Blog
Secretary of Defense Nominee Robert Gates
- Gates Expected to Make Changes at Pentagon - Voice of America
- Gaining Military’s Trust Is Early Step - New York Times
- Robert Gates Lauded As Breaker of Barriers - Washington Post
- Robert Gates, a Cautious Player - New York Times
- Nomination Offers ‘Fresh Perspective' - USA Today
- Gates Faces Major Challenges - New York Times
- The Man Who'll Replace Rummy - Time Magazine
- Defense Secretary Nominee Boasts Strong Intelligence Background - AFPS
- Biographical Information on Robert Gates - Associated Press
- Profile: Robert Gates - BBC News
Question?
Dave, you have just been promoted to the new position of 5 star general. What would be your strategy for Iraq?
First up...
Fire myself and hire a slew of Iron Majors and Strategic Corporals to take my place...Originally Posted by slapout9
And your orders sir?
Troops Fear Rumsfeld's Exit Will End Their Iraq Mission
10 November London Times - Troops Fear Rumsfeld's Exit Will End Their Iraq Mission by Martin Fletcher.
Half of America and the upper echelons of the US military may be cheering Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation from the post of Defence Secretary, but there was no rejoicing yesterday among those most directly affected by his decisions: the frontline soldiers in Iraq.
Troops expressed little pleasure at the departure of the man responsible for their protracted deployment to a hostile country where 2,839 of their comrades have died.
Indeed, some members of the 101st Airborne Division and other troops approached by The Times as they prepared to fly home from Baghdad airport yesterday expressed concern that Robert Gates, Mr Rumsfeld’s successor, and the Democrat-controlled Congress, might seek to wind down their mission before it was finished.
Mr Rumsfeld “made decisions, he stuck with them and he did what he thought was right, whether people agreed with it, liked it, or not”, Staff Sergeant Frank Notaro said. He insisted that Iraq was better off now than before the war.
Staff Sergeant Michael Howard said: “It’s a blow to the military. He was a good Secretary of Defence. He kept us focused. He kept the leaders focused. It’s going to be hard to fill his shoes.”
But one US army colonel, who did not want to be named, said that such positive views were uncommon in the higher ranks of the US military. “We are the ones closer to the problem. We are the ones who have the broader picture,” he said.
The colonel criticised Mr Rumsfeld for sending too few troops to Iraq, and for refusing to listen to the advice of his generals. He noted that General Eric Shinseki, the former US Army Chief of Staff, was dismissed for demanding more troops, while General John Abizaid, the commander of Central Command, was the sole general to have differed publicly with Mr Rumsfeld and survived...
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