Bush's thank you gift to the Dems for the Kerry flap:
Bush expects Rumsfeld to stay on for rest of term
By Steve Holland Wed Nov 1, 5:17 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he expected Donald Rumsfeld to stay on as defense secretary for the rest of his presidency, rejecting election-year demands the
Pentagon chief resign over
Iraq.
In campaigns for next Tuesday's elections in which Republicans are in danger of losing control of the U.S. Congress, many Democrats have called for Rumsfeld to resign and some Republicans have expressed doubts about his leadership after an October of unrelenting violence and 104 U.S. troop deaths -- the highest toll in nearly two years.
Rumsfeld survived previous attempts to force him to step down and appeared to have done so again as Bush gave him high praise for his performance in wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan and in transforming the U.S. military.
"He's handled all three at the same time. And I'm pleased with the progress we're making," Bush told Reuters and other news agencies in an Oval Office interview.
Asked if he was expecting Rumsfeld to stay on through the end of his presidency, which ends in January 2009, Bush said, "Yes, I am."
New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record) said in response: "With all due respect, the president just doesn't get it. We need a change in the Iraq strategy but with Rumsfeld running the show we'll never get it."
In the interview, Bush also played down reported strains in relations with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki over war strategy, saying he spoke to him last week and "I didn't find many differences of opinion when I talked to him."
Bush praised Maliki, who demanded on Tuesday that U.S. troops lift roadblocks around the Shi'ite slum district of Sadr City. Bush said the decision to do so was made with U.S. Gen. George Casey in the room.
"It is to me heartening to see a leader say, 'I want more troops, I want a line of authority and responsibility.' I appreciate he is making hard decisions that he thinks are necessary to keep his country united and moving forward," Bush said.
Bush said U.S. commanders in Iraq had not yet recommended a troop increase in Iraq. But he sounded like he would not be surprised if the commanders did, pointing out they had asked for an increase in June and he had quickly acquiesced.
He said at this point they had told him that "the troop level they've got right now is what they can live with."
'TRUSTED ADVISER'
Bush also voiced strong confidence in Vice President
Dick Cheney, a week after Cheney agreed with a questioner a "dunk in water" for terrorism suspects might be useful if it saved lives.
The comment revived concerns the
CIA might be willing to engage in simulated drowning, or "water boarding," which some human rights advocates call torture.
"He's a trusted adviser," Bush said.
Sipping on a Diet Coke as he spoke, Bush shrugged off a U.S. military chart depicted in The New York Times. The chart, described by the newspaper as classified, said Iraq was descending into chaos.
"I haven't seen that chart. Again this is one of those mysterious charts that somehow appear. I will tell you that October's been a tough month. I also tell you that the amount of violence is down in Baghdad since that chart was made," Bush said.
"We are winning" in Iraq, he insisted.
Bush, trying to convince skeptical Americans to stick with his Iraq policy and with Republicans in the elections, again expressed confidence his party would keep control of the House of Representatives and the Senate despite polls showing Democrats may make big gains.
As for Republican candidates who have parted ways with him on Iraq, Bush said, "People run the race they need to run." |
