Jo’s Cafe

Should have done this 6 months ago, or we might not have lost as badly yesterday.

Donald Rumsfeld Resigning as Defense Secretary

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is stepping down.

Earlier today, a spokesman for Rumsfeld said he’d given no indication that he would step down in the wake of Democratic election gains. The spokesman said Rumsfeld would work with Congress on Iraq but added that the focus on stabilizing the country will remain the same.

Eric Ruff, the Pentagon press secretary, said he participated in meetings with Rumsfeld on Wednesday morning and heard no talk of changing war strategies or of Rumsfeld leaving his post. He said he did not know whether Rumsfeld has talked to President Bush about his future in light of the election results.

The focus of U.S. strategy for stabilizing Iraq remains the same, Ruff said: handing over more control to the Iraqi government and encouraging the leaders there to make political progress on reconciliation and resource sharing.

“They’re moving and the (Iraqi) leadership is showing they are trying to get some things done,” Ruff said.