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11/08/2006: "Like, We Didn't See THAT Coming!"

I always figured someday someone would kick Don Rumsfeld's smug ass. I just never thought it'd be a 66-yr-old grandmother from San Francisco. But when Rep. Nancy Pelosi takes over the House and starts sending out the subpoenas, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld won't be there to be served. Earlier today, in an obviously pre-arranged set of events, Rumsfeld stepped down from his post. His replacement, former CIA chief Robert Gates, was named shortly later.

No matter how you feel about Iraq, it's clear the campaign isn't going well. There's no exit strategy, no clear goals, no progress ... no perceptible plan. The polls showed that Iraq would play a role in the elections yesterday, and they clearly did. The White House certainly realized that once the Democrats controlled the Congress, there would be calls for hearings into the Iraq strategy, so the plans were set in motion for the replacement of Rumsfeld. Tossing Don under the bus gives Bush the plausible deniability he seeks, and serves as an olive branch for the incoming Congress. As for Rummy, I'm sure he looked at what the next 24 months would be like and the prospect of spending all his time in hearing rooms and thought, "I'm too old for this shit".

Gates will face his own hearings when his nomination is considered by the Senate. He will certainly be grilled for a plan, and that plan will be extensively debated. In the end, though, that's probably a good thing, as things can't possibly get worse in Iraq (knock wood). And Rumsfeld will fade away, secure in the knowledge that his name will be inseparably linked with Iraq in much the same way Robert McNamara was linked with Viet Nam.

Replies: 1 Comment

On Thursday, November 9th, lexicographical Rav said:

I guess the fact that Robert Gates was prepped and ready tells us the resignation was a "known known" (both to Rummy and Dubya).
Or perhaps it is a new category of fact:- the "anticipated known" ?

NOW GEORGE IS IN A 'MIRROR IMAGE' OF THE SITUATION BILL WAS IN TOWARDS THE END OF HIS PRESIDENCY, it will be interesting to see how he copes with persuading, negotiating, cajoling and (when necessary) vetoing. May not be fun, but it WILL be interesting.