Rumsfeld resigning

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Well, just one week after Bush publicly declared the Rumsfeld and Cheney are staying for the rest of his presidency, Rumsfeld resigns and will be replaced by former CIA head Robert Gates (about whom I don't know anything). Here the story:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, intends to resign after six stormy years at the Pentagon, Republican officials said Wednesday.

Officials said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, would replace Rumsfeld.

Is this the new, "able to make concessions to reality" version of Bush? It took him long enough, though.

I'm sure Andrew Sullivan will jump with even greater jubilation when he hears this. But frankly, the problem is Bush. I don't think the appointment will suddenly reverse our fortunes in Iraq. I don't think anyone could turn it around in the immediate future.

And by the way, Bush doesn't have the authority to fire Cheney, does he?. The Vice President is an elected office in its own right.

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