‘Sometimes it’s necessary to have fresh perspective’

AFTER years of defending his secretary of defence, US President George W Bush last night announced Donald H Rumsfeld’s resignation within hours of the Democrats’ triumph in congressional elections.

The Iraq war was the central issue of Mr Rumsfeld’s nearly six-year tenure, and unhappiness with the war was a major element of voter dissatisfaction Tuesday — and the main impetus for his departure. Even some GOP lawmakers in Congress became critical of the war’s management, and growing numbers of politicians were urging Mr Bush to replace Mr Rumsfeld.

Bush said former CIA director Robert M Gates, 63, who has served in a variety of national security jobs under six previous presidents, would be nominated to replace Mr Rumsfeld. Mr Gates, president of Texas A&M University, is a Bush family friend and a member of an independent group studying the way ahead in Iraq.