At Long Last - Rumsfeld Steps Down

After six years of failed leadership, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stepped down today, handing his position over to Robert Gates. Gates was confirmed on December 6, 2006, and is scheduled to be sworn in on December 18, 2006. Before being confirmed as the new U.S. Defense Secretary, Gates served as a member of the CIA, the National Security Council, as Director of Central Intelligence under President Bush, and as a member of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.

The actions of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and President Bush have undermined the contributions and sacrifices of our brave men and women in uniform. They failed to take responsibility for the consequences of a mismanaged war and refused to send adequate equipment and provisions to our solidiers serving in the war torn region.

I have called on Rumsfeld to resign for years and hope today marks the beginning of an important transiton in our military strategy. The decision to go to war is the most serious action a country can take. I wish our new Defense Secretary the best as he works to resolve this terrible conflict in Iraq, and I continue to send my prayers to all the men and women in uniform who are risking their lives to spread peace throughout the world.