Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6130296.stm$ X0 U- R$ P4 c6 f
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is ton stand down, after anger over the war in Iraq led to bruising losses for Republicans in mid-term elections.
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7 P& a) X7 b" W( ^: l) bPresident George W Bush said that he and Mr Rumsfeld had agreed that a "fresh perspective" was needed in Iraq.
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Former CIA Director Robert Gates has been nominated to replace Mr Rumsfeld.
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The Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in the polls, and the Senate balance of power hangs on a tight race in just one state, Virginia.9 D$ w! E- _2 v% V7 t& B. [8 `
+ M. l9 k6 X$ ^"It's been quite a time," said Mr Rumsfeld in a short departing speech, delivered alongside President Bush, two hours after the president had announced that he would be replaced.公仔箱論壇8 \; E9 L" ?2 p4 N" @, O; R6 E
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As a key architect of the war in Iraq, Mr Rumsfeld had faced growing calls to quit as violence has continued to spiral, three years after the US-led invasion. tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb" s8 r# X; V& X$ X0 C! l
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"I have benefited greatly from criticism, and at no time have I suffered a lack thereof, " Mr Rumsfeld said, quoting Winston Churchill.
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0 [% W/ c" ]5 v1 ^9 |7 q t+ dHe described the Iraq conflict as a "little understood, unfamiliar war" and said he was confident of ultimate success there." X' z3 R- c5 u3 X
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But BBC News website world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says his resignation is a sign and an admission that the US policy in Iraq has not worked, so far.
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: c% h5 k9 `, m O4 PTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。Mr Bush described Mr Rumsfeld as a "patriot who served this country with honour and distinction", as well as "a trusted adviser and a friend".
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/ x) X' I% {* z* ^* b% s公仔箱論壇"America is safer and the world is more secure" as a result of Mr Rumsfeld's leadership, he said.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。: ~9 I _6 B) A6 V& y
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However, Democrats welcomed Mr Rumsfeld's resignation.
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7 @0 Y4 u0 l! l# }0 x公仔箱論壇"Secretary Rumsfeld's war plans in Iraq have failed. The country is on a dangerous course, and the administration has finally recognised the need for drastic, immediate change," said Senator John Rockefeller, senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. |