K-Gun
November 8th, 2006, 4:28:05 PM
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush introduced Robert Gates on Wednesday afternoon as his nominee to replace Donald Rumsfeld as secretary of defense.
Gates, a former CIA chief, was a member of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that is making recommendations to Bush on how to proceed in Iraq.
Gates traveled with the panel to Iraq earlier this year, an experience, Bush said, that will enable Gates to "provide the department with a fresh perspective and new ideas on how America can achieve our goals in Iraq."
Gates said Wednesday he accepted the nomination because "the United States is at war" and the president called.
Bush announced Rumsfeld's departure earlier Wednesday.
"The timing is right for new leadership at the Pentagon," Bush said in announcing the resignation.
Rumsfeld has been heavily criticized for his policies in Iraq, and exit polls taken during Tuesday's midterm election, seen by some as a referendum on Bush and his administration, showed strong voter dissatisfaction -- 57 percent -- with the Iraq war.
"I recognize that many Americans voted last night to register their displeasure with the lack of progress being made" in Iraq, Bush said. (Bush discusses Rumsfeld's resignation -- 1:27)
Bush said he had "a series of thoughtful conversations" with Rumsfeld about the defense secretary's resignation.
Gates headed the CIA from 1991 until 1993.
Bush said Wednesday Gates' time as deputy director of central intelligence in the Reagan administration, when "he helped lead America's efforts to drive Soviet forces from Afghanistan," prepared him well for the new role.
Gates also served as deputy national security adviser to Bush's father during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, something the younger Bush said Wednesday helped Gates understand the challenges the United States faces in Iraq.
Gates is now president of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, a position he said Wednesday was the best job he's had, despite serving in seven presidential administrations.
more
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/08/rumsfeld/index.html
Gates, a former CIA chief, was a member of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that is making recommendations to Bush on how to proceed in Iraq.
Gates traveled with the panel to Iraq earlier this year, an experience, Bush said, that will enable Gates to "provide the department with a fresh perspective and new ideas on how America can achieve our goals in Iraq."
Gates said Wednesday he accepted the nomination because "the United States is at war" and the president called.
Bush announced Rumsfeld's departure earlier Wednesday.
"The timing is right for new leadership at the Pentagon," Bush said in announcing the resignation.
Rumsfeld has been heavily criticized for his policies in Iraq, and exit polls taken during Tuesday's midterm election, seen by some as a referendum on Bush and his administration, showed strong voter dissatisfaction -- 57 percent -- with the Iraq war.
"I recognize that many Americans voted last night to register their displeasure with the lack of progress being made" in Iraq, Bush said. (Bush discusses Rumsfeld's resignation -- 1:27)
Bush said he had "a series of thoughtful conversations" with Rumsfeld about the defense secretary's resignation.
Gates headed the CIA from 1991 until 1993.
Bush said Wednesday Gates' time as deputy director of central intelligence in the Reagan administration, when "he helped lead America's efforts to drive Soviet forces from Afghanistan," prepared him well for the new role.
Gates also served as deputy national security adviser to Bush's father during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, something the younger Bush said Wednesday helped Gates understand the challenges the United States faces in Iraq.
Gates is now president of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, a position he said Wednesday was the best job he's had, despite serving in seven presidential administrations.
more
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/08/rumsfeld/index.html