“Success in Iraq will require leaders in Washington — Republicans and Democrats alike — to come together and find greater consensus on the best path forward. So I will work with leaders in both parties to achieve this goal”
-George W. Bush, President, US.
Success in Iraq will require leaders and to avoid his own failure Gates was named as President Bush’s chosen replacement for the beleaguered Donald Rumsfeld just one day after the Democrats swept the midterm elections last week to win majorities in both houses of Congress. More importantly, preserving the Bush family legacy is of greater concern to Bush loyalists than any other factor.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told President Bush before he resigned that the administration’s strategy in Iraq was not working and he proposed changes, including possible troop reductions. Rumsfeld’s greatest failing was that he thought he was always right and acted accordingly.
Many might be questioning the rationale for the seemingly long stay of American led troops in Iraq. Rumsfeld, a planner and defender of Bush’s Iraq strategy also admits the fact that American, Iraq strategy has been a failure. One can clearly see that more and more in the media are finally being honest to the American people about the civil war in Iraq and America’s failure as a liberator in Iraq.
Gates appointment is simply buying time and providing cover, while allowing Rumsfeld to take the fall for the execution of a now-unpopular war. Still, the major changes in Iraq should not be expected from Gates, who will only add troops, not reduce the number.
Via: CNN
