Why did Donald Rumsfeld resign, so suddenly, one day after mid-term elections?

Question

Rumsfled authorized the use of torture at Abu Graibe, and if he sets foot in Germany he will be arrested and tried for war crimes.

Since this hanious crime, he has not been able to represent the United States in Germany.

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/37/8768

Could this be one of the many reasons he finally resigned?

Answer 1

It sadly isn't.Anyone in his right mind knows this "man" who lied about everything,from WMD to being greeted as liberators,lies which cost the lives of many young Americans and thousands of Iraqi civilians,who showed blatant disrespect for international law by promoting torture but never taking responsibility,who offended even his closest European allies,should have resigned and brought to justice long ago.
It never crossed his mind and it never crossed Bush mind before now when he thinks it can somehow help him politically.Bush thinks this gives him some more negotiating room with the Democrats.
All the human loss,suffering and crimes Rumsfeld brought weren't enough.Bush once again shows what he meant with bringing back decency to the white house,political strategy is all that matters.I sincerely hope no one falls for their lies anymore.Rummy just took one for the team and is replaced with another neocon.
Abu Ghraib was a war crime,he should not only resign for it but be in jail for it

Answer 2

The resignation of Donald Rumsfeld only proves one thing: the president and his administration puts politics before the military men and women.

It's a fact that Bush declared that Rummy would stay for the duration of his term in the week leading up to the election. Bush again stood by him and assured us all of his confidence in this choice.

Then, the election happened. The Dems won. Bush did a 180 and had Rummy resign. His reason?

"And the reason why is I didn't want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days of a campaign. And so the only way to answer that question and to get you on to another question was to give you that answer."

In other words, the campaign took precedence over the need to be forthright and swift with the men and women serving overseas.

Unbelievable. If anyone can't see that the major decisions of this war have been shaped by politics rather than REAL threats and REAL issues overseas is blind and just one of the sheeple.

I'd love to see how many people stand by this decision by Bush.

Answer 3

My opinion is this; I feel that Rumsfeld, being the main architect in the 9/11 attacks, opium control in Afghanistan, oil-mongering in Iraq, and who knows what the hell else, had planned to step down if the Dems regained power in either, or both, of the other two houses of Congress. He knew that the probes and investigations were just around the corner if the dems took back the power in the government, and he's getting out while he can. Considering all of the crimes he's committed, domestic and abroad, it's probably safe to say that he feels that if he gets out now it will take a little bit of the heat of responsibility away from all of the horrible things he's done. Isn't it interesting how quickly he quit once the Dems won?! Throws huge red flags up all over the place and screams of more of the same scandalous activity from the current criminal Bush regime.
Bush and his cronies are obviously up to no good, and haven't been since... well... Prescott Bush, our current president's grandfather!

Answer 4

Why do you think of Donald Rumsfeld is the only one insisting we would desire to consistently uphold our Geneva convention duties? that is an extremely unusual fact. we are obligated to maintain protection of Iraq against Islamist insurgents until Iraq can defend itself. we are training further and further Iraqis to do the job each month, not 'status back' and searching at. Rumsfeld shouldn't resign through fact he's ensuring we do what the Geneva Conventions require as nicely as ensuring Iraq would not become the fashion of Islamist hell-hollow Afghanistan become while a prior administration failed in its household initiatives.

Answer 5

it was clear that one of the major reasons for the democrats returning to a majority in the house and the senate was the war in iraq....it was a natural decision for rumsfeld since he was the point man in the iraq war effort...had bush insisted on retaining him, it would entail a costly confrontation with congress which would've further eroded whatever political capital he had left.....

Answer 6

Oh, come on. That is a question?

He should have resigned before. It might have helped the Republicans.

I don't know about war crimes or Germany, though...
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edit

OK, I see the story. I'm sure Bush will parden him, as far as the US goes... and Germany may think it has jurisdiction, but I'm pretty sure our courts will disagree....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6138480.stm

Answer 7

Rumsfield and Bush got together after the elections and decided that it was in t he best interests of Bush that he r esign because Bush knew that one of the first things that the Democrats would want is the resignation of Rumsfield so Bush/Rumsfield beat them to the punch

Answer 8

I think he was just happy to get off the hot seat. He seemed a bit smiley at the press conference when Bush announced it. I can't blame him one bit. In his own statement on the matter, he called it an opportunity given him by Bush.

Answer 9

Sorry to say but I don't think he gave a thought about German law..I think he is more worried about American law and future investigations...Germany had no influence on his resignation

Answer 10

12 Generals and the Democrats (now House and Senate) asked or were going to ask for his resigantion. By him giving it before he was asked to, made it look like it was more his idea. Better than getting "fired" I guess.