November 8, 2006

Following the announcement of Donald Rumsfeld's resignation as Secretary of Defense, the Charlottesville Newsplex called a man who held a position on the cabinet, for the first President Bush. Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger shares what he thinks about the resignation.

"What I am not sure of is by some chance if the republicans have help on to the House and Senate if Donald Rumsfeld would have gone on, or not. I suspect he still would have," said Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger."

Lawrence Eagleburger served as secretary of state under President Herbert Walker Bush in 1992. The former secretary sees Rumsfeld's resignation as a nice move by the president for democrats who are now in control.

"This in a way is a presidential gesture to the democrats and the congress because they have been rallying against Rumsfeld and his performance for many months," added Eagleburger.

Rumsfeld's resignation comes after six years at the top of the United States military. Eagleburger believes it happened because Rumsfeld was under pressure from critics and the media. He believes Rumsfeld was just plain tired.

"There is no question that after a while you have run out of intellectual gas, and at some point you will use it all up," added Eagleburger.

The war in Iraq, lack of success, and the beating by democrats did not help the secretary of defense serving his second tour of duty.

"I think it was just enough. I think the president probably saw, much as I think he respected Rumsfeld, I think he saw it as turning over a new leaf, and giving hope to everyone else that there will be changes now," added Eagleburger.

Changes which could work in the president's favor when it comes to dealing with the democrats who seem to be in control of the new congress.

The successor to Donald Rumsfeld is Robert Gates. Lawrence Eagleburger worked with Gates during the first Bush's administration.