Military Times Newspapers Say Rumsfeld Must Go

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2006 — -- On the eve of the midterm elections, an editorial by the Army Times and its sister publications calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign continues to spark political debate, but the newspapers' editor denies any political motivations behind the timing of the editorial.

Tobias Naegele, executive editor of the newspapers, discounts reports that the editorial's release was politically timed to run just before the elections.

"We were really aiming past the elections," said Naegele, adding that the newspapers' editorial boards had been "accumulating" an opinion over time that Rumsfeld should step down but that Bush's comments last week were a tipping point.

"There was no reason at this stage to be committing to someone who had not been effective in the job," said Naegele. "That was the last straw. That really pushed us to want to speak out."

Titled "Time for Rumfeld to Go," the editorial was published in this week's editions of the Army Times, Air Force Times, Marine Times and the Navy Times. The newspapers belong to the Military Times Media Group, which is owned by Gannett, and focus exclusively on military issues. They have wide credibility among their military readership.

"All along, Rumsfeld has assured us that things are well in hand," said the editorial. "Now, the president says he'll stick with Rumsfeld for the balance of his term in the White house. This is a mistake. ... When the nation's current military leaders start to break publicly with their defense secretary, then it is clear that he is losing control of the institution he ostensibly leads.

"Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large," the editorial concludes. "His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. This is not about the midterm elections. Regardless of which party wins Nov. 7, the time has come, Mr. President, to face the hard bruising truth: Donald Rumsfeld must go."

Looking for political advantage, Democrats have seized on the editorial as supporting their claims that voters want a new direction for the policy in Iraq.