Iraq exit the No 1 priority

[Jcrowley]

Iraq exit the No 1 priority for Rumsfeld successor
By Philippe Naughton
Robert Gates testifying before Congress as CIA Director in 1992 (AP Photo/John Duricka)

Robert Gates, the 63-year-old career intelligence officer chosen to replace Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon, takes over with the clearest of missions: get American troops out of Iraq as quickly and cleanly as possible.

Mr Gates was, subject to Congressional approval, propelled into the top ranks of the Bush Administration today as Secretary of Defence only hours after voters handed President Bush what he agreed himself was a "thumping" in mid-term elections.

The deeply unpopular Mr Rumsfeld, seen by his enemies as a reckless warmonger and attacked even by senior military officers for strategic blunders, was the obvious scapegoat for the electoral meltdown. Since the invasion of Iraq in March, 2003, more than 2,800 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-2444140,00.html