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Rumsfeld Says Fight Must Go On

By VOA News
15 December 2006

Outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says that Americans' distaste for the war in Iraq should not be confused with a reluctance to defend their way of life.

In his farewell address Friday at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld continued to defend the war as taking the "fight to the enemy," a reference to what he called "a global extremist movement." His remarks were made in defiance of his critics, who note there were few, if any, Islamist militants in Iraq before the U.S.-led invasion.

Rumsfeld was praised at the ceremony today by his commander-in-chief, President Bush. Mr. Bush said he appreciates Rumsfeld's strategic vision, his deep devotion to the military and love for the United States.

Vice President Dick Cheney was also there and called Rumsfeld his best friend and the finest secretary of defense the nation has ever had.

Rumsfeld's top military advisor, General Peter Pace, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the defense secretary has always taken responsibility for everything that has happened on his watch. He added that Rumsfeld listens to people who have opinions differing from his own, something his critics say he rarely does.

Both today and in his farewell message to U.S. troops Thursday, Rumsfeld said serving the men and women of the U.S. armed forces has been the highest honor of his life.

Rumsfeld served six years during this tenure, and became somewhat of a celebrity for the often contentious, witty answers he gave during many news conferences during the early days of the war.

Rumsfeld resigned from his job last month, a day after mid-term elections gave control of Congress to the Democratic party. The resignation was seen as an acknowledgment of public discontent with the war, of which Rumsfeld was a chief architect.

This was the second time he led the Defense Department.

President Bush appointed former CIA director Robert Gates to replace him. Gates takes over the office on Monday.