Boxer to call for Rumsfeld's firing

Hoorah for Granny's rep.!!! We should all email an "atta-girl" to her!!!
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Thursday, August 31, 2006
Boxer to call for Rumsfeld's firing
Senator's amendment will ask president to oust defense secretary.
By DENA BUNIS
The Orange County Register
WASHINGTON – When Congress comes back into session next week, Sen. Barbara Boxer plans to offer an amendment to a defense spending bill urging President Bush to fire Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Boxer, D-Calif., a longtime critic of Rumsfeld and the administration's handling of Iraq, said Rumsfeld's most recent comments about war critics has led her to this decision.
"I think it's time that the Senate hold this administration accountable for the people in their administration,'' Boxer told reporters during a conference call this morning. "It seems to be that this Republican Congress has been compliant to the point of dangerous, and it's time that we speak up.''
In making her comments, Boxer is joining several Democratic colleagues, including Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who have said similar things this week.
In a speech Tuesday before the American Legion convention, Rumsfeld accused critics of the Iraq war of trying to appease "a new type of fascism." He also likened the current atmosphere to the 1930s when the world ignored the growing menace of the Nazi movement.
"I recount this history because once again we face similar challenges in efforts to confront the rising threat of a new type of fascism," Rumsfeld said.
"Rumsfeld has gone too far,'' Boxer said. "He's attacked the American people."
But White House officials said this week that Rumsfeld's remarks have been mischaracterized.
"What Rumsfeld was talking about was clearly making the case that we remain vigilant in fighting the war on terror and confronting the threats to free societies,'' deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino told reporters on Wednesday.
Boxer's measure would have a difficult time passing the Republican-controlled Senate. The California lawmaker has called for Rumsfeld's resignation before.
"Of course we can't make the president do anything, but we surely can have a voice instead of sitting back," Boxer said.
Boxer will point out in her resolution that retired generals have already called for Rumsfeld's resignation and that he offered it twice to the president in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal. She also contends he has not adequately planned for the post-war operations in Iraq.

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Source for article:
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/nationworld/abox/article_1261671.php

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