August 16, 2007
Posted: 08:47 AM ET

Bush announces Rumsfeld's resignation November 8, 2006, the day after the midterm elections.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – CNN Pentagon Producer Mike Mount has obtained a copy of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation letter. (View letter [PDF])

The letter is actually dated November 6, 2006 — the day before the midterm elections — even though the resignation was not announced until November 8.

President Bush has previously acknowledged the decision for Rumseld to leave was made before the midterm elections.

"The reason why [Rumsfeld didn't resign before Tuesday] is I didn't want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days of a campaign," Bush said the day of the resignation announcement.

The word "Iraq" does not appear anywhere in the letter.

Filed under: Donald Rumsfeld


Ora Titus, South Brunswick, NJ   August 16th, 2007 5:24 pm ET

Yeah! Yeah! He always did look like the bumbling idiot! Although, Bush will not be on the scene any longer the whole administration was clueless as he and Conde webbed their web.

Dave, Brooklyn, NY   August 16th, 2007 1:28 pm ET

Good riddance to Mr. Rumsfeld: the guy who sold Saddam Hussein the same technology he used to use chemical weapons on the Kurds. Rumsfeld's hands a dirty with with the interference in the middle east that got us into the problems we have today.

TC Plainfield, IL   August 16th, 2007 1:15 pm ET

How will military history classes treat Rumsfeld's role in the Iraq War? Hopefully, future students can learn from his multiple mistakes.

Ryan, New York, NY   August 16th, 2007 12:54 pm ET

Do those of you that have commented about the "read" stamp really think that Bush learned about the resignation from this letter? Even Bush admits he knew of it in advance and didn't want to affect the elections.

Ryan, New York, NY   August 16th, 2007 12:50 pm ET

Spinstopper,
First, our military isn't deterring small guerilla forces in Iraq, let alone a massive national army like Iran's or China's. Second, our military is too expensive and too small to "take on anyone." It's not from a lack of effort from our soldiers, it's strictly a numbers issue. You can bomb a country all that you want, but it does take a lot of boots on the ground to win.

Rock oN Pittsburgh PA   August 16th, 2007 12:44 pm ET

Rummy will always be crummy.

Russell Bell, Powder Springs, GA   August 16th, 2007 11:20 am ET

Yes the letter is dated 11/06/06 Did you bother to report that it also states the President has seen 11/07/06. The day of the election. It doesn't say when on 11/07/06. I love how reports include only the facts that fit what they want reported.

Bubba Fett, Swainsboro GA   August 16th, 2007 9:42 am ET

The truth is just not in these good old boys, is it? Lying is just standard policy.

spinstopper   August 16th, 2007 9:33 am ET

Rumsfeld's legacy IS America's powerful, most mobile military ever. The one he help create over the last 20 yrs and for which he had to fight passive dems every step of the way to achieve adequate funding for them. Now tested and battle hardened, our military is visibly capable of taking on anyone, anywhere.. A fantastic deterrent for enemies.

Lefty's continued verbal support for terrorist will not change this fact. Its history. Get use to it.

ReadBtwthlins   August 16th, 2007 9:22 am ET

Trying to make bricks without hay again CNN??

Anonymous   August 16th, 2007 9:06 am ET

At the bottom of the letter it is stamped that the President did not see the letter until 11/7/06, Election Day.

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA   August 16th, 2007 8:47 am ET

In case you haven't seen it yet, check out the ghost of Cheney in 1994 telling Rummy why invading Iraq was a bad idea. So they knew it all along!
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2879&id=10983-3995432-y2Y4iV&t=2

William McIntosh, Marysville, CA   August 16th, 2007 1:17 am ET

Good riddance. He out McNamaraed McNamara.

Stanley Joseph, Houston, Texas   August 15th, 2007 8:37 pm ET

CNN reported that in D. Rumsfeld's resignation letter "the word "Iraq" does not appear anywhere."

Kind of like Hirohito ending WWII without mentioning the word surrender.

"The war situation has developed not necessarily to(our)advantage."

Ah Rummy, you needn't mention the word; we already know.

Steve, Tempe, Arizona   August 15th, 2007 6:21 pm ET

Where's the part of the letter in which he apologizes to the American people and all the troops serving under him for being the worst Secretary of Defense in US history?

Jim, Jacksonville, FL   August 15th, 2007 5:58 pm ET

Talk about a historical blunder for the history books seeing as how his own party wanted Rummy gone…

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