Republicans hesitant to replace Rumsfeld

WASHINGTON – Acknowledging mistakes in Iraq by the Bush administration, leading Republicans expressed reluctance Sunday that the White House replace Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who has lost the confidence of some GOP lawmakers over the conduct of the war.

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said a change at the top of the Pentagon would be too disruptive, given the elections scheduled in Iraq for Jan. 30. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., also said the administration was dealing with the missteps that have occurred in the aftermath of the U.S.-led ouster of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

“We should not at this point in time entertain any idea of changing those responsibilities in the Pentagon,” Warner told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Sen. Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, added, “We really can’t go through that ordeal” now of finding a successor. Rumsfeld “should be held accountable, and he should stay in office,” said Lugar, R-Ind.

But Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam veteran, said he had no confidence in Rumsfeld. Hagel, R-Neb., did not say Rumsfeld should step down.

“I find it astounding. … Things are worse than they’ve ever been” in Iraq, Hagel told CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Hagel said it was up to Bush whether to replace Rumsfeld.

More than 1,300 American troops have died since the war began in March 2003. On Sunday, car bombs rocked Iraq’s two holiest Shiite cities, killing at least 60 people and wounding more than 120. In Baghdad, the capital, dozens of gunmen killed three Iraqi election officials during an ambush on a car in the middle of morning traffic.

U.S. troops in Kuwait have complained to Rumsfeld about long deployments and a lack of armored vehicles and other equipment.

Rumsfeld, who agreed to Bush’s request this month to stay in the Cabinet during the president’s second term, won a vote of confidence from the White House on Sunday.

“Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a spectacular job,” the president’s chief of staff, Andrew Card, told ABC’s “This Week.”

“The president has provided good direction for our military, and Secretary Rumsfeld is transforming our military to meet the threats of the 21st century,” Card said.

While security remains a problem in Iraq, Card said the growing economy and establishment of the educational and electrical systems in the country were positive developments, Card said.

“There are no guarantees, but we’ll work hard to provide security,” for the elections, Card said. “It’ll be a wonderful success story.”

Critics have raised questions again about whether enough U.S. troops are in Iraq to bring security.