Iraqis Happy To See Rumsfeld Go

It looks like American Democrats weren't the only people who considered Donald Rumsfeld to be a screw-up and wanted him removed. Many Iraqis thought the same way, and are now cheering his removal from office.

Of course, the puppet government we have installed in Iraq has not commented on Rumsfeld and probably won't. That's understandable, because they need the Bush administration just to survive. But individual Iraqis are quick to applaud Rumsfeld's departure and hope it means a change in direction for the war.

Here are a few examples of Iraqi opinion:

Louai Abdel-Hussein, a grocer in Baghdad, said, "I am happy with Rumsfeld's resignation because he played a major role in disbanding the former Iraqi army. He participated in building the new army on a sectarian basis."

Saad Jawad, a former army officer, said, "Rumsfeld's resignation is a good step because he failed to keep security in Iraq."

Ibrahim Ali, an Oil Ministry worker, said, "Rumsfeld's resignation shows the scale of the mess the U.S. has made in Iraq. The efforts by American politicians to hide their failure are no longer working."

Osama Ahmed, a civil servant, said, "I think that there will be a shift in the U.S. policy in Iraq after his resignation. Rumsfeld's resignation is not enough. He should be put under investigation for his responsibility in the crimes committed in Abu Graib and the killings and rapes carried out by U.S. soldiers against Iraqi citizens."

Let's all hope that Rumsfeld being replaced will result in a saner Iraq war policy, and the return to the U.S. of our troops -- sooner rather than later.