From the November 2006 Idaho Observer:

"Rummy"resigns

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Within hours of the mid-term election polls closing, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced his resignation—effective immediately. The "surprise" announcement came just weeks after President Bush had publicly stated his support for "Rummy" and his confidence that the 74-year-old defense secretary will be there until the end (of his term).

During a post-election press conference, President Bush was pressured into admitting he "misled" the media by acknowledging he had known for weeks that Rumsfeld’s days as defense secretary were numbered. "Do ya think I would announce a change in Iraq war policy while the campaign was still goin’ on?" President Bush asked.

Change in terror war guard: Texas A&M President Robert Gates will act as Rumsfeld’s replacement until the Senate confirms him more permanently sometime after hearings begin Dec. 5, 2006.

Gates’ appointment is a powerful indication that the terror war guard is changing. Gates served as Father Bush’s CIA chief from 1991-1993 and is a protegee of James Baker III, a long-time associate and confidant of the Bush family.

Charged with war crimes: Meanwhile, war crimes charges were filed against Rumsfeld, et al, in a German court Nov. 14, 2006. The complaint that Rumsfeld, et al authorized torture is being brought on behalf of 12 torture victims – 11 Iraqi citizens who were held at Abu Ghraib prison and one Guantánamo detainee–and is being filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights, the Republican Attorneys’ Association and others, all represented by Berlin Attorney Wolfgang Kaleck.

Implications: The implications of this case are huge. Torturing prisoners is recognized as criminal under international law. No other courts will consider the case. If the German court accepts the filing, it will present a challenge to the legitimacy of global U.S. military belligerence; if it rejects the case, there is no court in the world willing to try the U.S. for torturing its prisoners.