Republicans fret over Rumsfeld's drag on his party
Knowledgeable Republicans and defense analysts described mounting frustration with Rumsfeld in the White House and among Republicans in the U.S. Congress amid ongoing difficulties in Iraq that could jeopardize U.S. President George W. Bush's re-election bid in 2004.
''Rumsfeld has become in many ways a problem for the Republican Party. And you can make the case that he's become a net liability given how the Iraq issue has unfolded,'' said Brookings Institution defense analyst Michael O'Hanlon. ''If the president's re-election bid is now in some doubt, it's more because of the problems in Iraq than any other single factor.''
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A well-placed Republican source said Rumsfeld was not currently in danger of being replaced, but doubted he would return as defense secretary if voters give Bush another term.
"I think Rumsfeld has had it. He's put in place some (Defense Department) reforms, and now it's up to others to implement it,'' the source said.
